Canberra walk – National Library to Old Bus Depot Markets

Canberra walk Photo supplied by Nick-D

Start/Finish	Category	Distance	Estimated Walking Time
National Library / Kingston Old Bus Depot Markets	History and Architecture, Tourism	4.0 km	1 hr *

Summary

This walk starts at the the National Library of Australia and passes some of Canberra’s most iconic buildings such as the High Court and National Gallery before ending at the Old Bus Depot markets located on the Kingston foreshore.

Public transport

Catch the bus to National Library of Australia.

Directions

Starting point- National Library of Australia

This walk begins at the front of the National Library of Australia (NLA). The NLA is Australia’s largest reference library and was opened in August 1968. The building is classical in style with a foyer decorated in marble. If you have time before your walk you might want to check out the coffee shop inside the library, which is very popular with locals with its stained glass windows facing the lake. 

From the NLA head northwards towards the lake and turn right past the international flag display. From there turn right at Commonwealth Place. This is a fantastic vantage point to Anzac Parade in the north and Parliament house to the south.

Walk through the open tunnel like path in a southerly direction and through the grassy open spaced area until you reach King Edward Tce. From here turn left and walk past the National Portrait Gallery, a modern building containing portraits of prominent Australians.

Past the National Portrait Gallery turn left on the path that leads up to the High Court. The High Court building is an impressive structure completed in 1980, which includes specially commissioned works of art inside and a water feature out the front.

At the top of the water feature turn right and this will take you across an overpass that leads to the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). Make your way to the northern end of the NGA and turn into the Sculpture Gardens which is near the lake. The outdoor Sculpture Gardens, which are part of the NGA contain interesting pieces of art and plants native to Australia.

From the Sculpture Gardens head southeast along the path that takes you under Kings Avenue Bridge. The next part of the journey hugs Lake Burley Griffin along the lake path until you reach Kingston Foreshore. 

Finish – Kingston Foreshore

Kingston Foreshore is on the southern end of Lake Burley Griffin and the location of the Old Bus Depot Markets where the walk ends. To get to the markets from Kingston Foreshore walk down Giles St and turn right into Printers Way. The markets are open every Sunday and serve as a popular meeting place for local artisans and growers to sell their produce. 

Canberra walk – GPX file

To access to the GPX file for this walk click on the download button below.  

Information on GPX files and how to import them into Google maps on your phone can be found here.

Canberra walk – Map

Start – Outside National Library of Australia

1. National Library of Australia
2. International Flag Display
3. National Portrait Gallery
4. High Court of Australia
5. National Gallery of Australia
6. Sculpture Gardens
7. Kingston Foreshore

Finish –  Old Bus Depot Markets