Mount Ainslie

Mount Ainslie is a summit rising 843 meters above sea level located within Canberra Nature Park, offering broad views of Lake Burley Griffin and the city below. The peak sits within a larger nature reserve that contains varied vegetation and walking paths for different fitness levels.

The mountain carries the name of one of Canberra's early European surveyors and became part of Walter Burley Griffin's original design for the capital city. After World War II, a memorial pathway was created to commemorate battles from the conflict.

Mount Ainslie holds deep spiritual importance for the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, and over 30 Aboriginal heritage sites are scattered across its slopes. Today, visitors moving through the area can sense the ongoing connection these communities maintain with the mountain.

You can reach the top through different routes, including a walking track around 4.5 kilometers long that begins near the Australian War Memorial. Plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon when the sun is less intense and the views are clearer.

An air navigation beacon sits at the summit to guide aircraft toward Canberra Airport and also marks a key point in the city's original landscape design plan. This functional element connects modern air traffic needs with the city's historical planning vision.