Around Town — August
Art from the creators of Eggpicnic at The Garden’s
A new nature-focused exhibition inspired by local biodiversity has opened at the National Botanical Gardens!
When: 29 July - 23 August
Where: National Botanical Gardens Visitor Centre, Acton
Cost: Free
Landcare Week is an annual campaign celebrated during the first week of August that acknowledges the Australians who are actively restoring, enhancing and protecting the natural environment in their community.
When: 3 - 9 Aug
When: 6 Aug 6.30 am, 12 Aug 4 pm, 20 Aug 6 am and 25 Aug 4.30 pm
Where: Cooma Creek, Mittagang Crossing, Point Hut Crossing, the Queanbeyan River, Jerrabomberra Wetlands, and the Lower Molonglo
Cost: Free
Join Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch for a guided platypus walk at Tidbinbilla Sanctuary. This special place in the hills near Canberra is home to wetlands, waterways, and a wide range of native wildlife, including the shy and unique platypus.
When: 8 Aug, 10.30 am-12 pm
Where: Tidbinbilla Sanctuary
Ribbon Gum Carpark, Tidbinbilla Reserve Road, Paddys River, Paddys River, ACT 2620, Australia
Cost: Free
Japarta: A Journey to the Gurindji Way + Q&A
From the NFSA… “Japarta tells the true story of Japanese scholar Minoru Hokari. His brief life left a legacy of cross‑cultural understanding inspired by the Wave Hill walk‑off of 1966. Hokari travelled from Japan to learn directly from Gurindji Elders, who tasked him with sharing their history on their own terms”
When: 9 August, 2 pm
Where: Arc Cinema, National Film and Sound Archive
Cost; $22 Full / $19.50 Concession ( + $1.50 booking fee)
Join Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch for a guided platypus walk at Namarag Nature Reserve, along the beautiful Molonglo River. This is a relaxed and easy outdoor activity, perfect for families, beginners, and anyone who enjoys spending time in nature.
When: 9 Aug, 8 am-9.30 am
Where: Namarag Nature Reserve Car Park
Thancoupie Crescent, Whitlam, ACT 2611, AustraliaCost: Free
Join Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch for a guided platypus walk along beautiful Cooma Creek. This is a calm and easy outdoor activity that is perfect for families, beginners, and anyone who loves nature.
When: 9 Aug, 8 am-9.30 am
Where: Cooma Creek, Campbell St, Cooma, NSW 2630, Australia
Cost: Free
Branching Out: Explore Nursery Swamp in Namadgi National Park with Gregory Andrews
Did you know that Nursery Swamp is the largest fen on mainland Australia? It is one of the ACT’s most significant wetland ecosystems, and it’s right here on our doorstep in the ACT. Join nature advocate and owner of Lyrebird Dreaming, Gregory Andrews, on a guided walk through Nursery Swamp in Namadgi National Park.
When: 9 Aug, 10 am - 2 pm
Where: Nursery Swamp carpark, off Orroral Valley Road, Namadgi National Park
Cost: Free
Learning Circle: Children Need Nature. Making Children’s Access to Nature Visible in Early Learning
This interactive Learning Circle introduces the Access to Nature Survey, a practical tool designed to help educators observe, reflect on and make visible children’s experiences of nature in early learning settings.
When: 12Aug, 4 pm - 5 pm
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free for all AAEE Members.
Registration for non-members is $10 for waged/$5 student/unwaged
Join a lively cast of buzzing bees leading children and their families on a journey through the science of pollination, biodiversity and the vital role bees play in our food chain—along with simple ways we can all help protect them. This joyful and informative performance places the ACT at the forefront of STEAM programming for audiences of all ages.
When: 16 Aug, 12 pm - 1 pm
Where: Belconnen Arts Centre
Cost: Free
SEE Change is bringing the repairers of Canberra together for a festival of fixing and making. Bring your broken things for our repairers to fix and spend some time getting in touch with your creative side.
When: 16Aug
Where: Dickson College Cafeteria, 184 Phillip Avenue, Dickson, Australian Capital Territory, 2602 Australia (map)
Platypus Guardian Film Screening and Q and A with Pete Walsh
This inspiring film tells the story of Pete Walsh, a dedicated conservationist working to protect platypus populations in urban waterways.
The film follows Pete’s journey as he learns about platypus, studies their habitat, and takes action to care for the rivers they depend on. It shows how one person can make a real difference for wildlife and the environment.
When: 18 Aug, 6 pm-8 pm
Where: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA)
1 McCoy Circuit, Acton, ACT 2601, AustraliaCost: Free
Discovering Insect Biodiversity
At this interactive workshop, you'll get the chance to look at real insect specimens collected in scientific research, learn how to identify them and help sort them into different groups. Using microscopes, you'll see tiny details that are impossible to spot with the naked eye and learn how these insects go about their daily lives.
When: 23 Aug, 9.30 am - 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm
Where: Gould Building
136 Linnaeus Road, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
Cost: Free
Ginninderra Catchment Group are running frog-focused workshops over the coming months. The first will be at the end of August. If you are interested, please email frogwatch@ginninderralandcare.org.au for more information
When: Late August (Date TBC)
Where: Jerrabomberra
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