Canberra Tree Week

Saturday 3 May

Secrets of historic gardens: An illustrated journey

• Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
• Location: ACT Heritage Library, 255 Canberra Ave, Fyshwick
• Bookings: Bookings essential and for more information see the Libraries ACT website.
• Descriptions: Step into the enchanting world of historic gardens with renowned horticulturalist and writer Jackie Warburton. Join us for an engaging talk as Jackie presents historic photos of six privately owned gardens from Canberra and the surrounding region. Don't miss this rare opportunity to uncover secrets behind the restoration of 2 of these gardens.

Tree walks at the National Arboretum Canberra

• Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
• Location: National Arboretum, Forest Drive, off Tuggeranong Parkway
• Descriptions: Walk amongst the trees and hear some of their stories. Venture into the forest with a volunteer guide to see and hear more about the trees and features of the Arboretum.
• What to wear/bring: Please wear sturdy enclosed shoes, bring water and dress for the weather
• For more information: Visit and to book your free spot see the National Arboretum What's on page

Please also see the list of daily events happening throughout the week.

Sunday 4 May

Tree walks at the National Arboretum Canberra

• Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
• Location: National Arboretum, Forest Drive, off Tuggeranong Parkway
• Descriptions: Walk amongst the trees and hear some of their stories. Venture into the forest with a volunteer guide to see and hear more about the trees and features of the Arboretum.
• What to wear/bring: Please wear sturdy enclosed shoes, bring water and dress for the weather
• For more information: Visit and to book your free spot see the National Arboretum What's on page

Please also see the list of daily events happening throughout the week.

Monday 5 May

Tree walks at the National Arboretum Canberra

• Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Location: National Arboretum, Forest Drive, off Tuggeranong Parkway
• Descriptions: Walk amongst the trees and hear some of their stories. Venture into the forest with a volunteer guide to see and hear more about the trees and features of the Arboretum.
• What to wear/bring: Please wear sturdy enclosed shoes, bring water and dress for the weather
• For more information: Visit and to book your free spot see the National Arboretum What's on page

Kindred trees poetry reading

• Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Location: Smith’s Alternative, 76 Alinga St Canberra City
• Descriptions: An annual poetry reading for Tree Week celebrating Canberra trees (in association with That Poetry Thing and Smiths Alternative). Local poets respond to a tree in Canberra (from Banks to O’Connor) with a poem. New poems by K A Nelson, Martin Dolan, Moya Pacey and Alex Eagleton. There will be an open mic for the audience to share tree poetry. Free indoor event, children must be accompanied by adults.
• More information: Visit the Smiths Alternative website or the Smiths Alternative Facebook page

Please also see the list of daily events happening throughout the week.

Tuesday 6 May

Yarralumla Nursery heritage tour

• Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Location: Yarralumla Nursery – 9 Elm Avenue Yarralumla
• Bookings: Book your free spot via Eventbrite.
• Descriptions: A tour of Yarralumla Nursery talking about its history, trees and the role the nursery has had in developing Canberra’s streetscape. The tour will be presented by Chris Ware who brings over 30 years of horticultural experience and a wealth of local heritage and historical knowledge.
• What to wear/bring: Please wear sturdy enclosed shoes and bring a water bottle

Please also see the list of daily events happening throughout the week.

Wednesday 7 May

Friends of ACT Trees (FACTT) Annual tree week dinner

• Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Location: Weston Labor Club, 4 Teesdale Place Stirling
• Descriptions: A dinner with guest speaker, President of the International Oak Society, open to anyone interested in trees in Canberra. Meals and drinks available for purchase at the bistro.
• Cost: Attendance is $5 for FACTT members and $10 for non-members
• RSVP: Please contact Steve Thomas on sandmthomas@iinet.net.au or 0428 811 587

Please also see the list of daily events happening throughout the week.

Thursday 8 May

Please also see the list of daily events happening throughout the week.

Friday 9 May

Tree Week Talk, Biophilia: Love of trees is part of being human

• Time: 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
• Location: Australian National Botanic Gardens theatrette, Clunies Ross Street, Acton
• Bookings: Book your free spot via Eventbrite.
• Descriptions: Please join Associate Professor Cris Brack for an engaging talk about Biophilia, the innate human tendency to connect with nature and other living things – particularly trees!

Cris Brack is an Honorary Associate Professor of Natural Resource Measurement and Management in The Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University. He is also a member of the ACT Climate Change Council; Forestry Australia; and active in the National Arboretum Canberra.

He has over 20 years of experience in researching, teaching and developing best practices in urban forestry, having published over a dozen peer reviewed articles specifically on urban forests and green spaces, in addition to almost 100 papers on carbon sequestration, natural resource assessment and management. Brack’s recent research has focused on sustaining a vibrant and healthy urban forest in the presence of increasingly harsh climate scenarios.

Please also see the list of daily events happening throughout the week.

Saturday 10 May

Feel the forest: A sensory experience

• Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Location: National Arboretum Canberra, Forest Drive, off Tuggeranong Parkway
• Descriptions: Feel the forest. Experience the feel of the forest at our sensory table in the Arboretum Visitors Centre. You’ll be able to touch and inspect items from the forests up close. An experienced Arboretum volunteer will be there with fun facts about the forest and to answer your questions.
• For more information: Visit the National Arboretum Canberra website.

Eucalypts of the southern tablelands

• Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
• Location: Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park (STEP) – National Arboretum Canberra, Forest Drive, off Tuggeranong Parkway
• Descriptions: A guided walk through the eucalyptus trees planted within Forest 20 – an informative tour by Southland Tablelands Ecosystem Park volunteers.
• What to bring/wear: Be sure to wear appropriate sun safe clothing and closed-in shoes, bring a water bottle.
• Where to meet: Please arrive 10 minutes early and meet at the entrance to STEP, lower car park opposite the Arboretum Visitor Centre. For more information go to the Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park website.

Tree planting at Croke Place

• Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
• Location: Lions Croke Place Landcare Group
• Descriptions: See the beautiful colours and shades of the trees at Croke Place Landcare site and embark on a pleasant walk around the site with signs explaining significant aspects.
• What to bring/wear: Dress for the weather and wear closed in and sturdy shoes, a hat and bring a water bottle.
• Where to meet: Meet at the Croke Place car park, off William Webb Drive in Evatt before 10:00 am.
• For more information: Contact Mick by emailing brice64m@bigblue.net.au

Tree walks at the National Arboretum Canberra

• Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
• Location: National Arboretum, Forest Drive, off Tuggeranong Parkway
• Descriptions: Walk amongst the trees and hear some of their stories. Venture into the forest with a volunteer guide to see and hear more about the trees and features of the Arboretum.
• What to wear/bring: Please wear sturdy enclosed shoes, bring water and dress for the weather
• For more information: Visit and to book your free spot see the National Arboretum What's on page

Please also see the list of daily events happening throughout the week.

Sunday 11 May

Westbourne Woods Arboretum walks

• Time: 9:30 am – 11:30 am
• Location: Royal Canberra Golf Club, 71 Bentham Street, Yarralumla
• Descriptions: Meet at 9.30 am at the entrance to Royal Canberra Golf Club on Bentham Street in Yarralumla for a tour of the Arboretum and history of Charles Weston. If you wish to accept the invitation of the Club to take refreshments at the Spike Bar after the walk, the dress code of the Golf Club will apply. Otherwise, wear comfortable walking attire. Dogs are not allowed at this event.
• For more information: Contact the guide of the month or Friends of ACT Trees on 0468 941 504

Feel the forest: A sensory experience

• Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Location: National Arboretum Canberra, Forest Drive, off Tuggeranong Parkway
• Descriptions: Feel the forest. Experience the feel of the forest at our sensory table in the Arboretum Visitors Centre. You’ll be able to touch and inspect items from the forests up close. An experienced Arboretum volunteer will be there with fun facts about the forest and to answer your questions.
• For more information: Visit the National Arboretum Canberra website

Embody Somatic Therapy – Yoga under an old Liquidambar tree

• Time: 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm
• Location: The Youth Coalition Centre, 46 Clianthus Street O’Connor
• Descriptions: Join us for Yoga and meditation that connects us to the nature that surrounds us. Balance as stable as the tree trunk, move freely as the autumn leaves and rest with the stillness of the earth. Experiencing these qualities within us can remind us that we belong to the nature surrounding us. All welcome to join, no experience necessary.
• What to bring: A Yoga mat and a towel to go underneath it as we will be conducting our session on grass
• Cost: The session is $10 or $5 for concession card holders
• For more information: To book your spot and for more information, visit the Embody Somatic Therapies website

Please also see the list of daily events happening throughout the week.

All week

Tube stock tree sale

• Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
• Location: Cool Country Natives, 5A Beltana Road, Pialligo
• Descriptions: To celebrate Canberra Tree Week, we are having a sale on selected tree tube stock including, but not limited to, Eucalyptus, Acacia and Callistemons.
• For more information: Visit the Cool Country Natives Facebook and Instagram page.

Children art competition outdoor exhibition

• Time: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
• Location: Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton
• Descriptions: See Canberra’s budding artist’s work on display in a special outdoor exhibition showcasing the winning entries from the children’s 5 – 12 years ‘Branch Out’ drawing competition.

Leaves: To drop or not to drop walk

• Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
• Location: Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton
• Descriptions: Most Australian trees are evergreen but there are a few that lose some or all their leaves. Join a free guided walk to see examples and hear some of the factors that influence why a tree might drop its leaves.
• Where to meet: Meet at the clock near the bridge. No booking required for individuals but groups of more than 6 people should contact walks@friendsanbg.org.au a week before the planned walk.

Queanbeyan Town Park self tour

• Time: All hours access
• Date: Monday 5 May to Sunday 11 May 2025
• Location: Lowe Street, Queanbeyan
• Descriptions: Self-guided tour throughout Queanbeyan Town Park. Interpretive signage with descriptions and information about the beautiful trees throughout the park.
• What to wear/bring: Ensure you bring water and appropriate clothing for the current environment

Autumn leaf hunt self tour

• Time: All hours access
• Descriptions: In autumn, Canberra’s deciduous trees transform our city into a tapestry of colour as their leaves change to display vivid reds, purples, oranges and yellows. This interactive map will guide you to some of Canberra’s most striking autumnal displays. Take a look and plan your own tour and visit some of these spectacular locations.
• For more information: See the Autumn Leaves Map Canberra page

Arboriculture Australia’s junior tree carers scavenger hunt

• Time: All hours
• Descriptions: Wouldn’t it be great if everyone appreciated trees and the need for professional tree care? Arboriculture Australia have put together a series of free resources to help kids get engaged with their local environment.
• For more information: See the Arboriculture Australia website to download the free Scavenger Hunt clue-sheet and start exploring your local treescapes.