WEDNESDAY 20 MAY 2026
Before the formal Congress program begins, delegates will have the opportunity to explore planning in action through a series of immersive Study Tours across Canberra. These experiences will bring the city’s story to life, from its iconic design origins and heritage landscapes to the contemporary precincts shaping its future.
Study Tours are an exclusive offering and available only for those registered to attend Congress. Tours are not included in full registration fees and are available to purchase within the registration process.
Limited places are available and tend to book out quickly. Please stay tuned for the full program release and secure your spot early.
Please note that some tours will involve walking between sites. If you have any mobility requirements, we kindly ask that you contact the Congress team at congress@planning.org.au in advanced to support your needs.
Timings and program subject to change due to tour or venue changes.
FULL DAY TOURS
Full day tours will take place on Wednesday 20 May, running approximately from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Full day tours include morning tea and lunch for all participants.
Inside Canberra's Housing Future - $175
Time | 10.00am - 3.00pm
A behind-the-scenes look at the ideas, projects and partnerships shaping the next chapter of housing in the nation’s capital.
Inside Australia's Political Capital - $175
Time | 9.45am - 3.00pm
Step inside the places and systems that influence how Australia is governed, planned and shaped at a national level.
The Griffins' Plan for Canberra - $175, proudly sponsored by GML Heritage
Time | 9.15am - 4.15pm
This bus tour explores the planning legacy of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, tracing how their bold vision for Australia’s national capital evolved from an ambitious design into a lived and continually changing city. Canberra offers a rare opportunity to see a twentieth century planning vision implemented at scale revealing both the successes and challenges of translating big ideas into place.
Travelling through the central national area, participants will experience key milestones in the plan’s implementation, from major vistas and elevated lookouts that reveal Canberra’s geometric structure to lesser-known sites that speak to adaptation and evolution. By reflecting on more than a century of planning and practice, the tour offers valuable insight into how foundational visions become real places and continue to shape planning decisions today.
The tour will be led by Canberra Modern’s founders Rachel Jackson, Edwina Jans and Amy Jarvis, and is supported by GML Heritage.
HALF DAY TOURS
Half day will take place on Wednesday 20 May, running approximately for 3 hours ranging from morning or afternoon tours. More information will be released shortly. Half day tours include morning/afternoon tea for all participants.
She Shapes History - $75
Time | 10.00am - 12.00pm
Discover the badass women behind Australia's capital city. Hidden between the National Archives, the National Library, and the National Gallery are the stories of women who designed cities, changed Australia’s constitution, and dismissed governments.
Explore how these extraordinary women contributed to making Canberra the political and cultural heart of Australia. This tour introduces you to a different side of Canberra’s most iconic landmarks, offering a fresh perspective on its monuments, sites, and cultural institutions.
Designing with Country and Community - $95, Proudly sponsored by City and Environment Directorate ACT Government
Time | 9.30am - 12.00pm
On-Country Experience - $95
Time | 1.00pm - 3.00pm
Spend a few hours with Paul Girrawah House, as he explains the significance of Tree Carvings in the Parliamentary Triangle and in the Australian National University precinct and with local urban planner, Dr Ed Wensing as he discusses their significance in Canberra’s planned landscape.
The Capital Uncovered: Canberra City - $95, Proudly sponsored by City Renewal Authority ACT Government
Time | 9.30am - 12.00pm
Join ACT’s City Renewal Authority for a guided exploration of Canberra’s city centre transformation. This walking tour offers planners and city shaping professionals a rare, on the ground insight into how long-term strategic planning, place led design and targeted public investment are reshaping the city centre. From landmark green spaces to major mixed use redevelopment sites and award-winning public realm upgrades, the tour will showcase how Canberra is delivering a more vibrant, inclusive and people focused city centre - finishing in the revitalised Garema Place for coffee and conversation in one of the city’s newly renewed places.
For any questions, please contact the team at congress@planning.org.au.