Whether you’re a bushwalker, nature lover, wine sipper or coastal chaser, a trip away is one of the easiest ways to reset and explore somewhere new.

With mountains, beaches, country towns and wine regions all within a few hours’ drive, Canberra puts some incredible places within easy reach. Ready to get away? Here are some of the best areas to visit near Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Looking for people to explore with? Join weekly hikes with Canberra Social & Active, try mountaineering, scuba diving and more through ANU Sport, or connect with fellow adventurers by joining one of the many ANU student clubs and societies.

Share a photo and a reflection of what ANU means to you. Your photos and stories will help celebrate the people and experiences that have shaped Australia's national university over the past 80 years. Submit your story and photo via this form and learn more about how they will be used to celebrate our 80th milestone.  

This week's trivia question:

Can you name the four original centres of ANU?

What does it take to meaningfully recognise Indigenous laws within Australian legal frameworks?

In his PhD at ANU Law School, James Gaetani explored how legislation can better reflect Indigenous laws, support cross-cultural recognition, and strengthen Indigenous-State relations. Now working as Special Counsel at the National Indigenous Australians Agency, he's using these insights to shape public policy and law reform.

The University has introduced the Formal Report of Student Misconduct form in Advocate to provide a structured and secure online pathway for reporting alleged student misconduct. This includes gender-based violence, harassment, threatening behaviour, safety risks, discrimination, property damage and other conduct defined as misconduct for students under the ANU Discipline Rule.

The new form replaces manual reporting pathways and allows for a more consistent and timelier approach to capturing and triaging concerns. It also supports the University to respond appropriately to student support needs and meet its obligations under the National Code.

The initiative strengthens case management by ensuring reports are captured in a single secure system, improving visibility, consistency and follow-up across student conduct matters.

For support, contact Student Integrity at integrity@anu.edu.au.

For wellbeing support please refer to the Health, safety & wellbeing website.

Be part of our 80th Anniversary celebrations. We are seeking student volunteers for our Community Day – a day where ANU will invite the community to our campus for a day of discovery and creativity.  We are seeking student volunteers for a number of roles: 

Volunteers will be provided with food vouchers and merch during their shift.

Navigating your relationship with your HDR supervisor can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging. Finding Balance is a four-session group designed to help you build practical communication skills, set healthy boundaries, and approach difficult conversations with greater confidence.

Through discussion, reflection, mindfulness activities and practical exercises, you'll learn how to:

Facilitated by counsellors from the ANU Counselling Centre and is designed specifically for HDR students. To get the most from the program, attendance at all four sessions is strongly encouraged.

Friday 9 to Saturday 10 October

Open to students through Division X, Inward Bound is a unique bush navigation challenge that has been part of ANU for more than 60 years. The running event is open to our student residence teams as well as other interested members of the ANU community through Division X. Whether you're a trail runner, hiker or simply looking for a new challenge, it's an unforgettable experience.

If you'd like to learn more or have any questions, please contact the Division X team at safetylegal.inwardbound@gmail.com.

Tucked away on campus, the ANU MakerSpace is where sketches become prototypes, broken things get a second life and curiosity turns into something you can actually hold.

Whether you're an engineer building a prototype, an artist experimenting with new materials or someone who's simply wondered how a 3D printer works, the MakerSpace is open to every member of the ANU community. Membership is free for ANU students and staff, no matter what you study or where you work, it's a place to explore, create and learn by doing.

Step inside and you'll discover an impressive collection of tools and equipment. From 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machinery to sewing machines, electronics benches and vinyl cutters, there's no shortage of ways to turn an idea into something tangible. But what makes the MakerSpace special isn't the equipment – it's the people. Experienced staff, volunteers and fellow makers are there to help you learn new techniques, solve problems and build confidence, whether it's your first project or your fiftieth.

So, if you've ever thought, "I wish I could make that," this Hidden Gem might be the place to find out that you can.