Bungendore, located just 30 minutes east of Canberra, was named Australia’s Top Small Tourism Town for 2025, and spending a single day here makes it easy to see why. Long summer days, open shop doors and an unhurried pace set the tone for a visit that suits girlfriends, sisters, daughters or mums, with an easy mix of good food, thoughtful shopping and gentle exploration.
A good day here often starts with some movement. Roll into town nice and early to join the Bungendore Common parkrun at 8am that takes off from Turallo Terrace or book into a Pilates class at Wellbeing Pilates Studio on Ellendon Street.
The routine isn’t complete without the post-run or post-class coffee. Fortunately, every Saturday from 9am–12pm, the Farmers Markets are on in the Village Square. Slowly make your way through with a freshly baked good in one hand, and a hot coffee in the other. There are so many goodies to take home here, from Bees R Us’ local honey, From the Paddock’s jams and pickles, to Village Coffee Roastery’s beans.
Beyond the markets, here are some shops and galleries worth visiting.
Home and interiors
- Manon & Moss: a curated collection of European-inspired mirrors, frames, and garden statues and fountains. Viewing is by appointment only, so plan ahead.
- Village Antiques: the district’s largest range of vintage finds, from antique furniture, lamps and mirrors to unexpected oddities.
Art and galleries
- Bungendore Fine Arts Gallery: an ever-changing display of about 150 paintings that span a range of tastes and budgets. Artists and partners are on hand to answer questions from visitors.
- Water Through Reeds: a family-run gallery in a restored pre-Federation building with paintings, photography, ceramics, sculpture and textiles.
Jewellery and boutique shopping
- X Gallery: one-of-a-kind pieces from local silversmith, Xanthe Gay, as well as showcases of other artists’ work in a unique 1900s building. Learn more about Xanthe and X Gallery here.
- Bungendore Leather and Trading: a long-standing family business known for leather coats, vests and accessories, as well as cow hides and sheepskins for the home. The space also doubles as a gallery of rural artefacts and family memorabilia.
The Malbon is also worth a wander. It is like a one-stop-shop of all things beautiful, from antiques and homewares, to locally made ceramics and jewellery. There is also a florist with locally grown fresh and dried flowers as well as a nursery with an array of outdoor pots and garden sculptures. While you’re here, grab a second coffee from Eric’s at the Malbon.
If retail therapy isn’t enough, book yourself in for the real thing. Head to W Wellness Centre, the town’s dedicated home of professional therapists, for massage therapy, infrared sauna, float pod therapy, facials and more; you’ll need to book in advance. There is also Pretzel Massage and Bodywork where you can customise your massage, without the need to choose strictly between remedial or relaxation; take note that as there is only one therapist, simultaneous bookings are not available for groups.
For lunch, duck into Scrumpers Kitchen for a menu that celebrates a nose-to-tail and root-to-flower ethos. The menu is so seasonally and locally driven that it changes weekly and often daily. Enjoy lunch in their heritage dining room or beautiful outdoor courtyard, complete with an eclectic, second-hand mix of tableware.
In the same building is Sapling Yard’s cellar door and wine room, helmed by award-winning winemakers Carla Rodeghiero and Malcolm Burdett. In 2025, they won a Top Wineries Australia award from The Real Review, so their small-batch cool-climate wines are verified crowdpleasers. Park up on their sunny verandah and enjoy a tasting of four or six wines. The tasting fees are redeemable if you purchase three or more bottles.
(If you missed something from the Farmers Markets earlier, you might be able to find them here at the Southern Harvest Community Store!)
On your way back to Canberra, pull into the Glenburn Heritage Precinct and the Kowen Forest for a walk. Three well-marked trails wind through the area, with the Glenburn Heritage Loop Trail passing key heritage sites including Glenburn Homestead, the Glenburn Shearing Quarters and Shearing Shed, the former Kowen School Site and the Colverwell graves, among the oldest in the Canberra region, dating back to 1837.
This loop trail, marked green, is 12 kilometres and takes approximately four hours. Tackle as much of it as suits your day and leave the rest for next time because while Bungendore is a place that feels complete in a single visit, there are always plenty of reasons to come back.
Written by Thuc Do for Visit Queanbeyan-Palerang.