Corin Forest

Corin Forest is a high-country playground on the western edge of the Australian Capital Territory, offering a refreshing escape from Canberra's city heat. This lush pocket of tall eucalypts and crisp mountain air transforms with the seasons – in summer it’s a cool retreat for bushwalking and picnics, while winter brings a surprising dose of snow play and Australia’s only artificial-snow tubing park. It’s a low-key, family-friendly destination that feels a world away, yet is just 45 minutes from the capital.

Highlights & What to See

• Mountain Bike Trails – A network of cross-country and downhill tracks winds through the forest, with options for beginners to advanced riders. Bring your own bike or hire on-site.
• Alpine Slide – A 1.2 km concrete luge track that lets you control your speed as you carve down the hillside – great fun for all ages.
• Snowplay & Tubing (winter) – When the mercury drops, the artificial snowfield opens for tubing, tobogganing and snowman-building. No skiing, just pure snow fun.
• Bushwalking – Several short trails lead through towering mountain ash and mossy gullies; keep an eye out for crimson rosellas and wallabies.
• Picnic & BBQ Areas – Scattered under the trees, with fireplaces and tables – perfect for a lazy lunch after a morning of activity.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most visitors spend a half-day at Corin Forest – enough time for a couple of runs on the alpine slide, a short walk and a picnic. If you’re mountain biking or want to hike deeper into the Namadgi National Park trails that border the forest, plan for a full day. In winter, the snowplay area can get busy on weekends, so arriving early (by 10am) gives you the best experience.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Namadgi National Park – Just south of Corin Forest, this vast wilderness offers serious bushwalking, Aboriginal rock art sites and the historic Yankee Hat shelter.
• Gibraltar Falls – A 10-minute drive away, these cascading falls plunge into a deep pool – a great spot for a cool-off swim in summer.
• Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve – Famous for its koala sanctuary and wetland boardwalks, it’s an easy detour on the way back to Canberra.
• Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex – NASA’s antenna array at Tidbinbilla is a fascinating stop for space buffs, with an excellent visitor centre.
• Lanyon Homestead – A beautifully preserved 19th-century property with gardens and a café, located on the route between Canberra and Corin Forest.

Please check official sources for current details.