Lifestyle
Where are the best suburbs to raise a family in Canberra?
Amaroo takes the top spot as the best suburb to raise a family in Canberra, closely followed by Hawker, Nicholls and Harrison.
Canberra's 10 best family friendly suburbs
| Suburb | Theft incidents 2017 | Primary schools | High schools | Public colleges (Years 11-12) | Sports grounds | Playgrounds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amaroo | 52 | 1 | 1 | 0 (1 nearby) | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | Hawker | 75 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Nicholls | 84 | 1 | 1 | 0 (1 nearby) | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Harrison | 85 | 1 | 1 | 0 (1 nearby) | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | Deakin | 86 | 0 (4 nearby) | 1 | 0 (1 nearby) | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | Kaleen | 92 | 2 | 1 | 0 (2 nearby) | 3 | 0 |
| 7 | Ainslie | 117 | 1 | 0 (1 nearby) | 0 (1 nearby) | 2 | 1 |
| 8 | Holt | 135 | 1 | 1 | 0 (2 nearby) | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | Mawson | 185 | 1 | 0 (1 nearby) | 0 (1 nearby) | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | Kambah | 319 | 2 | 1 | 0 (1 nearby) | 3 | 1 |
Our list is based on the number of incidents of theft in the suburb in 2017 (according to ACT Policing), the number of public primary schools, high schools, and colleges in the suburb, and the number of sports grounds and playgrounds.
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#1 Amaroo
Amaroo, in the Gungahlin region north of the city, is our top pick for a family-friendly suburb.
Safety is a priority in Amaroo. Amaroo School is one of twenty schools in Canberra that hired a school crossing supervisor at the beginning of this year. The school also runs school holiday programs that will be convenient for your family.
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If your kids like playing sport, they will enjoy Amaroo’s sporting facilities. Amaroo Oval is a popular sportsground for all kinds of sports, including little athletics, AFL, and touch football.
Only a short distance from Amaroo there is a great playground at Yerrabi Pond District Park. This playground has a pirate ship for younger kids and a flying fox for older kids. The park also has a skateboard area, bike paths and a basketball court.
#2 Hawker
Hawker in the north-west of Canberra is known for its restaurants. Some of the most popular are Rocksalt, known for its pasta, and Olive At Hawker, with a modern Mediterranean cuisine.
Hawker borders on Pinnacle Nature Reserve, which has a popular walking trail. The reserve offers great views, especially from The Pinnacle, the highest point. You may also come across some wildlife on your walk, including kangaroos, wallabies, and maybe even an echidna.
Hawker also has its own college. Given that there are only 9 public colleges in Canberra, having a college in your suburb is a huge advantage, so that your kids can avoid spending hours travelling to and from school.
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#3 Nicholls
Nicholls, north of Canberra, has a number of tourist attractions that the kids will enjoy. The suburb is home to Cockington Green, a garden full of miniature buildings, as well as the Canberra Reptile Zoo and the Canberra Walk-in Aviary.
Gold Creek Village has lots of cafes, such as Adore Tea House, as well as restaurants, galleries and gift shops.
The Gungahlin Lakes Golf & Community Club, also in Nicholls, has performances every Sunday by local musicians.
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#4 Harrison
There are some great activities for kids in Harrison, another suburb in the Gungahlin district. The Glow Worm Grove playground is a popular shaded playground in Harrison. There’s also Gungaderra Homestead, a heritage-listed property from the late 1800s. It is now used as a community function facility for workshops and classes.
Harrison’s best-known eateries include Thai Herb Restaurant and PunchForon Restaurant, with Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine.
Change Coaching Australia in Harrison runs various classes, including Cardiobox, a group fitness class.
#5 Deakin
There’s lots to do in Deakin, from doing your own embassy tour, to taking a trip to the Royal Australian Mint, to seeing an exhibition at Beaver Galleries.
Deakin’s Doubleshot cafe is a hugely popular venue for breakfast, lunch, or just a good cup of coffee. The EQ Cafe and Lounge and Locale Pizzeria are also well-known restaurants in Deakin. The EQ Bakehouse is listed as one of the best bakeries in Canberra.
Deakin has two popular school holiday programs, one at Kids Pantry Cooking School and the other at the Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre, which is part of Questacon.
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Overall, Canberra is well-suited to families with its low population, low crime rate, and high number of tourist attractions.
Check out our article on Australia’s safest suburbs.
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Tags: canberra, family home, relocate, education, first home buyer, upsizing
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