How could a first visit to Canberra be complete without a visit to the famous Lilliput as we like to call it?

You can find it by searching “Cockington Green Gardens” on Google. It’s about a 20-25 minute drive from the centre of Canberra.

The park isn’t very large, so take your time and a leisurely stroll should be enough in about an hour and a half. There’s a mini children’s play area inside, but it’s a bit outdated, so kids might not be entertained for too long. The entire park is made up of miniature landscapes featuring iconic buildings from various countries, although there isn’t a specific representation of China and we wish to see it next time when we come!

Our experience

This garden consists of two parts: the first part is a miniature world created at a 12:1 scale to resemble their hometown in England (Yorkshire), which was built by the Cockington family because they missed England dearly.

It has a very lifelike atmosphere, with each scene depicting various aspects of British life, including playing cricket, waiting for trains, delivering newspapers, watching sports, going in and out of pubs, and fixing cars.

The other part is the international display, showcasing famous buildings from dozens of countries. We particularly loved Argentina’s Caminito St, Slovakia’s Chateau Bojnice, and Ukraine’s St Andrews Church.

The steam train is a must-ride

The steam train is a must-ride each time! You’ll need to purchase an additional ticket at the entrance ticket booth, which costs $3 per person (children under 4 years old are free). The little train runs on a fixed timetable, and the reception will provide you with the schedule. Trains depart every 45 minutes (there are 4 departures in the morning and 5 in the afternoon).

After exploring the garden, adding a 2-hour train ride is sufficient. Inside, there’s a gift shop, a cafe, toilets, and a kids’ playground.

Nearby, you’ll also find the Canberra Reptile Zoo and the National Dinosaur Museum, which is enough to keep a family with kids entertained for a whole day.