Ways to make friends in Canberra

Meeting new people in Canberra is easier than you think.

The city’s wealth of events and interest groups will help you extend your social circle.

We’ve put together some ideas to help you make new friends in the capital.

You may even pick up a new hobby in the process.

There are loads of events happening in Canberra every day. And you can see plenty of them on the Meetup website.

From boardgames to yoga, language practice to dancing, there’s bound to be something to suit you.

In many cases, everyone’s a newcomer, so you’ll find others in the same boat.

Volunteering can be a great way to find both connection and purpose. You could:

Team sports can foster friendships, as well as an active lifestyle.

Whether you’re super competitive or just keen for a bit of fun, you’ll find heaps of possibilities.

If playing sport isn’t quite enough, why not get involved as a coach, referee or team manager? Or why not have a crack at one of the lesser-known sports in the ACT.

If you’re a student, there are lots of ways to find your people on campus.

Most of these include a calendar of events. And if you can’t find a specific club, why not start your own?

If you’ve got a dog, you already share an interest with thousands of Canberrans.

Young women can reach out to Girls Club CBR to join an introvert-friendly walk.

Keen to step up the pace? You could get involved with the Parkrun culture. Some running groups, like Running for Resilience, combine exercise with a drink and conversation.

Those with young kids can meet other parents and carers through ACT Playgroups. Paint and Play mornings are run each day in various locations.

Canberra is home to several free trivia spots. Why not hit up some colleagues or neighbours to build a team? There’s nothing like bonding over a tricky geography question.

You can usually also just turn up to find a team on the night.

Canberra has some amazing book clubs to join. You can find some through social media, or you can join and create one through ACT Libraries.

Canberra is a haven for anyone into gaming, science, technology or fantasy.

Pair a movie screening with a chance to chat with other film buffs.

There’s also an ever-changing program of indie films, cult classics and documentaries screened at the National Film and Sound Archive. There are also regular events for film-lovers.

The ACT also has several groups set up to help people build their network.

These cater to different age groups and interests. They include:

Whether you already have a passion or are scouting around for a new hobby, you won’t need to look far for like-minded locals.

Social enterprise Café Stepping Stone runs various events at its Dickson and Strathnairn locations.

Canberra boasts a plethora of LGBTIQA+ friendly activities and groups. You’ll find everything from tennis to roller derby, choir to drama.

ADF members and their families can find local information and events on the Defence website.

Feeling lonely can have serious impacts on both mental and physical health.