Top 1 · Canberra City · Hotel review
Top 1 Casino Hotel: Crowne Plaza Canberra Review
1. Summary
An IHG hotel on Binara Street, on the edge of Glebe Park and a short walk from the National Convention Centre. This report covers the rooms, the leisure facilities, eating in, what is within walking distance and how to get there, with the points worth confirming before you book.
| Location | 1 Binara Street, Canberra City ACT, Australia — central Canberra, a short walk from Civic and the Canberra Centre |
|---|---|
| Suits | Conference and event visitors, short city breaks, travellers who want to walk to shops and the theatre |
| Price level | Upper mid-range for central Canberra |
| Publisher | This review is published by Casino Canberra Limited, which operates Casino Canberra on Binara Street. It does not own or manage Crowne Plaza Canberra. |
| Booking | Official IHG listing, or compare rates on Booking.com — links below |
Pros
- Park-side setting in the middle of the city
- A short walk from the National Convention Centre
- Walkable to Civic, the Canberra Centre and the theatre
- Fitness centre, plus an outdoor pool in the warmer months
Cons
- On-site parking carries a daily fee and cannot be booked ahead
- Can be busy when large events are on nearby
- The pool is seasonal; there is no airport shuttle
2. Rooms
The hotel offers standard and premium rooms — some with two double beds, others with one king — and several suite categories. Some rooms look over Glebe Park, which is the main thing to ask about if the view matters to you; others face the city streets.
Room names, bed configurations and sizes change over time, so check room types on the official listing before you book. If you are travelling for an event at the convention centre, it is worth asking about quieter floors or a park-facing room when you reserve.
3. Pools & spa
Guests have a fitness centre and an outdoor pool. The pool opens in the warmer months only and depends on the weather, so do not count on it for a stay between late autumn and early spring.
Check current hours for the pool and fitness centre with the hotel before relying on them.
4. Restaurants & bars
Redsalt, the hotel restaurant, overlooks Glebe Park and serves breakfast and an à la carte dinner. Lume Bar sits in the lobby for a drink before or after an evening out. Check opening hours, and whether breakfast is included in your rate, before you arrive.
Civic’s cafes and restaurants are a short walk away, and the streets around the Canberra Centre give plenty of choice for dinner.
5. Shows & entertainment
The hotel’s position is its strength here: much of central Canberra’s evening programme is on foot.
- Canberra Theatre Centre — a short walk, with touring productions, music and comedy
- National Convention Centre — a short walk; conferences, exhibitions and public events
- National institutions — galleries and museums host talks, late openings and exhibitions
- Glebe Park — outdoor festivals and markets at certain times of the year
- Casino Canberra, a short walk away
6. What’s nearby
On foot
- Glebe Park, right beside the hotel
- The Canberra Centre shops and Civic
- Canberra Theatre Centre
Short trip by bus, taxi or car
- Lake Burley Griffin
- Parliament House, about 3 km
- Australian War Memorial, about 2 km
- National Gallery of Australia
- Questacon
7. Getting there
- By air: Canberra Airport (CBR) is about 15–20 minutes by taxi or rideshare. The hotel does not run an airport shuttle.
- Light rail: the line runs along Northbourne Avenue, with a stop in the city nearby.
- By road from Sydney: about a 3-hour drive.
- Address: 1 Binara Street, Canberra City ACT.
8. Practical information
| Taxes and fees | Australian rates usually include GST. Confirm at booking whether the price shown is the final amount and whether any extra fees apply. |
|---|---|
| Parking | Undercover on-site parking for a daily fee; it cannot be booked in advance. Confirm the current charge with the hotel. |
| Check-in / out | Check-in from 3 pm, check-out by 11 am — confirm at booking, especially for early arrivals. |
| Cancellation | Depends on the rate. Flexible and prepaid rates usually differ — read the conditions before you pay. |
| Best season | Autumn (March–May, around the Enlighten festival period) and spring (Floriade, September–October). June to August is cold, with frosty mornings. |
| Check-in age | The person checking in is normally required to be an adult; confirm the minimum age with the hotel. |
9. Alternatives
If the dates do not work, these central Canberra hotels are worth comparing.
Hotel Realm
In the Barton precinct, closer to Parliament House and the lake-side institutions.
Official siteQT Canberra
On London Circuit in the city, a design-led option near Civic.
Official siteOvolo Nishi
In NewActon, near the western edge of the city and the lake.
Official site
10. FAQ
Where exactly is Crowne Plaza Canberra?
At 1 Binara Street in Canberra City, beside Glebe Park and a short walk from the National Convention Centre.
Does the hotel have a pool?
There is an outdoor pool open in the warmer months only, depending on the weather, and a fitness centre. Check current hours before your stay.
How far is the airport?
About 15–20 minutes by taxi or rideshare. There is no airport shuttle.
Is parking included?
No. Undercover on-site parking is charged daily and cannot be reserved ahead — confirm the current fee with the hotel.
Who publishes this review?
This review is published by Casino Canberra Limited, which operates Casino Canberra on Binara Street. It does not own or manage Crowne Plaza Canberra. It is a guide published by Casino Canberra Limited, not an independent review.
Does this site earn money from bookings?
Yes, possibly. Booking partners can pay us when a reservation follows one of our tracked links; what you pay is unchanged.
How this review was written
We pieced this page together from the hotel’s own published information and from public information about central Canberra, its transport and its institutions. We do not give scores, and we do not quote prices because they change daily. Where a detail depends on the hotel’s current operations — facility hours, room types, parking — we flag it so you can check it yourself.
This review is published by Casino Canberra Limited, which operates Casino Canberra on Binara Street. It does not own or manage Crowne Plaza Canberra. We may earn a commission from some outbound links. Neither of these affects what is written here; read the commission disclosure and about page for the detail.