Getting To Enlighten Festival

Consider leaving the car at home, or somewhere close by and completing your journey to the Enlighten Festival with Transport Canberra.

If you are unable to access the free-shuttle bus, there are multiple existing services that will stop within the National Triangle. Please see list of services below:

• 57 – City Interchange– Woden Interchange via Garran (drop off at Langton Cres – short walk required)
• 58 – City Interchange – Woden Interchange (drop off at Langton Cres – short walk required)
• R4 – Belconnen – Tuggeranong (stop on Commonwealth Ave near Albert Hall – short walk required)
• R5 – City West – Lanyon (stop on Commonwealth Ave near Albert Hall – short walk required)
• R7 – City West – Duffy (stop on Commonwealth Ave near Albert Hall – short walk required)
• R10 – Denman Prospect – City interchange (stop on Commonwealth Ave near Albert Hall – short walk required)

Due to event road closures, some bus detours and bus stop closures will be in place. For more information on transport options and for changes to bus services visit www.transport.act.gov.au.

The National Triangle is located in one of the most picturesque parts of the city. Consider parking in the city or along Lake Burley Griffin and walking or riding to the festival.

Bike racks are located within the National Triangle including at each of the national institutions and also locations around the lake. Bikes are not permitted within the Enlighten Festival hub however can be secured at designated points near each entry point to the festival. Please note you will need to provide you own bike lock.

During Enlighten Festival, there will be a No Ride Zone within the National Triangle. The No Ride Zone will be in effect from 5pm on Friday 1 March and end at midnight Monday 11 March 2024. This is in the interest of public safety.

There will be four parking zones on each side on the event space.

Users will be notified of parking location changes via the Beam and Neuron App.

To make it even easier to move around the Enlighten Festival locations throughout the city and the National Triangle, a free Shuttle Bus will operate from 1-11 March.

This shuttle will run on a 30 minute loop every day from 1-11 March, stopping at the following places:

Shuttle Stops

• Constitution Ave opp Convention Centre – Stop ID 3035
• London Circuit (Legislative Assembly/Theatre) – Stop ID 3356
• East Row/Mort Street (Interchange) – Platform 5
• Ainslie Ave (Canberra Centre main entrance) – Stop ID 3052
• Parkes Place East/ King Edward Terrace (Enlighten Entry) – Stop ID 3261
• Return

A detailed timetable showing times for each stop is available here, please be aware that there may be delays to the service. Additional buses will be running Friday to Sunday and on public holidays.

Each Night:

First service departs at Constitution Avenue opp Convention Centre – 5:00pm

Last Service departs Parkes Place East and King Edward Terrace Stop – 11:20 pm (terminating at Constitution Ave opp Convention Centre at 11:25pm)

Vision Impaired

Vision impaired customers can use hailing kit ID ‘E1’ to signal the Enlighten shuttle service.

National Triangle

Parking within the National Triangle is limited. A map displaying car park spaces within the National Triangle is available here.

Please ensure that where you have parked is a valid spot and you have checked if you need to purchase a ticket. The National Capital Authority will be enforcing parking regulations for the duration of this event, and attendees should ensure they park legally to avoid the risk of an infringement being issued to their vehicle.

After 5pm there are various free public car parks throughout the National Triangle. There is also parking at each of the participating National Attractions. On weekdays and weekends the public car parks within the National Triangle will operate under normal conditions.

Due to traffic congestion during the event it is recommended that patrons avoid parking in the National Library of Australia carparks. Please note the large car park at Questacon will not be accessible from 5pm onwards.

Please note that the carpark at John Gorton East, is temporarily closed.

Commonwealth Park

There is limited parking available at Regatta Point. We recommend parking at the CIT Reid, Civic Pool, National Convention Centre or City Hill (off London Circuit) car parks and then walking across the pedestrian bridge over Parkes Way.

A map displaying car park spaces surrounding Commonwealth Park is available here.

Accessible parking if attending events after 5pm:
There is a dedicated accessible car park located behind Questacon. You will be required to show your valid Accessible Parking Permit to security at the road closures to gain access.

Free accessible parking is available in most public car parks and Enlighten Illuminations participating attractions car parks. Parking is limited and vehicles must display an authorised Accessible Parking Permit.

A map of displaying accessible car park spaces within the National Triangle is available here.

Accessible parking for the Canberra Balloon Spectacular:

If attending the Canberra Balloon Spectacular, free accessible parking is available in most public car parks and Enlighten Illuminations participating attractions car parks. Parking is limited and vehicles must display an authorised Accessible Parking Permit.

Car parks closest to Patrick White Lawns include the car parks at the National Library of Australia, Questacon: the National Science and Technology Centre and the Treasury Building.

We recommend arriving early to secure a car park close to Patrick White Lawns

Existing taxi ranks on Parkes Place East and West will operate as normal.

A traffic management plan will be in place from 5:00pm – midnight on Friday 1 March till Monday 11 March 2024 and includes the below road closures:

• Mall Road West (Questacon Bus Loop)
• King George Terrace closed between Parkes Place East and Parkes Place West
• National Library of Australia internal loop road (one-way section)
• Queen Elizabeth Terrace between Parkes Place East and Parkes Place West
• Parkes Place West is closed north of King Edward Terrace with access to National Library of Australia car park only. All other vehicles utilising this road to access the Questacon carpark will require a parking permit or an accessible parking pass and will go through a Traffic Marshall
• Parliament Square at Queen Victoria Terrace
• Dorothy Tangney Place

There will also be an additional road closure on King Edward Terrace (between Parkes Place East and Mall Road West) from 10:00am Thursday 29 February to 5:00pm Tuesday 12 March.

Review the Enlighten Festival Map to see where road closures will be in place.

Due to event road closures, some bus detours and bus stop closures will be in place. For more information on transport options and for changes to bus services visit www.transport.act.gov.au.

In addition to the festival specific road closures, please be aware that construction work around the city may impact how you get to Enlighten Festival. For more information view the latest updates on Travel Impacts.