The Telstra Tower / Black Mountain, Canberra

Probably the most visited (over 430,000 visitors per annum) of the three main “peaks” in Canberra. The other two being Mount Ainslie and Red Hill Lookouts. It is the only one of the three that charges an admission fee. Given vegetation around the base of the tower you will see nothing unless you pay and go up the tower.

Once up the tower the views are excellent. A 360 degree panorama of Canberra and its rural surroundings.

The Tower itself is a 195m telecommunications tower atop Black Mountain at 812 metres. It was opened, despite a feeling of outrage and vigorous protest on aesthetic and ecological grounds (including a Supreme Court challenge) by vocal protesters, in May 1980 by the then Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser.

In addition to a viewing gallery it incorporates a theatrette, Panorama Cafe and gift shop and the five star Alto Tower Restaurant, Canberra's only revolving restaurant which, I feel, owes its success more to the views that its overpriced and unspectacular food. The café is also overpriced for basic fare and the gift shop carries a large range of mostly tacky souvenir’s (better value elsewhere).

Personally I prefer the view (down Anzac Parade ) from Mount Ainslie Lookout and it’s free.

The viewing gallery, cafe and gift shop are open from 9.00 am until 10.00 pm, 365 days per year.

Alto Tower Restaurant is open for lunch Thursday to Sunday from 12pm, and dinner Tuesday to Sunday from 6pm.

The Tower is not accessible by public transport so you drive there, take a taxi, cycle (hard ride) or preferably (assuming average level of fitness) walk. Black Mountain has numerous walking tracks including a summit walk from the National Botanical Gardens at the base of the mountain.

Note: I have also included the Tower under “tourist traps” .

Entrance Fee

Adult : $7.50
Child : $3.00 - Children under 4 free
Family : $17.00 - Two adults and two children
Concession : $3.00

The Telstra Tower is where you must certainly have the best view of all Canberra - from the top of the hill/mountain looking down on the lake and valley. I think it's about $4 for adults to go to the observation deck.

The tower rises 195 metres above the summit of Black Mountain, providing 360 degree views of Canberra and the countryside around it.

The tower is more than a landmark and viewing gallery, however. It has a functional role in providing state-of-the-art telecommunications facilities for Canberra. In the lower level of the Tower's entrance foyer, the exhibition "Making Connections" traces the history of Australian telecommunications from the earliest days into the 21st century.

The black mountain is a good spot to go for a picnic.One can spot birds and just enjoy the beautiful atmosphere around.
The telstra tower offers a great view of the city.There is a small fee to go up the tower.
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A perfect lookout double act. - 195m tower built on an 812m hill. The telecommunications tower, in Canberra's west, offers 360 degree views of the nation's capital and surrounds, including Parliament House, Lake Burley Griffin, the Australina Institute of Sort and further in the Brindabella Ranges and Mt. Ainslie.
The tower houses the revolving Alto Restaurant, which does a full circuit in about 85 minutes.
An exhibtion, tracing the history of Australian telecommunicationsis in the entrance foyer.

The tower is open daily from 9a.m to 10p.m
Adults $6 and children $1.90

This tower is in a very isolated location and not accesible by public transport. It was very disappointing inside, as the interior of the tower is in much need of modernisation, and the view is hardly spectacular. And the coffee shop wasn't even open for business.

The admission fee is $4.40 which gives you access to 2 outdoor viewing platforms and 1 indoor.

what a disgusting excuse for a restaurant, the teltra towers rotating restaurant is run by the most judgmental, pathetic excuse for a manager we have ever come across, with little to no customer service skills what so ever. As a young couple in our mid 20's on holiday in Canberra with money to spend on a romantic dinner we made the mistake of choosing this restaurant, to our disgust we were refused service after being seated by a waitress, who later denied showing us to a table after the manager rudely approached us and accused us of seating ourselves and then once told otherwise, openly discussed our presence to fellow staff members at the bar, telling the waiter to lie to us about the kitchen being closed, which was obviously untrue due to the other customers awaiting their meals at 7.30pm! what a disgusting act of judgment, as a business who are they to choose who they serve and don't serve based on the appearance of the social status of their customers, we were dressed neatly and appeared presentable, apart from being the youngest people in the restaurant. how unaustralian, and snobby do you have to be to be accepted in such a place, as nice as it looked with the view over Canberra, is it really worth supporting the poor attitude that they run their business by, humiliating their customers at their own leisure for no clear reason, what can only be assumed as poor judgment. our story is long, with the complaints, all we can say is dont waste your time or money with such a business, we would recommend the local pizza place well above this so called fancy tourist site.

Black Mountain is probably best known for the Telstra Tower that sits on top of it and the National Botanic Gardens that cover 50 hectares on its slops.

The maze of tracks are popular with hikers with the slopes being planted entirely with native trees and plants.

Telstra Tower is formerly known as Telecom Tower - The tower rises 195 metres above the summit of Black Mountain and has become a well known landmark in the city but it also provides state-of-the-art telecommunications facilities for the Capital.

The lower level of the Tower houses an exhibition tracing the history of Australian telecommunications. You can see old equipment and photographs.

Here you see the Telstra Tower and rises 195 meters above the summit of Black Mountain and provides 360-degree views of Canberra and the surrounding countryside. Stunning views of the city can be seen by day are nights from two open viewing platforms or enclosed viewing gallery. This place is really worth a visit.
See for more pics and info in the
Telstra Tower travelogue please.