South-west of Capital Hill, find wide leafy streets with embassies, cosy cafés and natural reserves. Also learn how Australian dollar coins are made.

Drive down Deakin’s peaceful boulevards past one international embassy or high commission after another. The suburb borders on stately Capital Hill, the location of Australia’s Parliament House and the centre of the nation’s political life. These institutions spread into the more residential parts of the city alongside other attractions of Deakin.

Visit the Royal Australian Mint where the robot, known as Titan, makes coins to circulate around Australia. Every piece of the country’s currency is made here. Find out more about local money at the Mint’s National Coin Collection. Exhibitions are full of audio-visual content and information, including behind-the-scenes films revealing the fascinating way in which these ordinary objects circulate. The mint is especially popular for families. Press your own $1 coin at the Coin Shop.

Relax in a small patch of green at Latrobe Park. This borders the much larger Red Hill Nature Park, where you can walk among trees blooming with native flowers, find pieces of ancient volcanic stone and look for rare Perunga grasshoppers jumping about. Hike or drive to the central lookout for a wonderful view of this unique city. Play a round of golf at the spacious Federal Golf Club and dodge kangaroos looking for food near the river, in the shade of eucalypts.

Admire gorgeous artworks at Beaver Galleries, a private gallery featuring Australian artists. Find paintings, sculpture, ceramics and jewellery and investigate the revolving exhibitions. Enjoy lunch at the gallery’s lovely Palette Café and browse the stylish gift shop.

Find most of Deakin’s commercial activity and essential services, including a major hospital, in the vicinity of the Royal Australian Mint. More cafés and restaurants are located just off Hopetoun Circuit. At the edge of Capital Hill, get a glimpse of the Prime Minister’s Lodge, one of the traditional residences of Australia’s political leader. Public buses make regular stops along the major streets in Deakin. The suburb’s neighbours to the south are Curtin and Hughes.