Manuka Oval is a venue in Canberra
Normal merchandise stands can be found inside and outside Manuka Oval.
Right at the top of the list would be 'Public' bar right on the corner of Flinders Way and Franklin Street in Manuka. Good selection of well priced beers, along with a modern and tasty menu. Roughly 400 metres from the ground too making it a great spot to meet mates pre/post game.
Expect the normal bag checks upon entry into the ground, but in general, a very safe place to watch sports.
Manuka has some great places to eat before and after matches. Polit bar is a great venue all year round with a really good food menu. They also play host to a heap of other events right throughout the year.
Heaps to see and do all around Canberra. Must-do's would be the Australian War Memorial and a Parliament House tour. If you're into your fitness, Lake Burley Griffin has a running/cycling track all the way around it.
Manuka is very central, roughly 10 minutes from Parliament House. If you're staying in central Canberra, you'll be within walking distance of the oval.
Limited street parking in the vicinity on match days means you've either got to get in early, or be prepared to walk a little further. Parking at all events in Canberra is very reasonable so it really depends on your budget and tolerance levels for post-game traffic!
With the increased number of AFL and international cricket events at Manuka in recent years, the quality of the food and drink inside the ground has also improved. Whilst not quite Michelin star quality yet, you can certainly get a bit more variety than your pie and chips…not that there's anything wrong with a pie and chips!
The GWS Giants have worked very hard in the ACT community to generate some local support for their 'home' matches in Canberra. Crowds at AFL matches are generally spread though with Canberrans happy to see top level footy played in their city regardless of who is playing.
If you remember the good old days of the VFL where standing in the outer was your thing, Manuka Oval is probably the closest thing to that. Grab yourself a pie and a beer and mingle with the AFL loving locals.
There's plenty of reserved seating, but make sure you pre-book. There's not a lot of covered areas so bear the weather in mind if a bit of rain makes you uncomfortable. Prices are normal season prices, starting around $25 for general admission.