Manuka (/ˈmɑːnəkə/ MAH-nə-kə, sometimes pronounced as /mɑːˈnuːkə/ Ma-NOO-ka) is an area in the Inner South district of Canberra, Australia covering parts of the suburbs of Griffith and Forrest.

Manuka Circle was on Walter Burley Griffin's original plan for Canberra and named after the Leptospermum scoparium, a flowering tree native to New Zealand and south-eastern Australia.

The decision to develop business centres at both Kingston (then called Eastlake) and Manuka, which were within one-half mile (800 m) of each other had been made in the absence of Sir John Sulman, the chair of the Federal Capital Advisory Committee.

The opening of the Capitol Theatre, and the convent school associated with St Christopher's Catholic cathedral, allowed the Manuka businesses to develop competitively.

St Christopher's Cathedral is adjacent to the shopping district, and is technically located in the suburb of Forrest.

[15] It is listed in the ACT Heritage Register as an "...excellent example of an Inter-War Gothic church with Art Deco influences".

[16] It was the first place in Australia to install a combination organ and has one of a small number of rings of bells in the Australian Capital Territory.

It is situated on the corner of Canberra Avenue and Captain Cook Crescent, opposite Manuka Oval.

The Capitol Theatre was one of Canberra's most important centres for entertainment in the early life of the city, with many plays and films.