Canberra: City Sights
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial commemorates those lost in war to learn about the Australian wartime experience.
National Gallery of Australia
The National Gallery of Australia is the premier art institution in Australia, with a collection of more than 100,000 works of art across four main areas: Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Asian and International. The gallery has comprehensive exhibitions, a permanent display, and a traveling exhibitions program.
Parliament House
Australia’s Parliament House – surmounted by a colossal stainless-steel flagpole and set in 23 hectares of gardens on Capital Hill – is the focal point of Canberra. You are welcome to visit from 9am-5pm on non-sitting days and from 9am to when the house rises on sitting days.
National Library of Australia
More than five million books and magazines are housed at the National Library of Australia beside Lake Burley Griffin. It also holds more than 40,000 paintings, drawings and prints, more than 9,000 metres of manuscripts, 550,000 photographs, hundreds of thousands of maps, aerial photographs and music scores and more than 50,000 oral history recordings.
Questacon at the National Science and Technology Centre
Engage your mind, body and emotion at the exhibitions and performances at Questacon, Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre.
Australian Institute of Sport
Home to some of Australia’s current and future Olympians, the Australian Institute of Sport celebrates Australia’s proud sporting culture and has shaped some of our best sports people such as Mark Viduka, Lauren Jackson, Glenn McGrath and Louise Sauvage. Take an inspiring 90 minute tour with an elite athlete to get a unique insight into the institute, and test your athletic skills in the fun interactive Sportex exhibition.
National Museum of Australia
Learn about our land, nation and people at the National Museum of Australia. There is a remarkable collection of indigenous art and culture from Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Australian Reptile Centre
Come face to face with some of Australia’s largest, deadliest and most colourful reptiles in the Australian Reptile Gallery. In the Prehistory Gallery, the Reptiles in Space and Time exhibition graphically portray the evolution of reptiles. Meet a friendly carpet python at the Snake Tales educational program.
Australian Reptile Centre
Cockington Green Gardens
Take a ride on the mini steam train around this miniature village. See miniature buildings representative of Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Hungary, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Slovinia, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, and Venezuela.
National Zoo & Aquarium
The National Zoo & Aquarium is the only place in Australia where native, exotic, freshwater and marine animals can be found and visited at one location. The zoo features large, naturalistic enclosures, waterways and open vistas.
Black Mountain Tower
From the tower, rising 195 metres above the summit of Black Mountain, you can see 360-degree views of Canberra and surrounds. This regional landmark has open and closed observation decks, two cafes and a revolving restaurant.
Canberra Glassworks
Meet artists, see glassmaking as it happens, take tours and have a hands-on experience working with glass at the Canberra Glassworks. This cultural centre is wholly dedicated to contemporary glass art.
Old Parliament House
This beautiful icon of the 1920s was the home of the Australian Parliament for 61 years. On a guided tour you can see the cramped conditions of a press gallery journalist, the Cabinet and Party rooms, and visit the Australian Prime Ministers Centre.
National Archives of Australia
As well as being the place we can research our family trees, the Archives house significant holdings of photographs, maps, films, playscripts, musical scores and sound recordings. Delve into original government records on immigration, transport, politics or Indigenous affairs, or explore one of the ever-changing exhibitions.
National Film and Sound Archive
Housed in a beautiful art deco building, the archive holds over 100 years of Australian film, radio and television history. Wander through the exhibitions, watch early Australian television commercials and browse in the shop. Catch a classic film in the new Arc cinema.
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