Museums and other institutions

North of Lake Burley Griffin

Australian War Memorial, Treloar Crescent (top of ANZAC Parade, at the other end from Parliament House), ph +61 2 6243-4211 or +61 2 6243-4598 (for recorded information), fax +61 2 6243 4325,. Daily 10AM-5PM. Not just a memorial, this is one of Australia's premier museums, covering Australian military history from Federation to the present day and including fascinating exhibits of equipment, memorabilia and battle dioramas. You could easily spend a full day here (it has a café, or bring a picnic lunch if the weather is nice and sit on the lawns at the front). Anzac Parade, leading up to the War Memorial has a number of memorials to different wars and those involved in wars. Free entry, allow 4-7 hours.
Canberra Museum and Gallery, Cnr London Circuit & Civic Square, Civic,. Tue-Fri 10AM-5PM; Sat-Sun 12PM-5PM. A museum and art gallery featuring works and exhibits of the local region. Also features the Sydney Nolan Collection - the works of Sir Sydney Nolan, a famous Australian artist. Free.  edit
National Capital Exhibition, Barine Dr ( in Commonwealth Park (off Commonwealth Avenue)), open 9-5 Mon-Fri, 10-4 Sat-Sun. See an exhibition about the original Burley Griffin Plan for Canberra and how the city was planned and built. Good views over Lake Burley Griffin out to the museums on the Lake's south shore. Free.
National Film & Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton, ph +61 6248 2000. A unique collection of Australian sound and film recordings of which a small selection showing iconic moments in Australia's cultural history is explored in this museum.
National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, ph +61 2 6208-5000, fax +61 2 6208-5099. This controversial museum has lots of interactive exhibits and groups items by concept rather than era. Free admission except for special exhibits. Allow 2-7 hours.
Australian National Botanic Gardens. Located at the base of Black Mountain in Acton, the ANBG has the largest collection of Australian native flora in the country. It also has some interesting water dragons that live in the water features around the gardens. A delightful place for a picnic, try to grab some food from the city centre first to take with you for lunch. If you are there during summer, call and ask about the jazz evenings. These are held on the weekend and many families attend with evening picnic and champagne in tow, to chill out to the sounds of jazz in the balmy evening temperatures. Entry is free, however parking is $1.40/hr or $7 all day at ticket machines, with proceeds going towards the gardens.

South of Lake Burley Griffin

High Court of Australia, Parkes Place, Parkes, 9:45-4:30 Mon-Fri (not open weekends or public holidays). This vast building is the home of Australia's highest court and contained a vast lobby and three main courtrooms that are open to the public. Tours are available, though restricted when the court is sitting. There is a cafeteria in the building as well.
National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place, Parkes, ph +61 2 6240-6502. 10AM-5PM. Located by Lake Burley Griffin, this modern structure is one of the country's largest art galleries. It has a vast collection of paintings and sculptures collected from Australia and the rest of the world and has excellent Aboriginal artwork. A nice gift store and a large bookstore on the ground level. Free except for special exhibits. The Gallery offers free public one-hour tours: Australian and International art at 11AM and 2PM daily, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at 11AM on Thursdays and Sundays. Allow at least half a day and possibly more.
National Library of Australia, King ph +61 2 6262-1111, fax +61 2 6257-1703. The library is primarily a research centre, but normally has one exhibition showing parts of the collection. Also notable for its neo-classical architecture.
National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes (adjacent to High Court and National Gallery of Australia), ? +61 2 6102-7000. 10AM-5PM, except Christmas Day. The Gallery opened to the public on the 4 December 2008, and displays some 400 portraits of people who have shaped and who continue to shape the nation. There are gallery spaces for the collection and temporary exhibitions, public areas including a café, shop, function room, theatrette, education and school group areas, and basement car parking. Portraits are in various media, depending on the era. Galleries are themed by era. The web site gives a good idea of the content. free except for major exhibitions. (35.3005S,149.134E) edit
Old Parliament House (featuring the Museum of Australian Democracy), King George Terrace, Parkes ph +61 2 6270-8222, fax +61 2 6270-8111. The headquarters of Australian government from the 1920s to 1988, this building is a must for political and/or historical junkies. The building gives a real feel of what it was like when it was in use and has in the past regularly featured rotating exhibitions on the controversies and scandals that rocked Australian politics. It is now a permanent museum. Most of the main rooms - the Prime Minister's office, the Cabinet Room, the various party rooms, the two houses - are open to visitors, as are many smaller rooms like the whips' offices and the broadcasting area. There are also historical photos of Canberra as it used to be, including the times prior to the creation of the artificial lake that show Canberra under snow during winter (the lake warmed up the city and snow falls rarely on the city now). The gift store has decent souvenirs. Parking is free, admission is A$2 for adults, A$1 concession. Allow 2-3 hours.
Parliament House of Australia, Capital Hill (access from Commonwealth Avenue), ph +61 2 6277-5399 or +61 2 6277-2727 (for recorded information). The seat of Australia's federal government and legislature and a remarkable piece of modern architecture. Tours are available (you must pass through a security check) or when Parliament is sitting you are allowed to view proceedings in the public gallery (another security check is required for this, and expect queues and long waits around 2PM on sitting days for "Question Time" in the House of Representatives. The Senate is likely to be less busy but less exciting.) Allow 2-3 hours.
Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre, King Edward Terrace, Parkes, ph +61 2 6270-2800 or 1800 020 603 (free call, recorded information). 9AM-5PM. Questacon is an interactive museum of science with exhibits illustrating scientific ideas from the principles of physics to the motion of an earthquake. Great for kids and excellent science books can be picked up here. (Oct 06) $15.50 adults, $10.50 concessions, $9 children, and $46 for a family of 2 adults and 3 children. Allow at least half a day.

In the suburbs

Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Leverrier Crescent, Bruce, ? +61 2 6214-1111 (fax: +61 2 6251-2680). The AIS runs tours a couple of times a day. The tours are usually run by in-residence athletes. See the training areas and find out about the development and strategy of the facility. At the end of the tour there are interactive exhibits to try various sports. The pool here is open for public access during certain hours. $15.  edit
Australian Reptile Centre, O'Hanlon Place, Gold Creek Village, Nicholls ACT; ph +61 2 6253-8533. Open daily 10AM - 5PM. Adults $7.50, children $6, concession $7, family tickets (2 adults & 3 or more children) $29, discounts available for group bookings. Located about 13km north of City via the Barton Highway.
Embassies. As the national capital, Canberra hosts the embassies of most countries, listed below in Embassies. Most of the embassies are built in an architectural style typical of that particular country. In Yarralumla (the closest embassy district to the city), the Embassy of China, Embassy of Papua New Guinea are particularly worth a look. The Embassy of the United States of America is also worth a drive past, being the oldest embassy in Canberra. It is best to have a car or bicycle for touring so you can stop and have a look around.
Government House (Yarralumla), viewing platform off Lady Denman Drive, Yarralumla. The main official residence of the Governor-General of Australia, representative of Queen Elizabeth in Australia. Closed to the public except for open days. There is a viewing platform off the Lady Denman Drive, or glimpses can be seen from the main gate at Dunrossil Drive, Yarralumla, or Weston Park, Yarralumla. Often kangaroos are to be spotted munching grass on the lawns, so be careful driving along the ride that gets to the viewpoint, especially at dusk.  edit
Royal Australian Mint. Take a tour of the mint and see how coins are made. You will even get the chance to mint your own souvenir coin. Look for the pudding coins as a souvenir (not always available). Allow 1-2 hours. Free.  edit
The Lodge, Adelaide Avenue, Deakin. The Prime Minister's official residence. Generally closed to the public and one can only see part of the garden from behind the wall. There are open days about once a year and if you are lucky to be in Canberra then, it shouldn't be missed.

City Scenery

Black Mountain Tower (Telstra Tower), Black Mountain Drive, Acton (5 km from the city centre), ? +61 2 6219-6111 (fax: +61 2 6257-6600). Open daily 9AM-10PM. This functional communications tower rises 195 m above the summit of Black Mountain, providing 360 degree views of Canberra and the countryside around it from a viewing platform 60m up the tower. Well worth a visit, day or night, for the fantastic views - look for the cork tree plantation and Parliament House. It has a revolving restaurant and telecommunications history display. Above the restaurant there is a two level viewing platform: the bottom level is indoor and has a souvenir shop and refreshments; the upper level is an open air area. Its a nice view, but the mountain is already already 260m above the lake, and the viewing platform is only another 60m above the mountain. You can decide if that is worth the price of admission. $7.50 adult, $3 aged pensioner, $3 child 4-16 yrs, free for children under 4 years; a family pass (2 adults, 2 children) costs $17..  edit
Other Lookouts - Canberra is surrounded by hills and there are plenty of other great vantage points to view the city. Many of these you can also drive to the top. The best vantage points are:
Mount Ainslie (off Fairbairn Avenue, Campbell/Forrest) - vehicular access available
Red Hill (off Melbourne Avenue, Deakin/Forrest) - vehicular access available
Mount Majura (access via Antill St in Watson, also service road off Majura Road) - no vehicular access, walking tracks only.
Mount Taylor (access via Waldock St, Chifley) - partial vehicular access; to reach the top you will need to walk.
Mount Pleasant (via General Bridges Drive, Duntroon) - vehicular access available between 7AM and 7PM.
Kangaroos in the wild, Campbell Park Offices, Northcott Drive (north), Campbell (off Fairbairn Avenue (between the Australian War Memorial and the airport, at the roundabout go the opposite direction from the Australian Defence Force Academy along what appears to be a road into the bush (forest). After about 250m, a massive building will appear. This office complex is used by the Department of Defence. Veering left (up-hill) there will be occasional free parking spaces on weekdays; veering right (down-hill) there is an extensive, free car park.). mornings until around 8-9AM; afternoons after 4.30PM in winter, or else from a hour before sunset. Kangaroos form family social groups come to the semi-irrigated grassland next to the Campbell Park Offices (reputedly the longest building in the Southern Hemisphere) from the adjacent nature park and graze the grass from evening until mid-morning. During the day they return to the nature park reserve and lie in the shade of the trees. Observe the kangaroos on the grass areas in the car park or near the building. During the day, you can park and walk along paths to the up-hill side of the building, even cross the fence, and look for kangaroos in the reserve. Security guards are not concerned by tour groups in coaches, or people in/from cars. The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, Hawker. Approximately 10km west of the city centre, accessible from Springvale drive, The Pinnacle is a hilly, but easily walkable reserve, and relatively open consisting of mostly reclaimed grazing lands which is home to a very large population of Eastern Grey kangaroos. A short walk will generally be sufficient to sight several large mobs. free.

Historic buildings

Blundell's Cottage. A historic cottage of some of the earliest settlers of the area. Guided tours and school tours available. $7 adults $5 concession $15 family.  edit
Calthorpe's House, 24 Mugga Way, Red Hill. Sat and Sun 1PM-4PM. Historic house picturing life in Canberra in the early days of the territory. $7 Adult $5 Concession $15 Family. Note a three site pass covers here, Lanyon (in Tharwa, see below) and Mugga Mugga in Symanston

Events

Floriade festival of flowers, a yearly event held in spring (September-October), not to be missed. Tulips are the main feature but many other colourful flowers and floral displays are featured. There are also sculptures, garden stalls, makeshift restaurants, activities, live music by local performers and sometimes there is even a gnome or scarecrow festival where children (and some adults) paint gnomes or make scarecrows and enter a competition to choose the best. Great for a photo opportunity!
Summernats is a festival of modified cars, car cruising, burnouts, etc, which takes place first thing in the new year. If you are not into this culture, this is a good time not to be in Canberra, as even the most civilised hotels are overtaken by drunken 'nats'.
The Multicultural Festival. a must to visit, has many events, such as concerts, performances and an International Food Fare with over 200 stalls selling original food of different countries. Happens every year in February.  edit
Thai Embassy Food Fair - once a year - do not miss this! The Philippines, Sri Lanka and some other embassies do similar events sometimes.
Diplomatic Charity Bazaar - held occasionally. Great place to buy original things specific to various countries, sold by staff of the embassies.
The National Folk Festival - held every Easter over 5 days, featuring local, national and international folk musicians, dancers and craftspeople.
The Canberra show held in February featuring shows, amusement park rides and agricultural competitions. Has most of the features of the Sydney Royal Easter Show, but on a smaller scale with less crowds.
Check out the Canberra Times newspaper on Saturday for upcoming events.

Country ACT

The majority of the Australian Capital Territory is actually not Canberra city and there is a large area of national park. While most people don't spend any time outside of the city there is plenty to do if you want to get away from the museums and attractions for a while.

Tharwa Village, (via Tharwa Drive, accessible from the Monaro Highway south of Canberra or at the end of the Tuggeranong Parkway). A small village, one of the original settlements in the ACT area. See the old bridge over the Murumbidgee River, visit Lanyon Homestead (see below) and Cuppacumbalong Pottery. Tharwa is also the gateway to Namadgi National Park and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.  edit
Lanyon Homested, Lanyon Drive. Tuesday - Sunday 10AM-4PM. Historic homestead of early Canberra settlers, guided tours, walks and a maintained garden. Cafe for lunch, coffee and cake. Note a three house pass for $15/10/30 covers Lanyon, Calthorpe's House and Mugga Mugga house in Symanston. $7 Adult $5 Concession $15 Family.  edit
Namadgi National Park, (via Tharwa Road and Naas Road (some parts accesible via Weston Creek, Cotter Dam Road and Brindabella Road further north)). The National Park making up most of the ACT and the most northerly of the Australian Alps national parks. Lots of walking tracks, including scenic views over the Brindabella Ranges, mountain bike trails and scenic drives (on unsealed roads). Inside the park are Honeysuckle Creek and Orroral Valley, the former sites of tracking sites for the Apollo Moon Landings. Enquire at the visitors centre on Naas Road or see the website for further details. In winter roads in the park may be closed because of snowfall. Free (charges apply for camping).