Things to Do in Canberra
Australian War Memorial
This award winning attraction is much more than a museum. As you wander through you will find the exhibitions to be really quite moving and it is a great place to learn a little more about the wars that our fellow Australians fought in. The building itself is striking. The iconic dome area of the structure is home to the tomb of the unknown solider and outside that is the Roll of Honour where walls and walls of names of those who fought and died are listed. The range of interactive displays and authentic planes, boats and war relics throughout the museum will delight any history buff. More memorials are situated along Anzac Parade which also has some great views stretching all the way across the lake over the Parliament House.
Visit: www.awm.gov.au
Parliament House
Really a visit to Canberra isn't complete without a tour of Parliament House, after all this is where all our countries most important decisions are made. The building was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth on 9 May 1988 and was designed by Romaldo Giurgola of Mitchell-Giurgola and Thorp architects, it was also constructed almost entirely of Australian materials. Parliament will be sitting during the Convention: You might even catch a glimpse of Prime Minister Rudd at the despatch box, or hear the bells summoning MP's to a vote. The building really is beautifully designed and for the art lovers, it has some interesting Australian works displayed throughout.
Visit: www.aph.gov.au
Balloon Aloft
For spectacular views across Canberra, a perfect way to spend a still Canberra morning would be a ride in a hot air balloon with Balloon Aloft. See the perfectly designed city from the air and experience gorgeous views of the nearby Brindabella ranges and Lake Burley Griffin.
Flights are around 1 hour in duration and include a champagne celebration upon your landing. You also have to option of a hot breakfast upon landing and transfers can be arranged to and from your hotel.
Visit: www.balloonaloft.com
National Museum of Australia
The home of some very interesting and unique architecture, the National Museum of Australia should be at the top of your to do list during a visit to Canberra. The museum was built on the site of the old Canberra Hospital and is a multiple national tourism award winner.
The museum delves deeply into Australia's history and its amazing displays depict the many personalities and events that made us into the country we are today. As mentioned before, the architecture is just jaw dropping and most visitors can safely say they have never seen a building like it before.
Visit: www.nma.gov.au
National Gallery of Australia
The National Gallery of Australia is a great place to spend a few hours browsing the ever changing range of artworks from all across the world. This world class gallery boasts something for all tastes and you don't have to be a world class art critic to enjoy it.
Visit: www.nga.gov.au
Questacon
A visit to Questacon is an interesting and fun way to learn about science and how it affects our day- to-day life. Not just for kids, Questcon’s range of interactive and informative displays will keep you entertained and you will come away with a real appreciation for some of the deep mysteries of science.
Visit: www.questacon.edu.au
National Zoo and Aquarium - Zooventure Tour
This is a bit different than your traditional visit to a zoo and a great way to get up close and personal with some of the worlds most exotic creatures.
This two hour tour will see you feeding honey to brown bears, handling pythons, coming face-to-face with the Zoo's rare Tigon and watching the underwater action of the playful otters, plus much more. The high demand of these tours only demonstrate their popularity so our advice is to book well in advance.
Visit: www.zooquarium.com.au
