CTW Explores
Canberra
Country: Australia Language: English Currency: Australian Dollar ($)
Canberra is in Australia’s Capital Territory and stands as the capital of Australia. It makes for a great city to visit, as most of its museums are free to visit and easy to access!
CTW Must See
National Dinosaur Museum
The National Dinosaur Museum is the country’s largest display of dinosaur fossils and specimens. Within the museum, you can walk through life-sized dinosaur displays, admire the many fossils, minerals and crystals on display. At the end of your visit, walk among some of the most impressive prehistoric in the Dinosaur Garden.
Australian National Botanic Gardens
The Australian National Botanic Gardens opened in 1949. It stretches across 220 acres and covers all aspects of Australia’s flora. Walk among the Rainforest Gully, the Rock Garden and more, discovering some of the country’s finest flora.
Telstra Tower
The Telstra Tower opened in 1980. It stands 195.2 meters (640 ft) tall, providing panoramic views of Canberra. The top of the tower has an indoor and outdoor observation deck, a small cafe, and a souvenir shop.
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial was unveiled in 1941 and stands as a memorial for those who have died or participated in wars involving the Commonwealth of Australia. The shrine is breathtaking. It features the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a memorial wall filled with names to be remembered and poppies. Within the building, there are extensive war museum collections from every war Australia has been part of. The museums are filled with artifacts, memorabilia, and stories of past times.
National Museum of Australia
The National Museum of Australia is a large museum telling the story of Australia’s social and cultural history. It is split into three main sections being Aboriginal story’s, Australian history and society since 1788, and people’s interaction with the Australian environment. The museum also hosts are range of special exhibits that change throughout the year.
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia dates back to 1961 and holds the largest collection of library material in the country. It contains millions of items from Australia and Asia and has many reading rooms within the building.
Questacon
Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre, is an interactive science and technology museum. The museum will take you on a quest through seven galleries including Wonderworks, exploring light and sound; Awesome Earth, detailing natural disasters and more!
National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery was established in 1998. It features works portraits of many distinguished Australians. The gallery holds about 500 portraits and it is in close proximity to the majority of the city’s best museums.
National Gallery of Australia
The National Gallery of Australia is one of the largest art museums in Australia, its collection holds over 160,000 works. The museum was established in 1967 and features the works of Australian artists, as well as Asian Art, Photography, Modern Art, and sculptures.
Old Parliament House - Museum of Democracy
Canberra’s Old Parliament House was the seat of the Australian Parliament from 1927 to 1988. Within the Old Parliament House, you’ll find the Museum of Australian Democracy. A walk through the museum features the classic 1920s architecture and design, collections detailing the purpose of the building, and many original objects that were used during its operation.
Parliament House
The Parliament House has been the home to the Australian Parliament since 1988. The Parliament House has nearly 5,000 rooms, many open to the public. The Parliament House offers free guided and self-guided tours. A tour of the building will showcase where the Australian House of Representatives and Senate meet, portraits of every prime minister, governor-general and more, and also will allow you access to the roof, where you can enjoy the greenery and get an close-up look at the national waving in the wind.
Royal Australian Mint
The Royal Australian Mint is where Australia’s coins are made. The Royal Australian Mint opened in 1965 and is the first mint in Australia that is independent of the Royal Mint in London. You can take a free self-guided tour of the mint, learn about the history of Australian coin making, and see coins being made in the factory!
If you like Canberra...
You may want to check out these guides on other Australian cities!
