The Best of Canberra Walking Tour

Itinerary

Stop at: Parliament House

Details: The enormous Parliament House features 4,700 individual rooms, many of which are accessible to the general public. The grand marble staircase in the entryway leads to the Great Hall, which features an elaborate tapestry. In contrast to the red of the Senate chamber, the House of Representatives chamber is decked in green.

Duration: 60 min(s)

Stop at: Old Parliament House Gardens

Details: Between the years of 1927 and 1988, the Federal Parliament met in Old Parliament House. The social and political landscape of Australia saw profound shifts during this time. The development of Australia's democratic institutions took place in this same structure. The foundations of the nation were laid here.

Duration: 60 min(s)

Stop at: Australian War Memorial

Details: Bringing together a world-class museum, shrine and research centre, it tells the stories of men and women who have served, and continue to serve our nation in war, conflict and operations. Through exhibitions, artworks, large technology objects and personal records, we share personal experiences of military service.

Duration: 60 min(s)

Stop at: National Gallery of Australia

Details: The National Gallery of Australia houses the greatest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork in the world within its ever-expanding collection of over 155,000 pieces of art. These works were made by more than 15,000 artists.

Within without is a major Skyspace by American artist James Turrell, one of his largest and most complex to date. Light is Turrell’s medium, and his Skyspace is a viewing chamber that affects the way we perceive the sky. Commissioned by the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Within without is located in the Gallery’s new Australian Garden on the south side of the building.

Duration: 45 min(s)

Stop at: Mount Ainslie Lookout

Details: Looking from Mt Ainslie is the best way to take in Canberra's magnificent setting and design features. Walter Burley Griffin, who won the international design competition for the capital in 1912, described the site as 'an irregular amphitheatre' with Mount Ainslie, Black Mountain and Mount Pleasant 'forming the top galleries'. The slopes to the water formed the auditorium, and the Molonglo and floodbasin formed the arena. The southern slopes were ‘reflected in the basin, the terraced stage and setting of monumental Government structures sharply defined rising tier on tier to the culminating highest internal hill, Capital Hill; and with Mugga Mugga, Red Hill and the blue distant mountain ranges forming the back scene of the theatrical whole…’.

Duration: 30 min(s)