Canberra is the capital, largest inland and well-planned city of Australia, situated between Sydney and Melbourne. The city is a paradise for cognoscente and people who are fond of history. There are more than 13 attractions in Canberra and places to visit. If you are looking for excitements, and thrilling romance than you can check out my blog on romantic getaways near Canberra.

National Gallery of Australia and The Australian War Memorial are Canberra’s sparkling jewels. Other famous, unique and iconic places are Questacon, Australian National Botanic Garden, Parliament House and several other places that will make you fall in love with Canberra.You can delight your eyes with the extensive list of astonishing attractions and places to visit in Canberra and traverse every corner and place of this region.

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Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial is a must visit and it’s a free attraction in Canberra. You will learn about the history of Australian soldiers who participated and died in the World War.

The war memorial has an array of weapons and transport such as tanks, planes and so on used during World War and has an impressive museum, library, archives and excellent art gallery.

You will come across the Wall of Remembrance which is in bronze panels and it has more than 100,000 names of deceased soldiers who died in the war.

National Gallery of Australia

World-class establishment, on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin consisting of cubic concrete structure, the National Gallery of Australia is Australia’s largest art museum and holds over 165,000 works of art found in Canberra.

It has International, South and East Asia, Melanesia, Polynesia, a recent but traditional form of Aboriginal art and many more collections of art. Aboriginal Memorial hold more than 190 painted tree trunks honouring all the indigenous people who had sacrificed their lives for protecting their land against invaders.

National Museum of Australia

On the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, The National Museum of Australia, indigenous history and culture, preserves and interprets Australia’s social history, and events that have formed the country. Discover the rich and diverse stories of Australia for free of charge.

Discover ultimate museum experience via guided tours which provide you information on stories and meaning hidden in the building, special exhibitions and many more in a guided tour. It has a lovely gift shop and serves excellent food and beverages in the museum café.

Australian National Botanic Gardens

Opened in 1970, Heritage-listed National Botanical Garden is on the lower slopes of Black Mountain, home to an extensive collection of native plants is located in Acton, Canberra.

More than 4,200 species in 35 hectares and this is the only place in the world you will find the diversity of Australia’s beautiful arrays of native plants in one location.

Enjoy a free guided Walk daily at 11 am. You can purchase souvenirs, books, gifts for family and friends from the botanical bookshop. Pollen Café offers superb food and sensational coffee with a view of the surrounding of the Gardens.

Questacon 

Situated on Lake Burley Griffin, The National Science and Technology Centre also known as Questacon is an interactive science communication facility in Canberra, established on November 23, 1988.

Enjoy the interactive science displays, cutting-edge technology in its exhibits, and do-it-yourself experiments designed for fun and inspiration. The aim of the Questacon is to make science fun, exciting and promote understanding of the importance of science and technology.

New and Old Parliament House

New Parliament House is an iconic building of Canberra; it was designed to replace the Old Parliament House. My family and I visited the New Parliament House to feel Australia’s powerful democracy in action.

We took a guided tour of the Parliament House to understand Australian history, to understand how parliament functions, fascinating details about the building, and many more hidden facts and truths. My dad couldn’t believe that he witnessed a parliament sitting from the gallery and saw such a magnificent view from the roof of the Parliament.

A very short distance from New Parliament House, a national icon, the Old Parliament is now home to the Museum of Australian Democracy. This heritage building is a museum of social and political history to understand the past, present and exploring the future of Australia.

Mount Ainslie Lookout and Nature Reserve

10 minutes drive from the CBD of Canberra, Mount Ainslie is the best way to look at Canberra’s magnificent setting and design features. Mount Ainslie boasts astonishing panoramic views of Anzac Parade, central Canberra, Old and new Parliament House. Hikers can take trails behind the Australian War Memorial and if you are lucky you will spot native birds and wildlife along the way.

Lake Burley Griffin

Lake Burley Griffin is an artificial lake which is located in the centre of the city. Lake Burley Griffin which is Canberra’s centrepiece is named after an American architect, Walter Burley Griffin, who won the competition to design the city of Canberra.

National Library, National Gallery, Australian National University, National Museum, the High Court and Park are located on or near its shores. The lake and surroundings are popular for picnics in beautiful parks, swimming and water sports activities such as, canoeing, kayaking, dragon boating, rowing, sailing, windsurfing, fishing, stand up paddleboarding and many more. You can unwind and relax yourself in restaurants and cafes nearby Lake Burley Griffin.

Black Mountain Tower/ Black Mountain Nature Park

Black Mountain is a hidden gem and is found a short drive from the CBD of Canberra. The park is full of winding paths, marked walking trails along with native plants, and it has an observation deck that offers stunning views of the city and surroundings from the tower.

It’s home to more than 450 species of plants, and around 100 species of birds. You can enjoy picnics with family and if you are lucky you will spot reptiles and encounter a bunch of kangaroos hopping in and out from the bush.

Namadgi National Park

Around 45 minutes drive from Canberra city, Namadgi National Park offers remote wilderness experiences, a great place for camping, the finest natural landscapes, an abundance of native wildlife, and some of the most scenic spots in Australia.

Namadgi National Park has 160 kilometres of marked walking tracks and while on trails you can explore old Aboriginal heritage.

Old Bus Depot Market

Old Bus Depot Market began in 1992 and today the old building has become a huge weekly event every Sunday. In a fabulous building, you’ll see around 200 stalls selling clothing, handcrafted jewellery, Australian eco-friendly woodware, handmade work, and many more fabulous items.

Experience the live atmosphere, different shades of colours in one place, taste amazing street food only at Canberra’s award-winning Old Bus Depot.

National Zoo and Aquarium

The National Zoo and Aquarium located at the western end of Lake Burley Griffin is privately owned spread across 25 hectares. It has the largest inland saltwater tank in Australia and a wide range of exotic and native animals. There is something for everyone, you can hand feed a white lion, a bear, a hyena and a tiger, grab an opportunity to walk with Cheetah, and have many more amazing encounters with these beautiful animals.

 The National Carillon and National Library of Australia

The National Carillon is a bell tower housing 57 bells, located on Lake Burley Griffin, was a gift to the people of Australia from the British Government to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the national capital.

National Library of Australia is the largest reference library in Australia, a place where you can discover and understand Australian stories. 

Other places 

The Pink Lake is growing its popularity due to pink water plants covering the lake.

Tulip Top Garden needs no introduction, it’s an extremely beautiful garden that offers peace of mind, music and great food.

Cockington Green Gardens is a privately owned extremely beautiful miniature garden.

National Arboretum holds some of the best Bonsai trees and has walking tracks in the arboretum.

Canberra Scavenger Hunt has twenty plus challenges and you get two hours to complete challenges, solve puzzles and riddles, and explore historic landmarks in the city.

Summary Of 13 Attractions in Canberra and Places to Visit

• Australian War Memorial : – You will learn about the history of Australian soldiers who participated and died in the World War.
• National Gallery of Australia :- Aboriginal Memorial hold more than 190 painted tree trunks honouring all the indigenous people who had sacrificed their lives for protecting their land against invaders.
• National Museum Of Australia : – On the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, The National Museum of Australia, indigenous history and culture, preserves and interprets Australia’s social history, and events that have formed the country.
• Australian National Botanic Gardens : – More than 4,200 species in 35 hectares and this is the only place in the world you will find the diversity of Australia’s beautiful arrays of native plants in one location.
• Questacon : – The aim of the Questacon is to make science fun, exciting and promote understanding of the importance of science and technology.
• New and Old Parliament House : – New Parliament House to feel Australia’s powerful democracy in action and Old Parliament is the Museum of Australian Democracy.
• Mount Ainslie Lookout and Nature Reserve : – Mount Ainslie boasts astonishing panoramic views of Anzac Parade, central Canberra, Old and new Parliament House.
• Lake Burley Griffin : – Lake Burley Griffin which is Canberra’s centrepiece is named after an American architect, Walter Burley Griffin, who won the competition to design the city of Canberra.
• Black Mountain Tower/ Black Mountain Nature Park : – The park is full of winding paths, marked walking trails along with native plants, and it has an observation deck that offers stunning views of the city and surroundings from the tower.
• Namadgi National Park : – Namadgi National Park has 160 kilometres of marked walking tracks and while on trails you can explore old Aboriginal heritage.
• Old Bus Depot Market : – Old Bus Depot Market began in 1992 and today the old building has become a huge weekly event every Sunday.
• National Zoo and Aquarium : – It has the largest inland saltwater tank in Australia and a wide range of exotic and native animals.
• The National Carillon and National Library of Australia :- The National Carillon is a gift to the people of Australia from the British Government to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the national capital and National Library of Australia is the largest reference library in Australia.
• Other Places : –  The Pink Lake has pink water plants covering the lake, Cockington Green Gardens is a beautiful miniature garden, National Arboretum holds some of the best Bonsai trees , Tulip Top Garden is extremely beautiful garden that offers peace of mind, music and great food and Canberra Scavenger Hunt has twenty plus challenges and you get two hours to complete challenges.