What to do and see in Australian Capital Territory, Australia: The Best Points of Interest & Landmarks

The home of Australia's Parliament and the meeting place of a nation, Australian Parliament House offers visitors to Canberra a unique experience. Visit Parliament House and experience Australia's robust democracy in action. You can watch Question Time, see bills being debated, and sit in on committee inquiries as current issues are explored in detail. You'll also find some of Australia's finest historical treasures and contemporary art on display throughout the building, and in our permanent and temporary exhibitions. You’re welcome at the meeting place of our nation. Parliament House is open every day except Christmas Day. Non-sitting days 9am-5pm Sitting days Mon-Tue 9am-6pm, Wed-Thu 8.30am-6pm

Welcome to the National Library of Australia – the home of Australian stories. Whether you are a culture lover looking to visit an exhibition, a researcher uncovering new knowledge from our 10-million-items-and-counting collection, or you need a gift from the Bookshop, followed by a coffee at Bookplate cafe, plan your visit today. Our three exhibition galleries are free to enter and open from 9am to 5pm every day. The National Library Bookshop is open daily, as is Bookplate Cafe. The Reading Rooms are open daily except on public holidays. In accordance with our COVID-safe regulations, during your visit, please follow all precautions that are in place to protect you, other visitors, and our staff, including checking in, physical distancing and personal hygiene. Please stay home if you’re unwell – visitors exhibiting symptoms of illness may be asked to leave. Visit our website, nla.gov.au, or follow us on social media for more information about our opening hours and what’s on.

Mugga-Mugga historic cottage stands as a testament to the lives of the families who worked on one of the Limestone Plain's great pastoral estates. Mugga-Mugga's simple dwelling has been adapted and extended over time. Settlement on the site commenced in 1838 and its centerpiece is a simple cottage built for the head shepherd of Duntroon in the 1870s. The small stone cottage has been conserved and furnished with household items that belonged to the Curley family who moved to Mugga-Mugga from Duntroon in 1913. Mugga-Mugga offers a range of popular learning and community programs and unique opportunities for venue hire. Admission includes a guided tour of Mugga-Mugga Cottage and its outbuildings.

A World Peace Bell one of 24 in the World. A 365 kg Temple style Bell hung in dramatic pavilion on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin

Located on Aspen Island, Lake Burley Griffin, the National Carillon was a gift from the British Government to the people of Australia to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Australia's national capital. Queen Elizabeth II accepted the National Carillon on behalf of Australians on 26 April 1970. John Douglas Gordon, after whom the Aspen Island footbridge is now named, played the inaugural recital. With 55 bronze bells the National Carillon is large by world standards. The pitch of the bells ranges chromatically through four and one half octaves. The bells each weigh between seven kilograms and six tonnes. Cast in England by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough, they are fine examples of the art of bellfounding. Enjoy the music of the National Carillon by Lake Burley Griffin. At no charge, listen to concerts on Wednesdays and Sundays from 12:30 to 1:20pm, while taking a stroll around the lake or relaxing in Kings Park.