Top Things to do in Canberra
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What to do and see in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: The Best Specialty Museums
You can fit a lot into a visit to Australia’s capital city. Surrounded by nature parks, Canberra is best known for a vast collection of history and culture that provides a snapshot of the nation. Discover precincts housing, thriving local arts and foodie scenes, family friendly attractions, outdoor experiences and the acclaimed cool-climate wineries that dot the surrounding area.
Restaurants in Canberra
1. National Bonsai & Penjing Collection
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 141 reviews
The National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia displays, for public enjoyment and education, a collection of high-quality bonsai and penjing representing the diversity of styles amongst Australian artists.
Reviewed By TerryAussie_1 - Castle Cove, Australia
There is a wide range of bonsai plants including Australian natives in the collection. The volunteers who were on duty were also very helpful.
2. Museum of Australian Democracy
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,268 reviews
Located in the nationally heritage listed Old Parliament House, MoAD is an inspiring experience in one of Australia’s most iconic buildings. Offering authentically restored heritage spaces, thought provoking exhibitions and fun family trails, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Wander through the restored Chambers and Prime Minister's suite, discover first hand stories of journalists in Truth, Power and a Free Press, laugh at the year's best political cartoons in Behind the Lines and more. Kids will enjoy the free daily facilitated craft activities in our PlayUP space. Open daily 9.00am–5.00pm (closed Christmas Day) Entry: Free
Reviewed By 674belindam - Sydney, Australia
Loved MoAD! Great to have a peek around Old Parliament House, and particularly look through the offices exactly as they were when Bob Hawke was Prime Minister - so very different from office work spaces now. Also being able to sit in the House of Representatives and the Senate was fabulous. There are also various exhibitions held here, which are interesting. We spent a while looking through the political cartoons of the previous year, which was great for a giggle.
3. The National Dinosaur Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 320 reviews
The National Dinosaur Museum is Australia's largest permanent display of prehistoric specimens, located in Gold Creek Village near Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The museum's exhibition follows the evolution of life, with a particular focus on dinosaurs. With an annual patronage of 100,000 visitors, the museum is one of the most popular attractions in the Australian Capital Territory. The gift shop stocks a range of natural history books, dinosaur replicas, toys, fossils, crystals, minerals and meteorites.
Reviewed By QRJfan - Canberra, Australia
This was a fantastic place for a kids' birthday party. They have a minimum of 10 kids and a max of 20; we had 10 kids, all around 7 or 8 years old. During the two hour party time, the museum host keeps the kids engaged. They started 'digging for fossils', using brushes in small sand boxes, then made casts of fossils they found/chose. They also got to see some fossils and then got their own guided tour of the museum for around 45 minutes, full of fascinating facts about dinosaurs, culminating in holding an actual part of a T-Rex tooth (while wearing gloves). Back in the party room, we fed the kids. As the catering option was quite expensive, we'd chosen to cater it ourselves (they let you do this) - helpfully they were able to store our cold things (including an ice cream cake) in the freezer! The host stayed with us and still chatted to the kids - he had a very good way with them, helping everyone feel involved and dealing very well with those kids who really knew about dinosaurs and wanted to tell us all about it, or tell unrelated stories all of their own! The museum itself is the largest permanent collection of dinosaur artifacts in Australia. Another bonus of the party is that after the party is over, all the children present have a valid pass for the museum for the day - so they can stay around, if they wish. The icing on the cake though, pardon the pun, was that at the end every child got a little party bag from the museum, with small dinosaur-themed items, a postcard and some lollies (candy), which they took home along with the casts of fossils they had made. The birthday boy also got a couple of presents from the museum - little dinosaur models, one of which came with paints. All in all, this was great value for money and was something a little different from your standard play centre-styled birthday party. Highly recommended - our son is already talking about wanting to do it again next year!
4. National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA)
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 214 reviews
The NFSA is open 10am-4pm daily and outside those hours for advertised events. We will be closed between 25 December 2020 and 3 January 2021 inclusive. Our cafe Biginelli Espresso is open 9am-2:30pm Wed-Fri, 11am-2:30pm Sat and one hour prior to start time for events. The cafe is closed Sunday– Tuesday. Please visit our website for details, including our safety measures and COVID-safe Plan.
Reviewed By QuietNights9 - Melbourne, Australia
I saw the costume exhibition from the Australian film, The Dressmaker, here. Not only was it a really beautiful exhibition but, upon my arrival, I availed myself of a lovely morning tea at the cafe before entering the exhibition, and then enjoyed a delicious lunch there afterwards! It was also a quick and easy bus ride there from the city centre.
5. Canberra Railway Museum
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By Travel211680 - Brisbane, Australia
Hello everyone, thanks for your time actually. I generally don’t like trains (I tend to associate them with lateness, and I’m the literal iteration of punctuality personified usually) or museums (as I tend to live in the moment, though harder now with my Lou Gehrig’s obviously). However, as it would turn out, combining both Trains and Museums leads to a brilliant few hours with friends and family. Who would have known! Well, thanks for a lovely day, I now know a lot more about trains (including they used to be used to be used to transport goods!) and I really enjoyed my time. Thanks in advance.
6. Humble House gallery
Humble House gallery is Australia's largest specialty Chinese antique furniture store. There is a large showroom of antique furniture and handmade contemporary interior decor pieces including table lamps and ceramics. Upstairs is a museum of rare furniture. There is also an art gallery where regular exhibitions of contemporary art are shown.
