Canberra Private Tour

The Parliament House is the meeting place for the Australian Parliament, the new parliament house first opened on May 9, 1988 by Queen Elizabeth II. Nestled on Capitol Hill, the architectural design of the building resembles the shape of two boomerangs. A 12.8 metres long, 6.4 metres wide Australian flag flies on top of the giant 81-meter flag mast which forms the pinnacle of the overall structure. The flag can be seen from both inside and outside of the parliament house. Its site covers a total area of 80 acres, many of which are open to public. If there is a parliamentary session in progress, you can even drop in to spectate or take a guided tour through the house.

Opened in 1941, Australian War Memorial is the national memorial to commemorate the Australians who’ve risked or lost their lives serving our country. The memorial comprises of a shrine, galleries and research centre, it has comprehensive archives illustrating the 1st and 2nd World War and other major battles Australia had participated in. It is a place to pay tribute to the Australians who’ve sacrificed themselves for what our country has become today. The memorial also hosts a series of cultural and commemorative events, including the awe-inspiring annual ANZAC Day Parade.

Australian War Memorial is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, except Christmas day

The Old Parliament House, also known as the Provisional Parliament House, was the administrative seat of the Australian Parliament from 1927 to 1988, after its relocation from Melbourne. The old parliament house comprises of three main parts, King’s Hall which hosts major ceremonies located in the middle, Chambers for Senate and House of Representatives situated on either side of the hall. Collectively they symbolise the constituents of Australian parliament.

Take a guided tour through the historical behemoth which are run between 10:45 am to 2:45 pm daily. Within the Old Parliament House, you can also discover about important events and people in shaping democracy in our nation at the Museum of Australian Democracy or see what it used to be like in the Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Room and Corridors of Power.

Lake Burley Griffin is the masterpiece in the centre of Canberra. Named after Walter Burley Griffin, the lake was completed in 1963 after Molonglo River. It is 11 kilometre long and 1.2 km at its widest. The lake is great for boating, rowing and kayaking, cyclists and joggers enjoy the beautiful 38 km circuit loop trail. Numerous cafes and restaurant have been built around the lake, providing locals and visitors with great dining options while enjoying the scenery from the lake.

The Captain Cook Memorial is located next to the Waterloo Bridge, it consists of a globe and a jet. Inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the memorial jet can shoot out water up to a height of 152 meters, 6 tonnes of water pump into air at a velocity of 260 km per hour, discharging 500 litres per second. The well-received landmark operates daily between 11 am to 2 pm. Whereas the 3-metre in diameter globe illustrates the three routes of Captain James Cook’s voyages. Rainbows can often be glimpsed in the water sprays when the jet sprouts.

Located on top of Mount Ainslie, Mount Ainslie Lookout offers bird’s eye views over Canberra. Watch how Walter Burley Griffin’s (architect who designed Canberra) blueprint unfolds right in front of you, it is a fabulous spot to get superb views of Canberra’s landscape and unique design features, the lookout is popular with locals at sunrise and twilight when the lights turn on. The broader Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve is home to many threatened flora and fauna, you may even spot kangaroos on the mountain!

Next to Canberra’s Parliament House of Australia, more than 80 embassies and high commissions are situated around Embassy Drive, Yarralumla. With the first Australia-based British diplomat in 1930 and first purpose-built embassy in Canberra by United States in 1943, Australia’s growing diplomatic ties have witnessed more foreign embassies being established in Canberra over the years. Canberra private tour will take you around the world in 30 minutes, revere the traditional designs and architectural grandiosity for embassies of U.S., China and Mexico.

The National Gallery of Australia is one of the largest arts museums in Australia. Located within the parliamentary precinct, the museum was founded in 1982. National Gallery of Australia has a collection of more than 160,000 art pieces, including 7,500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art works, the largest such collection in the world. The permanent exhibitions display famous works from Sidney Nolan, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon and many more. Free guided tours run hourly from 10:30 am to 2 pm.