Canberra Private Tour

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Canberra is the capital of Australia, located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory. It is the most populous inland city in Australia, its name means “meeting place” in Ngunnawal, a local indigenous language. As the political centre of Australia, Canberra is home to many important government institutions, amongst them include: Parliament House of Australia, Australian War Memorial, High Court of Australia, National Gallery of Australia. 

Canberra was selected as the site for the nation’s capital in 1908, the carefully planned city founded in 1913, then officially assumed as the capital of Australia from Melbourne in 1927. With its unique urban design and cultural significance, Canberra is a remarkable destination for anyone who wants a real taste of Australia!

  • Parliament House of Australia

  • Old Parliament House

  • Australian War Memorial

  • Lake Burley Griffin

  • Embassy Drive

  • National Gallery of Australia

  • Australian Mint

Start Time

8 am

Finish Time

8 pm

Inclusions

  • Transport
  • Hotel Transfers
  • Friendly Guide
  • Bottled Water
  • Child Safety Chair (if required)
  • Heaps of Fun
  • Parking fees
  • Tolls

Hotel Transfer

Our guide will greet you at the hotel in the morning. Upon return to Sydney, you can choose to be transferred to either hotel or any restaurant within CBD

Price

$929 AUD

for 8 seater Mercedes

(Suitable for 1 to 7 passengers)

$1,129 AUD

for 12 seater Mercedes

(Suitable for 8 to 11 passengers)

For a group booking of more than 11 people, please contact us for a quote.

Have more questions?

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

TOUR ITINERARY

1

Canberra

Early morning, our guide will greet you at the hotel.

Canberra is an inland city located southwesterly from Sydney. As the capital of Australia, Canberra is the nation’s political centre and holds significant weights in many decisions that shape the future of our country. Canberra private tour presents the best attractions in and around Canberra, New / Old Parliament House; National Gallery of Australia to adore the splendid arts works; criss-cross the Embassy Drive to revere the architectural ingenuity and traditional designs; step on top of Mt Ainslie to experience the breathtaking views of this beautifully designed city.

2

Parliament House, Canberra

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.

3

Australian War Memorial

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

4

Old Parliament House

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.

5

Lake Burley Griffin

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.

6

Mt Ainslie Lookout

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!

7

Embassy Drive

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.

8

National Gallery of Australia

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.

ADDITIONAL TOUR OPTIONS:

The National Capital Exhibition provides visitors with insights into the past, present and future of Canberra. Through a series of photos, videos and interactive displays, the National Capital Exhibition tells the story of how Canberra was planned and built, including how its unique design was chosen and the innovation in its town planning process.

The family-owned Cockington Green Gardens are a miniatures park located on the northern end of the town. First opened in 1979, The gardens feature 12: 1 scaled reproduction of well-known landmarks around the world. Adorned with exquisite flowers and plants, The miniature steam train offers kids fun rides while learning about world’s famous buildings.

Open hours: 9.30 am to 5 pm

Admission for Cockington Green Gardens:

Adult: $ 25/ Child (4-16 yrs old): $ 15.5

The Royal Australian Mint is an award-winning tourism attraction, opened in 1965, it is Australia’s largest minting institution and produces all circulating coins in Australia. Additionally, the mint produces coins for other Asian and South Pacific nations. You can learn interesting stories behind each of the Australian coins and amaze at the future production of coins using industrial robotics.  Best of all, mint your own legal tender coin!

The Australian National Botanic Gardens have the largest collection of Australian flora with more than 78,000 plants sourced around the country. Established in 1949, the botanic gardens cover 40 hectares and are organised into different themes based on geographical origins and taxonomy. This green oasis offers visitors an incomparable opportunity to discover about Australia’s plant diversity and natural environment. Furthermore, the Australian National Botanic Gardens play an important role in research and cultivation of Australian plants. The gardens also host fun events around the year and guided walks daily.

The National Museum of Australia is located adjacent to Lake Burley Griffin, officially opened to public on March 11, 2001. The museum was built on a theme of knotted ropes, in notion of uniting the stories of all Australians. The museum has the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal bark paintings and stone tools which vividly depict the 50,000 years of indigenous history. Through interactive exhibitions and events, National Museum of Australia educates general public on the diverse cultures and fascinating history of Australia.

The Old Bus Depot Market is an indoors market at a former industrial bus depot. Located in Kingston Foreshore, the market is open every Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. There are more than 200 stalls in the market, showcasing a variety of hand-crafted goods, e.g.: arts, clothing, homewares. In addition, there are plenty of mouth-watering street food, wine and beers from award-winning local wineries and breweries on offer, coupled with live performances, there is no better place to spend your Sunday in Canberra.

The Australian National University (ANU) was founded in 1946. It is the only university in Australia that was established by the national parliament. Its strong research-oriented capability had it ranked No.1 in Australia and Oceania, the 24th in the world by 2019 QS World University Rankings. Its legacy includes 6 Nobel Prize laureates, 49 Rhodes Scholars and two Australian Prime Ministers. The university is also acclaimed as the World’s 7th most international university. Take a stroll on its campus which is densely covered by leafy trees and lush vegetation, one of the greenest in Australia.

Sweet and Personal

Sweet & Personal

A Petite Tour creates fun and memorable travel experience by providing quality tour services! Every trip is bespoke to what you would like to see and do. With flexible itinerary and attention for detail, we want to create happy moments for more families, a trip that is right for everyone!

Local Expertise

Travel Experts

Our guides are friendly and fun, tap into our expansive knowledge about Australia and travel, tailor an unforgettable travel experience. English, Mandarin & Cantonese tour service are available.

Comfort & Convenience

Comfort & Convenience

Travel in comfort and style, Mercedes Benz luxury vehicles , free hotel & airport transfers on full-day tour. Ticket pre-booking to secure your spot in advance, restaurant recommendations and more!

Family Oriented

Inclusive Culture

Organise a holiday for a big group is hard-work, we do our best to help, no overtime surcharge or compulsory tips,  bottled water, child safety chairs/wheelchair, umbrellas and more. You can count on us!