34 family-friendly things to do in Canberra

Australia’s national capital, Canberra is filled to the brim with fun things to do with kids. Read our pick of the top things to do in Canberra with kids.

Canberra may be the home of Australian politics, diplomatic negotiations and a never-ending supply of embassies. But our cool capital is also home to a treasure trove of family fun. Here is our guide to discovering the capital’s joys in winter and beyond.

1. Questacon

This is the perfect place to start your holiday with kids in Canberra. Interactive exhibits invite visitors to touch, see and learn about the role of science in everyday life, and there’s tonnes of fun thrown in too! Where else in the world can you experience an earthquake, get close to a lightning bolt or freefall six metres down a vertical slide? At Questacon, you can do all this and see vibrant ever-changing exhibits.

Make sure to check out the exciting workshops that the Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre has to offer during the school holidays. Book early so you don’t miss the opportunity to unleash your child’s inner inventor.

2. The National Dinosaur Museum

If your family has always wanted to see a sabre-toothed tiger, woolly mammoth or velociraptor, be sure to make your first stop at Gold Creek the National Dinosaur Museum. The museum has Australia’s largest permanent collection of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals. With over 25 complete skeletons and fleshed-out models, and hundreds of individual items, it is more than worth a visit. In the last year alone, there have been two new murals finished, one of them nearly 50 feet long and depicting life-size prehistoric mammals. 2005 sees the hundredth anniversary of Tyrannosaurus Rex and the museum will be running special programmes and talks to celebrate.

3. The National Zoo and Aquarium

A visit to the National Zoo and Aquarium is also a must for any family visiting Canberra. Located just five minutes from the city centre, it is one of Australia’s largest private zoos and is the only place you can see exotic and native animals along with sharks and fish, and Australia’s only tigons – a cross between a tiger and a lion. The whole family can book a memorable Zooventure Tour, a range of unique up-close encounters with the animals. A special tour for under ten year olds means that young children spend some time with the adults, then meet some of the zoo’s ‘cuddlier’ animals. At the National Zoo and Aquarium, the animals are housed in large open environments, with viewing generally across moats or low level fences so that even pint-sized visitors can get a good view.

Families with older kids can check into the luxurious Jamala Wildlife Lodge for a night in this wildlife wonderland.

4. Canberra Walk-in Aviary

A short stroll from the National Dinosaur Museum takes you to The Canberra Walk-in Aviary – a walk-in aviary where feeding the birds is always lots of fun. This large, planted aviary allows birds to fly free. The Bird Walk houses over five hundred brightly-coloured birds – around three hundred and fifty finches and two hundred parrots. The birds breed in the aviary and some of the young parrots are hand-reared and will sit on your hand while feeding. The Bird Walk is open everyday unless very hot or very wet.

5. The National Museum of Australia

For more fun, head over to the National Museum of Australia on Acton Peninsula. The fun starts at K-Space, a hands-on interactive exhibit allowing children to design what life will be like in a futuristic Australia. Another highlight is Our Place, a discovery display with four different cubbies for kids to play in. The Story Place is another popular attraction for kids. Set inside a Boab Tree, the kids can enjoy the storytelling, puppets, videos and events related to the museum’s exhibitions. The museum also has an exciting line-up of activities and events specially designed for children throughout school holidays. There’s more fun to be had just out of town at Gold Creek Village. A 20-minute drive from the city centre, it is full of family-friendly attractions, craft shops and eateries.

6. Old Parliament House

Return to the city and head for Old Parliament House where politics and history are not just for the adults. Home of the Federal Parliament from 1927 to 1988, this gorgeous heritage building offers exhibitions, tours and events that bring our history to life, as well as fun-filled activities for kids.

Kids can follow clues around the House to find the answers to some of the secrets of the building on the Super Sleuth Clue Hunt; dress up as the Duke and Duchess of York as they were when they opened the building in 1927; see the peep hole into the Prime Minister’s office and experience the sound and light show Order! Order! in the House of Representatives Chamber. At Old Parliament House, there are always extra special activities for kids during school holidays.

7. Parliament House

The politics behind it may be of minimal interest to kiddies, but there’s few better ways to boost excitement in a budding public speaker than a trip to Parliament House. Take some happy snaps in front of the unique facade (angling the camera as though you’re holding the Aussie flag is always a laugh), then make your way through security and into the world of Australian Parliament! Stop in at the Senate, the House of Representatives and see how many politicians older kids can recognise amongst the portrait collection. Top it off with a trip to the “roof” and roll around on the grass before stopping for a drink and educational debrief at the cafe.

8. Australian War Memorial

ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day are introduced to kids early in their schooling, and a trip to the War Memorial can help bring war history to life. The beautiful building, statues and exhibitions are worth going for alone, and a number of free, guided tours operate daily. On top of this, the Discovery Zone lets kids interact with replica WWI trenches, the Australian home front, a helicopter, a submarine and peacekeeping strategies used in war-torn communities. It’s open all weekend and 12.30-1.30pm on weekdays. If you’re still around at 4.55pm, a trumpeter plays The Last Post to farewell lingering visitors.

9. National Portrait Gallery

Look the people in the face who have shaped Australia politically, culturally and socially, at the National Portrait Gallery. Featuring famous and non-famous faces from throughout history to the present day, the Gallery’s exhibits will interest budding artists and photographers of all ages. As well as spending the day with people like Paul Kelly and Elvis, the Gallery runs a variety of child- and family-friendly programs.  General admission to the gallery is free along with some of the family activities.

10. Australian Institute of Sport

Inspire the budding athlete in your family with a visit to the training facility where Australia’s sporting stars spend their days in pursuit of excellence. An elite athlete will serve as your family’s guide through this world-class sporting precinct – you might see gymnasts in training or some of our esteemed swimmers doing their laps. The AIS facilities are open to everyone, so if your children need to burn up some energy swimming laps or hitting a ball around, there are 25- and 50-metre swimming pools and tennis courts that will make them feel like a pro. Tours take 90 minutes and depart at 10am, 11:30am, 1pm and 2.30pm. Adult tickets cost $20, children, $12. Tours leave from the Sports Visitor Centre, which showcases Australia’s sporting heroes.

11. Cockington Green

This ACT attraction is of great appeal to children, especially if they are into trains or dolls. Miniature trains make their way through meticulously crafted miniature buildings set within beautiful gardens. A mini steam train ride is a good way for kids to see the village without getting tired legs – and is big enough for parents to go along for the ride. The Rose Room indoor exhibition features a 34-room Georgian-style doll house, as well as a doll’s house that replicates the house in the classic novel The Seven Little Australians. A playground, free gas barbecues and picnic tables are available for use during opening hours: 9.30am to 5pm. Cost: from $11.50 per child and $19.50 for adults.

12. CSIRO Discovery Centre

The CSIRO Discovery Centre provides the perfect means to demystify scientific concepts in young minds. Their aim is to show real science in an entertaining and educational setting. Here you can see scientists working in proper laboratories – but it’s definitely not just white coats behind glass. Kids will experiment for themselves in the hands-on DiscoverLab, and learn new things in the OptIPortal theatre and 3D@Discovery experiences. They’ll grow insight into issues like green energy, climate change, biodiversity and gene diversity – all in a way they can actually understand (and impress their teachers with later). Entry is $10 for adults and $7 for children.

13. NFSA – ScreenSound Australia

For families who are interested in movies, television, CDs and radio, ScreenSound Australia, the National Film and Sound Archive, is a cool place to visit. Housed in a beautiful art-deco building, which is one of the oldest in Canberra, it is full of atmosphere and is said to be haunted. Free exhibitions include Sights and Sounds of a Nation which looks at more than one hundred years of Australian screen and sound with hundreds of movie, television, music and radio items. Interactive touch screens allow you to choose what you want to see or listen to, and there are more than two hundred photographs, historic items and fun activities for kids such as making their own sound-effects.

14. Royal Australian Mint

Have you ever wondered about the coins in your wallet? A visit to The Royal Australian Mint in Canberra where all your questions about coinage and currency are answered in style. The Mint is the place to learn about everything from how to make Australia’s change to the old action to minting your own $1 coin. Admission and parking are free.