Published for: Tuesday, 5/08/2008
Travel Guides -> Attractions -> New South Wales -> Australian Capital Territory
Bruce - Meet the champions - Australia has always been a sporting nation and, these days, many of our elite sports people use the facilities of the Australian Institute of Sport.
You can see the world of the champion athlete from the inside as you tour the complex, with an athlete as your guide. Visit the Sports Visitor Centre, which incorporates Sportex - an exhibition of interactive sports displays, videos and tributes, as well as the latest sports technology. If you`d enjoy a swim, a spa or a game o... read more
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Acton - The Australian National Botanic Gardens, nestled at the foot of Black Mountain, are devoted entirely to plants native to Australia. In fact, the Gardens have the finest collection of Australian flora in the world.
You can see the plants of the rainforest, the desert, the mountains and more, in specially created `climatic zones.` Explore the Rainforest Gully, the Rock Garden, the Eucalypt Lawn and the Mallee Shrublands on marked trails.
In summer, ... read more
Acton - Telstra Tower`s open air and enclosed viewing galleries provide a magnificent 360 degree view over Canberra and the surrounding countryside. The Tower contains an exhibition area where models and displays describe the history of telecommunications in Australia.
Canberra and Region Visitors Centre
Dickson - From wildlife to nightlife, national monuments to national parks, observatories to conservatories, phsycial culture to viticulture, Australia`s capital city is a city of many parts.
It`s not all politics, so come and discover some of Canberra`s many surpises for yourself.
Dickson - Pedal power through the ages. Display of 60 exhibits of old, rare and unusual bicycles. Where there are kids, there are usually bikes, but some of the bicycles on display at the Canberra Bicycle Museum don`t look much like the everyday BMX or mountain bike. A great place for children to see how bicycles have changed through the years
Dickson - The Canberra Planetarium is one of the most modern in Australia and offers a variety of entertaining and educational shows. Featuring a Zeiss star projector, to simulate the night sky, twin banks of special effects projectors, a video projector and a truly awesome digital sound system, it is unlike anything you have ever experienced before. Featuring an 11metre perforated aluminum dome screen, manufactured in the USA by Astro-Tec, the dome is an engineering marvel in its own right.
In the IK6 D... read more
Kingston - See the steam locomotives, including the diminutive 1210 (built in 1878 and restored to working order in 1988), which hauled the first train into Canberra in 1914, and the huge 265 tonne Beyer-Garratt 6029.
Also see the beautifully restored tender locomotive 3016 which started life as a tank engine hauling suburban trains around Sydney, prior to electrification. Climb into the locomotive cabs and walk through a variety of carriages from the turn of the century to the roaring twenties.
Nicholls - Highly detailed miniature buildings and beautifully landscaped and colourful gardens are the features at Cockington Green, a unique and popular Australian Tourism Award winning tourist attraction. The display is highly acclaimed for its quality and uniqueness by both international and domestic visitors.
The original section of the display features meticulously crafted and detailed miniature buildings of Great Britain. Another display includes model buildings from around the world includes build... read more
Yarralumla - Official residence of the Governor General. The house and grounds are not open to the public, however there are open days throughout the year. There is a good view of the building from a lookout on Lady Denman Drive, south of Scrivener Dam, tourist drive 2.
Parkes Act - The High Court of Australia is one of Canberra`s prestige public buildings. It is home to the highest court in the Australian judicial system and contains three courtrooms, a video display and a seven storey high public hall. When the Court is in session it is possible for visitors to sit in the public gallery, if seating is available, and observe the proceedings.
Guided tours: attendants are in each courtroom to answer questions.
National Archives of Australia
Parkes Act - Archives a treasure trove! Mainly dating back to 1900, the Archives holdings include personal papers of the past Prime Ministers, Cabinet decisions, immigration records, the dossiers of the 420,000 men and women who served in World War I.
Visitors are also able to view lighthouse records, theatrical scripts, early trademarks, flag designs, 8000 photographs of early Canberra and the original design for the national capital and for Parliament House.
For those interested in climbing their family ... read more
Parkes Act - The Carillon is one of the largest musical instruments in the world. The 53 bronze bells are controlled by hand batons and foot pedals on a keyboard. The Carillon was a gift from Great Britain to the people of Australia to mark Canberra`s 50th birthday in 1963.
The lake itself is a focal point of the Canberra landscape, dividing the city into north and south. Ringed with bike tracks and walks, it`s home to platoons of pelicans, swans, ducks and other water birds.
Nicholls - Come and visit the National Dinosaur Museum! Exhibits include 10 full - size replica skeletons of dinosaurs plus huge bones, skulls and reconstructions of Australian dinosaurs, including our very own Muttaburrasaurus.
Displays include fossil plants, fish, invertebrates and mammals (including human prehistory). There is a Museum shop specialising in prehistoric gifts including original fossils, minerals and crystals.
We also offer Dinosaurs At Night Torch Light Tours. For a unique way to exp... read more
Parkes Act - Art for all - As well as housing the national art collection of more than 100,000 works, the National Gallery of Australia is home to an ever-changing series of exhibitions including regular exhibitons from overseas.
With its magnificent sculpture garden, its light-filled spaces and its clever design, it is one of the most praised tourist attractions in Australia.
Tours of the masterpieces last about half an hour and are conducted by voluntary guides in a friendly and informal atmosphere, endi... read more
Parkes Act - See the beautiful, the rare, and the unexpected from the Library`s vast collections on show in the Visitor Centre and Exhibition Gallery. Take a behind the scenes tour and find out where all the books, manuscripts, newspapers, maps and paintings are on a trail of adventure through the Library`s 220 kilometres of shelving. Browse in the all Australian bookshop, or relax over coffee with beautiful views of Lake Burley Griffin.
Guided tours available and school groups by special arrangement.
Acton - Australia has some great stories to explore. The National Museum of Australia doesn`t look like a museum and it certainly doesn`t feel like a museum. The new museum uses state- of-the-art technology and hands-on interactive exhibitions so visitors can actually experience the stories of Australia.
Australia has some great stories - now there`s a place we can all explore them. The National Museum of Australia doesn`t look like a museum and it certainly doesn`t feel like a museum. The new museum ... read more
Parkes Act - Australia has a National Portrait Gallery, one of only four portrait galleries in the world, in a series of restored and refurbished spaces in Old Parliament House. Established as an independent gallery only in 1997, the National Portrait Gallery has rapidly taken its place among the older and more established museums located in Canberra.
The National Portrait Gallery is many things: a collection of portraits of people who have made a major impact on Australia; a space in which portraits from ... read more
National Zoo and Aquariumtuary
Yarralumla - Here`s the chance for your kids to come face to face with a shark, lion or Koala all in the one spot.
The National Zoo and Aquarium is set in seven hectares of landscaped bush, the park offers lots of amazing animals, BBQ sites, a coffee shop and free parking.
Exhibits include European Brown Bears, Leopards, Lions, monkeys, a magnificent coral reef tank, the new 300,000 litre shark tank, native wildlife and Australia`s only Tigons.
Parkes Act - Old Parliament House made headlines for more than sixty years as home to Australia`s Federal Parliament from 1927 to 1988. Today, this much-loved heritage building offers tourists a unique glimpse into Australia`s fascinating past, a time when this magnificent building was the centre of political controversies and drama.
Old Parliament House is also home to The National Portrait Gallery and it`s permanent collection of portraits featuring people who have helped to shape the nation.
With its s... read more
Sydney - Pankhurst Wines is situated just west of Hall in the rolling granite hills above the Murrumbidgee. A feature of this vineyard is the modern trellising system, designed for quality grape production. Quality is emphasised with all wines having good cellaring capacity, while winning medals at an early age. Wines include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Merlot, Chardonnay and Semillon.
Lovely spot for a picnic with its beautiful mountain views.
Hall - Poachers Pantry, based on a farm nestled in the hills close to Canberra, is a gourmet smokehouse and a foodie`s heaven!
The smoked meats are sold to some of Australia`s finest chefs and are also available for you to try before you buy in the Smokehouse Cafe and Tasting Room. The Smokehouse Cafe is located in a old, lovingly restored weatherboard cottage that overlooks the 1890s-era slab woolshed. It is smart yet casual and has won awards for the quality of its food and service, as well as gain... read more
Poachers Pantry and Wily Trout Vineyard
Hall - Poachers Pantry manufactures a range of gourmet smoked meats on its farm near Hall. Its products can be tried and match to its own Wily Trout Wines grown on the hills around the smokehouse. Its smoked duck breast with the Pinot Noir is impressive and kangaroo prosciutto with the Merlot is quite sensational.
The Smokehouse Cafe operates Friday to Sunday.
Questacon - The National Science And Technology Centre
Parkes Act - Fun, entertainment and education are all part of the experience. Unlike traditional museums this centre
full of `hands on` exhibits. Visitors will discover that learning about science and technology can be enjoyable as well as educational. The centre is the result of a joint Australia/Japan bicentennial project and has
facilities for conventions and presentations. Go on a journey of discovery through seven different exhibition galleries. Experience an earthquake, see lightning made before y... read more
Deakin - How to make money - Did you know that Australia`s first coins were made by punching out the centre of Spanish dollars, creating two coins - the Holey Dollar and the Dump? Governor Macquarie`s solution to the country`s currency crisis in 1813 is just part of a fascinating history recorded at the Royal Australian Mint.
There are presentations running continuously in the theatrette that explain coins and coin production, displays of coins dating back to the First Fleet.
Visitors can operate a ... read more
Acton - The history of sound and screen - Screensound Australia has an amazing
collection that dates from the late 1800s to today.
Established in October 1984, the National Film and Screen Archive acquires,
preserves and makes available Australia`s moving images and recorded sounds.
The collection includes films, radio and television programs, sound recordings
such as disks, piano rolls, wax cylinders & tapes, posters, scripts, oral
history, interviews and a wide range of related documentation.
Sydney - The Wily Trout Vineyard shares it`s home with Poachers Pantry and the Smokehouse Cafe. Enjoy these stunning cool climate wines matched to the wonderful range of smoked meats or enjoy a meal in the award-winning Smokehouse Cafe which is recommended by the Sydney Morning Herald`s `Good Food Guide`.
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