Things to do in South Canberra

Activities, attractions and tours

Melbourne showing a city, heritage architecture and a square or plaza
Australian Capital Territory featuring a garden and fall colors
Royal Australian Mint showing interior views
Royal Australian Mint which includes interior views
Parliament House featuring interior views, modern architecture and an administrative buidling
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Top places to visit

1. Parliament House

Australia’s Parliament House is the standout structure in the capital. It’s in the very centre of the city and has an impressive 25 hectares (62 acres) of floor space. It’s the work of New York-based architectural firm Mitchell and Giurgola, who beat 329 entrants from 28 countries in a competition run by the Australian Government. Construction started in 1981, and it was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1988.
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Parliament House which includes an administrative buidling

2. Questacon

Questacon is the Australian National Science and Technology Centre. It features a range of exhibits about everything from water, to electricity and light. Most exhibits are targeted at children, but there’s plenty to see and do for adults as well.
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Questacon showing interior views

3. National Gallery of Australia

The National Gallery of Australia is the largest art museum in the country. It’s home to over 160,000 works, including the most extensive collection of Aboriginal art in the world. It also holds traditional and modern works from all around Asia, statues and paintings by European and American masters, and Australian works from the colonial era to the present day.
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National Gallery of Australia featuring outdoor art

4. Old Parliament House

Old Parliament House was constructed in the 1920s as a provisional base for the national parliament. It was designed in a stripped classical style with little ornamentation, but is decorated with numerous artworks and Australian timber panelling. Today it’s home to the Museum of Australian Democracy, hosting exhibits about the evolution and workings of the Australian political system.
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Old Parliament House featuring heritage architecture, interior views and an administrative buidling

5. Manuka Shopping Centre

Experience a friendly village atmosphere at Manuka Shopping Centre, which provides interesting outlets for everyday needs, entertainment and luxuries all in one location. Visit for essential services and stay for the restaurants, fashion and gift shops, all in close proximity to Canberra’s major attractions.
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Manuka Shopping Centre showing autumn leaves

6. Royal Australian Mint

The Royal Australian Mint was opened in 1965 by Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh ahead of the introduction of the new Australian dollar in 1966. The mint makes every single coin in circulation as well as medallions and commemorative tokens. It does not produce notes; these are produced at Note Printing Australia.
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Royal Australian Mint showing interior views as well as a large group of people

7. National Library of Australia

The National Library of Australia is the most comprehensive reference library in the country. It was formed as the National Parliamentary Library in 1901 and became the National Library in 1960. Its collection includes Asian literary works and documents, rare books and manuscripts, photographs, maps, paintings, music and video.
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Autumn is quite a spectacular affair in Canberra as the deep reds, oranges and yellows creep into the foliage with earnest on a backdrop of the rich gold colour of the grass plains after another hot summer. Canberra comes alive for ten days and celebrates the coming of autumn with the Enlighten Festival, which literally lights up the Parliamentary Triangle. The first week in March is the time to visit. The Enlighten Festival is a must, with food, street performers, architectural projections, music, film and more to absorb over the 10 days.

8. National Archives of Australia

The National Archives of Australia was officially formed in 1961 to preserve and promote access to important documents from the country’s history. It holds everything from government legislation to blueprints and patent applications. There’s a series of permanent exhibits as well as frequent special exhibitions, lecture series and workshops.
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National Archives of Australia which includes an administrative buidling

What to do in South Canberra

Popular places to visit

Parliament House

Parliament House

Admire the scale, architecture and artwork of the building where Australia’s politicians make the big decisions.

Parliament House
Questacon

Questacon

Join the kids for a day of learning about the wonders of science and technology at Australia’s national science centre.

Questacon
National Gallery of Australia featuring interior views

National Gallery of Australia

Australia’s national gallery has objects from across Asia and the Pacific, European and American works, and indigenous, colonial and contemporary Australian art.

National Gallery of Australia
Old Parliament House

Old Parliament House

Tour this building to see where Australian politicians met and debated for over 60 years and learn about the history and workings of Australian democracy.

Old Parliament House
Manuka Shopping Centre which includes fall colors and street scenes

Manuka Shopping Centre

Make a stop at this suburban shopping oasis in Canberra’s inner south region, for gourmet foods, fashion, coffee and specialty stores.

Manuka Shopping Centre
Royal Australian Mint showing interior views as well as a large group of people

Royal Australian Mint

Visit the building where every single coin in the country is made, learn about the production process and browse through a huge collection of coins.

Royal Australian Mint
National Library of Australia

National Library of Australia

Explore the collections of Australia’s biggest reference library to find books from all over the world, early European maps and documents from the first explorers.

National Library of Australia
National Archives of Australia which includes interior views

National Archives of Australia

Browse millions of immigration records, photographs and old government files at Australia’s national repository of historical documents.

National Archives of Australia
High Court of Australia

High Court of Australia

Observe justice in action at the highest court in the land inside a modern edifice on the banks of a tranquil lake.

High Court of Australia

Areas of South Canberra

Kingston featuring a bridge and modern architecture

Kingston

The buildings of this foreshore, once a Canberra industrial hub, have been transformed into a welcoming urban lakeside community.

Kingston
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Narrabundah

You'll appreciate the restaurants during your time in Narrabundah and you might want to plan a stop by Capital Public Golf Course and The Cusack Centre while you're in the area.

Narrabundah
Manuka Shopping Centre showing autumn leaves

Griffith

Griffith is known for its ample dining options, and you can make a stop by Manuka Shopping Centre and Manuka Oval while in the area.

Griffith
Parliament House featuring an administrative buidling

Capital Hill

The grassy rise of Capital Hill is Canberra’s crowning feature. The perfectly circular hilltop locale is the core from which the rest of the city radiates.

Capital Hill
Manuka Shopping Centre showing autumn leaves

Manuka

If you're spending some time in Manuka, Manuka Shopping Centre and Manuka Oval are top sights worth seeing.

Manuka
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Forrest

Check out the restaurants, shopping, and forests while spending some time in Forrest. Though there might not be many attractions in the neighborhood, you won't need to go far to find top spots like Manuka Shopping Centre or Manuka Oval.

Forrest