Canberra Walking Tour: 50 Free Video Stops

This Canberra walking tour links 10 sights and 50 short video stops narrated by Clarissa, from Parliament House on Capital Hill to the Australian War Memorial at the foot of Mount Ainslie. The notes below turn those stops into practical day plans, with walking order, timing, transport, etiquette and the free sights worth knowing before you go. For official visitor information and events, also check VisitCanberra, the official tourism website of the Australian Capital Territory.

Route 1, the two parliaments (stops 1 and 2). Start at Parliament House on Capital Hill, opened in 1988 and designed by Romaldo Giurgola's team to sit inside the hill, with the flag mast rising above the grass roof. The videos cover the forecourt mosaic, the Great Hall and Members Hall, the chambers and the roof views down the land axis. Then walk down to Old Parliament House, the white building that served as the national parliament from 1927 to 1988 and now houses the Museum of Australian Democracy. On its front lawn stands the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, first set up in 1972.

Route 2, the lakeside galleries (stops 3 to 6). From Old Parliament House, cross to the National Portrait Gallery, then Questacon, the national science centre, with its hands-on floors. Continue along Parkes Place to the National Library of Australia, whose columned pavilion faces Lake Burley Griffin, and walk through Reconciliation Place, opened in 2002, where the Slivers artworks tell stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These four stops sit within a few minutes of each other in the Parliamentary Triangle.

Route 3, art and law (stops 7 and 8). The National Gallery of Australia holds the national art collection, including Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles and major Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, with a sculpture garden down to the lake. Next door, the concrete High Court of Australia, opened in 1980, has a soaring public hall and a water cascade beside the forecourt. Together they make a calm half day on this Canberra walking tour.

Route 4, nation and memory (stops 9 and 10). Ride across the lake to the National Museum of Australia on the Acton Peninsula, opened in 2001, for the Garden of Australian Dreams and the galleries of land, nation and people. Finish at the Australian War Memorial, which closes the land axis at the foot of Mount Ainslie. Walk through the Hall of Memory, past the Roll of Honour beside the courtyard pool, and stay for the Last Post Ceremony held at the end of each day.

If you only have one day, Routes 1 and 2 give the best Canberra walking tour on foot, because the two parliaments, the galleries, Questacon and the library all sit inside the Parliamentary Triangle. A two-day Canberra walking tour works well as Routes 1 to 3 on day one and the museum and the War Memorial on day two, with the view from Mount Ainslie at sunset.

For photos, the best free viewpoints on this Canberra walking tour are the roof of Parliament House looking down the land axis, the lake shore below the National Library, the forecourt of the War Memorial looking down Anzac Parade toward Parliament, and the Mount Ainslie lookout above the city. Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin planned the city around these lines of sight, so the views explain the design.

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for a long Canberra walking tour. In spring, the Floriade flower festival fills Commonwealth Park, and in autumn the city's trees turn red and gold around the lake. Summers are hot and dry with strong sun, and winters are cold, with frosty mornings, so wrap up for the early stops. In spring, magpies can swoop on walkers and cyclists near their nests, so watch for warning signs and wear a hat.

Parliament House is busiest on sitting days, when schools and visitors fill the galleries and security queues are longer. If you want to watch Question Time from the public gallery, check the sitting calendar and the booking information on the Parliament House website. Check each institution's official website for current opening days and special exhibitions before your Canberra walking tour.

Canberra's main sights are spread out, so combine walking with transport. The stops inside the Parliamentary Triangle are close together, but the National Museum and the War Memorial are best reached by bus, bike, e-scooter or a short taxi ride. Transport Canberra runs the city's buses and light rail, and the lake shore has long, flat paths that suit cycling.

Use the Map button at each stop to check walking times. The loop around the central basin of Lake Burley Griffin, between the Commonwealth Avenue and Kings Avenue bridges, is about five kilometres and links many of the stops, so it makes a pleasant walk between galleries on your Canberra walking tour.

For the classic sunset view, a walking track climbs Mount Ainslie from behind the Australian War Memorial to the summit lookout, and a road goes up for anyone who prefers a car or taxi. From the top, the city plan lies in one line: Anzac Parade, the lake, Old Parliament House and Parliament House on Capital Hill. It is a fitting end to a Canberra walking tour, but bring a torch if you plan to walk down after dark.

Parliament House and the High Court have airport-style security screening, so travel light and leave sharp items at your hotel. Keep voices low in the chambers and courtrooms, and follow the attendants' rules on photography. At the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, remember that it is a living site of protest and culture: be respectful and ask before taking photos of people.

At the Australian War Memorial, the Hall of Memory, the Roll of Honour and the Last Post Ceremony are places of remembrance. Stay quiet, follow staff instructions and dress neatly. Visitors often place a red poppy beside a name on the Roll of Honour, which is a moving way to end a Canberra walking tour.

For food, the galleries and museums all have cafés, and the Kingston Foreshore, Manuka and Braddon's Lonsdale Street are the best areas for lunch or dinner. Picnics by the lake are a local favourite. Tipping is not expected in Australia, although rounding up for good service is welcome. Carry a refillable bottle, since drinking fountains are common in the parks.

Canberra is a safe city, but the sun is strong all year, so use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses even on cool days. Wear comfortable shoes, because the distances between the national institutions are longer than they look on a map, and pack a warm layer for evenings and winter mornings.

Many stops cost nothing at all. The public areas of Parliament House, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Library, Reconciliation Place, the National Gallery's collection, the High Court, the National Museum and the Australian War Memorial are usually free to enter, while special exhibitions can be ticketed. Questacon and the Museum of Australian Democracy charge admission. That is why this free walking tour Canberra visitors can start at any hour works well: the 50 videos are free, and you only pay for the few sights that charge.

Prices, free entry and opening days can change, so confirm the details on each institution's official website before your Canberra walking tour. Some major exhibitions and the busiest school-holiday periods need timed bookings, even where general entry is free.

For accessibility, Canberra is one of the easiest cities in Australia for wheelchair users. The national institutions have step-free entrances, lifts and accessible toilets, and many lend wheelchairs. The lakeside paths are wide and mostly flat. The main challenge is distance, so plan rides between the Parliamentary Triangle, the National Museum and the War Memorial, and use the accessible entrances shown on each official website.

When you finish this Canberra walking tour, carry on with more free walks in Australia: the Sydney walking tour, the Melbourne walking tour, the Brisbane walking tour and the Adelaide walking tour. You can browse every city on the Free City Tours home page.