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National Carillon

This carillon on Queen Elizabeth II Island was given as a gift by the British for Canberra's 50th anniversary and symbolises the relations between the United Kingdom and Australia. It's got 57 bronze bells, each weighing somewhere between 7 kg, and 6 tonnes (metric tonnes that is), and the tower rises to 50 metres.

Address: Queen Elizabeth II Island, Parkes
Website: nca.gov.au (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Canberra/North Canberra, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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National Gallery of Australia
This modern structure is one of the country's largest, and best, art galleries. It has a vast collection of paintings and sculptures collected from Australia and the rest of the world and has excellent Aboriginal artwork. A nice gift store and a large bookstore on the upper level. Free except for special exhibits. The Gallery offers free public one-hour tours: Australian and International art at 11AM and 2PM daily, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at 11AM on Thursdays and Sundays. Allow at least half a day and possibly more. There are two sections of the sculpture garden, one section in front of the building and the other section at the rear. Both sections are open 24 hours a day and fun to wander around in the evening. The Ouroboros sculpture added to the collection in 2024 is an ethereal, other worldly presence in the Canberra evening.
SeeSouth Canberra
High Court of Australia
This vast building is the home of Australia's highest court and contains a vast lobby and three main courtrooms that are open to the public. Tours are available, though restricted when the court is sitting. The building also has a cafeteria. As a matter of etiquette, when you enter or leave a courtroom in session, remember to bow.
Mon–Fri excluding public holidays
SeeNorth Canberra
Blundells Cottage
A well-preserved cottage from the 1860s used by several families and tenants until 1960. Though it's now in the midst of an urban area when this cottage was first built, it was in the heart of rural New South Wales, but ever since the surroundings have changed, and today, it is a remnant of Canberra's rural past.
Sat Sun 10AM–2PM (closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day)
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National Portrait Gallery
The Gallery opened to the public on the 4 December 2008, and displays some 400 portraits of people who have shaped and who continue to shape the nation. There are gallery spaces for the collection and temporary exhibitions, public areas including a café, shop, function room, theatrette, education and school group areas, and basement car parking. Portraits are in various media, depending on the era. Galleries are themed by era. The web site gives a good idea of the content.
10AM-5PM, except Christmas DayFree except for major exhibitions