What to do in South Canberra

Activities, attractions and tours

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Rolling hills, dense forests, and a clear sky.
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Places to Visit in South Canberra

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Let Expedia.co.nz help you find the most exciting and fun things to do in South Canberra, Canberra while also allowing you to save a ton on travel arrangements. Regardless of whether you’re an urban explorer or an intrepid outdoor enthusiast, we can help you decide exactly what to do and see during your time in town.

Our thorough travel guides offer you an insider’s perspective on all of the best South Canberra attractions from , making it easy for you to decide which places to visit and when. And by using Expedia.co.nz to set your sightseeing schedule, you can take in more of the enchanting attractions this area is famous for.

From group South Canberra tours and must-see landmarks to personal guides who take you off-the-beaten track, Expedia.co.nz offers you over of the most popular events, activities, and attractions in this corner of the world. So whether you’re travelling alone, alongside a loved one, or with the whole family in tow, be sure to browse through our extensive travel guides prior to your plane touching down in this spectacular South Canberra. We even have a massive selection of flights, car hires, and accommodation for you to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Start your search today, and you’ll be having the time of your life before you know it.

Activities

Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet

Canberra Day Tour - all major Attractions, All free entry

NZ$80
per adult
Canberra Day Tour - all major Attractions, All free entry
Canberra Junior Tree Ropes Course

Canberra Junior Tree Ropes Course

NZ$48
per child
Canberra Junior Tree Ropes Course
Beautiful view of the Canberra in Australia

Canberra Discovery Tour - Australia's Capital by Gray Line Sydney

NZ$233
per adult
72% of travellers recommend
Canberra Discovery Tour - Australia's Capital by Gray Line Sydney
Small Group Canberra Day Trip from Sydney

Small Group Canberra Day Trip from Sydney

NZ$283
per adult
98% of travellers recommend
Small Group Canberra Day Trip from Sydney
Badass Women who Shaped the Nation: Women’s History Walking Tour

Badass Women who Shaped the Nation: Women’s History Walking Tour

NZ$74
per adult
Badass Women who Shaped the Nation: Women’s History Walking Tour
Guided Tree Ropes Course Experience in Majura Pines

Guided Tree Ropes Course Experience in Majura Pines

NZ$85
per adult
Guided Tree Ropes Course Experience in Majura Pines
Canberra: National Museum of Australia Highlights Tour

Canberra: National Museum of Australia Highlights Tour

NZ$25
per adult
Canberra: National Museum of Australia Highlights Tour
Riverside Canberra Stargazing Tour with Astronomer

Riverside Canberra Stargazing Tour with Astronomer

NZ$114
per adult
Riverside Canberra Stargazing Tour with Astronomer
Australian Institute of Sport: The AIS Tour

Australian Institute of Sport: The AIS Tour

NZ$26
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Australian Institute of Sport: The AIS Tour
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Top places to visit

1. Parliament House

The Old Parliament building may have been a 'make-do' affair, with its limited 50-year shelf-life, but the new Parliament House has made up for that earlier understatement in spades. Dominating the skyline of Canberra with its enormous flagpole, this grand palace to democracy – at the very heart of the capital – was the most expensive building in the world, when completed in 1988. Over 1 billion Australian dollars were lavished on it.
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A modern building with a central tower, surrounded by a reflective water feature and greenery.

2. Questacon

Less a museum, more a playful science lab, Canberra's Questacon has become one of its most popular attractions. It lies on Parkes Place, on the lakeside between the National Library and the High Court. But there's nothing bookish or law-bound here – except obeying the maxim of having as have much fun as is scientifically possible. Ever since it opened in 1988, as the National Science and Technology Centre, it has pursued the idea that hands-on is better than glass-case. Most of its more-than-200 exhibits are interactive – some spectacularly so.
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A shopping mall interior with a prominent Questacon sign.

3. Old Parliament House

The Old Parliament House, sitting astride the Parkes area of Canberra, was never meant to be a permanent building. It was built in 1927 to 'last 50 years', until the new parliament building could be built. That deadline was missed by over a decade, with Australia's parliament only making the move to Capital Hill in 1988. In the intervening six decades, the Old Parliament saw plenty of parliamentary rough-and-tumble – and was the epicentre of 'The Dismissal' in 1975, Australia's worst constitutional crisis.
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A white building with a flagpole, steps, and a coat of arms.

4. National Gallery of Australia

Australia – one of the world's youngest nations, with one of its oldest cultures – has sparked some remarkable art. It is inspired by that fusion of old and new, city and outback. And the mission of the National Gallery of Australia has been to collect, distil and broadcast its brilliance. The National has also made a name for itself as a premier collector of traditional art forms, especially from neglected Pacific Island and Asian cultures. And along the way, it has built a respected portfolio of Western art, from both America and Europe. Come to this gallery on Canberra's lakeside Parkes Place, and you're in for a rare visual treat.
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A sign for the National Gallery of Australia with trees in the background.

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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A modern building with a 'coles' sign, surrounded by trees and a landscaped garden.

6. National Library of Australia

Once derided as a 'bush capital' and 'little more than a village', Canberra has caught up in leaps and bounds over the last 50 years, especially in the development of its treasure-stores of culture. The National Library of Australia is one of the shiniest of such cultural gems. It's a part of the Parkes Place campus of museums and places of culture, and is an impressive building in its own right. It's also one of the few libraries in the world where rock-climbers come to scramble. That's thanks to the rough-cut surface of its sheer granite walls.
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A building with a sign reading "Treasures Gallery" and a fountain in front.

7. National Archives of Australia

Canberra isn't just a place to come to see sights, parks and high culture. As the capital, it's also home to an incredible collection of national records, historical documents and archives. Many of them are held at the Canberra National Archives of Australia. So it's the place to come to, if you want to search, query or just hold those records that matter most to you. Immigration tallies, emigration departure forms, military service papers – all these and more are kept here, alongside a huge array of government papers, maps, photos and patents. Among the visual records are 30,000 photos of immigrants as they arrived in the country. So if you want to add 'colour' to the tracking of your family tree, the National Archives will give you the brushes and the pigment, to really bring it to life.
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A building labeled "National Archives of Australia" with a red brick pathway leading to the entrance.

8. National Portrait Gallery

See the faces of Australia’s history at the National Portrait Gallery. Traditional and modern painting, sculpture, collage and photography bring these personalities to life.
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The National Portrait Gallery building with a large red sculpture in front.

Recommended things to do in South Canberra

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What to do in South Canberra

Stay near popular South Canberra attractions

A shopping mall interior with a prominent Questacon sign.
Photo by TM
Open Photo by TM

Questacon

9.2/10 (503 reviews)
The Questacon lets you walk on the wild side of science and technology, with over 200 exhibits tailored to get your heart pounding and your brain doing somersaults.
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Day trip destinations from South Canberra

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Canberra

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