Canberra is the capital of Australia and is set inland from the country’s southeast coast. It was chosen as the capital in 1908 as a compromise between the cities of Sydney and Melbourne and is located in the Australian Capital Territory. We decided to spend one whirlwind day here to visit the Parliament House (make sure to book a free tour), the National Gallery (known for its indigenous art collections), and the Australian War Memorial (a not to be missed war museum dedicated to all Australians who died as a result of war and peacekeeping duties). We were able to park our campervan for free at the excellent Visitor Information Center, and found the capital city to be an easy walking destination. One day really wasn’t enough to take in all the highlights and we would recommend at least 2 to 3 days here for a first time visitor. Up next will be the state of New South Wales.
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Parliament House in Canberra
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Australian coat of arms and national animals at the entrance to the Parliament House in Canberra
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Marble foyer of Australia's parliament
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Statue of Queen Elizabeth II on the Queen's Terrace at the Parliament
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The forecourt of Australia's parliament building
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Interior view of the House of Representatives in Parliament
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Portrait of Nova Peris, Australia's first Indigenous woman elected to federal parliament
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Opening of the first parliament of Australia on 9 May 1901 in Melbourne
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Portrait of the Hon. Stephen Parry, a former senator in the Australian Parliament House
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Senate chamber in the Parliament House in Canberra
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The John Gorton Building, home to the Department of Environment and Energy
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Selfie in front of Lindy Lee's Ouroboros sculpture
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Thanakupi’s sphere (entitled Eran) in front of the National Gallery of Australia
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Wangechi Mutu's "The seated IV" sculpture on display at the National Gallery of Australia
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Memorial poles at the National Gallery of Australia
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"Paradise Camp" by Yuki Kihara
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Kuwaha pataka - a bold and elaborately carved figure surmounting the arched doorway of a storehouse
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"Dreaming Man of Gudjekbinj" by Djawida Nadjongorle
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Sardine can artwork by Fiona Hall
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Dhangalaw Thamai (cultural shift) by Laurie Nona
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Lindy Lee's "fluctuations in the abyss"
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Exhibition room at the National Gallery of Australia
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Masami Teraoka and Japanese Ukiyo-e Prints
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Artwork on display at the National Gallery of Australia
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James Turrell "Within without" Skyspace
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The National Carillon bell tower on Lake Burley Griffin
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The New Zealand Memorial in Canberra commemorates the relationship between New Zealand and Australia
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Looking down Anzac Parade road toward the Parliament
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Australian recruitment poster during WWII
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Display about the bayonet charge to take the Turkish trenches at Lone Pine
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Ottoman Empire during WWI
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WWII display at the Australian War Memorial
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Poster urging Australians to unite against the Japanese threat during WWII
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Photos of some of the 2600 Australian and British prisoners held at Sandakan in Borneo. In 1945 they were forced on a death march and all but 6 men died
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One of the Menin Gate lions
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The Australian Army National Memorial on Anzac Parade
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The crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans) is a parrot native to eastern and south eastern Australia
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The Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial
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National Boer War Memorial
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Tunnel artwork in Canberra
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Sign warning cyclists of recessed railway tracks
