As the capital city of Australia, Canberra is home to our nation’s federal Parliament House. The Parliament House building is imposing, sitting atop Capital Hill, and has an iconic lawn in front of it which gives the whole precinct a sense of importance, visible from a distance. While the building feels grand, it is also welcoming and is definitely worth a visit with children.
We booked a free ‘Heart of the House’ tour, which lasted 25 minutes. During this time, we learnt about the building, the artwork and the structure and functions of parliament, and we were able to enter the public galleries of both the upper and lower houses of parliament. Parliament wasn’t sitting when we visited, so we were able to look around without worrying about the children being too boisterous. If you visit during a sitting week, you are still able to look in on the proceedings from the public gallery – the tour guide just can’t talk to the group while seated there. Our group included three young families including ours, along with a mix of adult couples and individuals. The guide encouraged questions and kept the tour engaging for the whole group.
Tours are free, but need to be booked through the Australian Parliament House website.
Undercover parking on-site is free for the first hour and then fees apply.
Security is very high, which is to be expected, but the staff members at Parliament House are friendly and welcoming of children. We were able to explore certain areas of the building on our own and relax in the seating areas. We also visited the on-site café, which has excellent lunch options.
For more information, and to book a tour, visit the Australian Parliament House website.
コメント