New Parliament House
The new Parliament House is one of Canberra's central tourist attractions and is, of course, the main legislative body of the Australian government.
The futuristic building can be found in a section called Capital Hill in the Government Quarter, which is one of Canberra's two main districts.
Underground Building
Parliament was moved from the nearby old building, which houses the Museum of Australian Democracy, to the new building in 1988.
The chief architect, Romaldo Giurgola, conceived the new Parliament building to blend in with its surroundings as much as possible, but also to be one of the most distinctive buildings in the city.
He did this masterfully.
A large part of the building is built into the hillside Capital Hill so that it is de facto underground. The façade of the entrance portals is simple white concrete.
Above the parliament, however, is a striking metal tower structure 107 metres high with the Australian flag at its apex.
The main entrance to Parliament faces the monumental city line formed by Federation Mall, which is joined on the opposite shore of Lake Burley Griffin by Anzac Parade and the Australian War Memorial, which offers the best views of the Parliament building.
Visit the interior of Parliament
The Parliament Buildings are open to the general public.
Visit it on your own and you can watch the Australian Parliament in session live from the visitor's gallery.
Entry to Parliament is free and it is open every day:
- 9am-5pm on days when Parliament is not in session.
- 9:00-18:00 on sitting days
For up-to-date official information, visit aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament.
Guided tours
As well as visiting the premises themselves, you can also pay for one of the many guided tours, which have different themes.
The usual tour length is 45 minutes and prices are around 15 aud.
Tours must always be booked online at the official website aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament.
How to get there
The new Parliament House is located in the south centre of Canberra.
Within a 10-minute walk you can reach places like the Old Parliament House or the National Gallery.
The following public transport bus lines stop near Parliament:
- R4, R5, R6, R10, 57, 58 - towards the centre (City Interchange)
Hotels in the vicinity
The Government Quarter around Parliament is ideal for accommodation if you are heading to Canberra mainly for business. There aren't many restaurants or shops in the area, but if you want to stay in a very quiet part of town then this is a good place for tourists.
There are several large quality hotels in the immediate vicinity.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Canberra.
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