Canberra Yacht Club Boat & SUP Hire

Open seasonally from October to April for group bookings of 10 to 28 people. A lakeside aquatic hire service based at the YMCA Sailing Club on Yarralumla Bay. Offers two-hour sessions using a fleet of single kayaks, double kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs).

The Prime Minister's official residence. Generally closed to the public and you can only see part of the garden from behind the wall and the entrance from the freeway. There are open days about once a year and if you are lucky to be in Canberra then, it shouldn't be missed.

The seat of Australia's federal government and legislature and a remarkable piece of modern architecture. Outside, the forecourt faces Federation Mall and has iconic views. Much of the inside is open to the public during business hours (your bags are x-rayed and persons pass through a metal detector at the entrance). When inside the building, do not miss: Queens Terrace upstairs towards the forecourt, and the roof (via an elevator close to walkway to the House of Representatives). Various art, including portraits of past prime ministers are hung in the hallways. Enthusiastic guides perform free tours daily at 10AM, 1PM and 3PM (no booking required). Tours are shorter when Parliament is sitting as the chambers are occupied.

The library is primarily a research centre, but houses a permanent display of historically significant items as well as temporary exhibitions showing parts of the collection. It's an accessible space, entirely comfortable for anyone to visit. Also notable for its neo-classical architecture.

The headquarters of the Australian government from the 1920s to 1988, this building is a must for political and/or historical junkies. The building gives a real feel of what it was like when it was in use and has in the past regularly featured rotating exhibitions on the controversies and scandals that rocked Australian politics. It is now a permanent museum. Most of the main rooms - the Prime Minister's office, the Cabinet Room, the various party rooms, the two houses - are open to visitors, as are many smaller rooms like the whips' offices and the broadcasting area. There are also historical photos of Canberra as it used to be, including the times prior to the creation of the artificial lake that shows Canberra under snow during winter (the lake warmed up the city and snow falls rarely on the city now). The gift store has decent souvenirs.

A family recreation park in Weston Park featuring a 36-hole mini-golf layout built around scaled models of Canberra landmarks. Additional attractions include a miniature railway circuit, a walk-in outdoor maze, an animal petting farm, and a cafe operated out of historic train carriages.