- Duration
- 2 days, ~290 km from Sydney
- Who it suits
- Everyone
- Transport
- walk, drive
- Start
- Parliament House
- Finish
- Australian War Memorial
- Pace
- relaxed pace
- Best time
- spring and autumn. Floriade 2026 is over (30 days across September and October); dates for the 40th festival in 2027 are not yet announced
- Budget per adult
- Parliament, the Memorial and the gallery are free; Questacon is ticketedPrices as of: July 2026; transport and zoo prices October 2026
Getting there
The NSW TrainLink train from Central takes under 4.5 hours to Kingston station, 3 services a day. Murrays coaches run daily from Central and the airport to the Jolimont Centre. Driving is about 3 hours on the Hume Highway.
Stops in order
The text version of the route: stops, time at each and the legs between them. Times are estimates, without queues, traffic or swims.
Day 1: the Parliamentary Triangle
Day in Google Maps ↗1. Parliament House~2 h at the stop
Australia's Parliament, built into the hill. Entry is free and you can walk up onto the grass roof.
Tip: Open 9:00–17:00, and 8:30–18:00 on sitting days. Free 45-minute tours are booked online. The first hour of parking is free.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 25 min · 1.8 km
2. National Gallery of Australia~2 h at the stop
The country's main collection of Australian and Aboriginal art on Lake Burley Griffin, with a free sculpture garden around it. The gallery and gardens are free; only some exhibitions are ticketed.
Tip: Open daily 10am to 5pm, closed only on Christmas Day. A 2026–2030 capital works programme has some galleries temporarily closed, so check the website for what is open.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 8 min · 0.5 km
3. Questacon~2 h at the stop
The national science centre where you can touch everything: hands-on galleries and live shows. For families it is the highlight of the day, and weekend and holiday tickets sell out.
Worth knowing: Questacon's building was Japan's gift for Australia's 1988 Bicentenary and opened on 23 November 1988. The centre began with 15 exhibits in spare rooms of a school in Ainslie.
Tip: Open daily 9am to 5pm except Christmas Day. Adult A$27.50, child 4–16 A$20, under-4s free, family (2 adults and up to 3 kids) A$85. Buy online in advance; skip it if you have no kids.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 20 min · 1.4 km
4. Commonwealth Park~45 min at the stop
The park on the lake's north shore. Every spring it hosts Floriade, more than a million blooms.
Tip: Outside Floriade it is simply a quiet sunset walk by the water.
Open on the map ↗
Day 2: Mount Ainslie and the Memorial
Day in Google Maps ↗5. Mount Ainslie lookout~40 min at the stop
The whole plan of the city shows from here: ANZAC Parade, the lake and Parliament on one axis.
Tip: Morning light is softer and there are fewer cars. Drive up or walk the track from behind the Memorial.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 10 min · 5 km
6. Australian War Memorial~4 h at the stop
The national memorial and war museum: free, no tickets needed. The galleries cover the wars Australia fought in, and the Roll of Honour lists the fallen: every day the Last Post Ceremony tells the story of one of them.
Worth knowing: The Last Post Ceremony has run every day since 2013, and each one tells the story of a single person from the Roll of Honour. Some galleries are currently closed for the redevelopment.
Tip: Galleries are open 10am to 5pm and start closing at 4pm; some are temporarily closed during redevelopment. Stay for the Last Post Ceremony at 4:30pm, then head back to Sydney. Both car parks are free.
Open on the map ↗
Before you go
- Route times are estimates: walking, driving and a sensible pause at each stop. Add queues, traffic and swims yourself.
- Prices, timetables and trail status change. Check the venue's official site and the state transport app before you go.
- On beaches, swim only between the red and yellow flags. Use sun protection even when it is cloudy.