Things To Do With Kids in Australian Capital Territory

Canberra's free options do a lot of the work for families here. Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in Parkes suits school-age kids who will sit still for the Cabinet Room and the two chambers; the boyeatsworld blog singles out its PlayUP family space, and our verdict is that toddlers find less to do. Canberra Museum and Gallery in the city centre runs storytelling and instrument sessions that reviewers rate above the exhibits themselves, so check the program before going. National Arboretum Canberra - POD Playground is free to enter but the carpark is not, and Hills District Mums describes acorn cubbies on stilts linked by net tunnels for older kids alongside a simpler cubby for the small ones.

For animals, National Zoo & Aquarium in Weston is the full-day pick: Tripadvisor calls it Australia's only combined zoo and aquarium, Tourism Australia lists it among the country's best zoos, and reviewers praise the themed playground while noting the aquarium is smaller than expected. Out in Nicholls, Canberra Walk-In Aviary is a 30-minute lorikeet-feeding session built for short attention spans, and National Dinosaur Museum holds what boyeatsworld says is Australia's largest permanent dinosaur display, though there is no cafe and an hour covers it.

The indoor venues divide by party style. BOUNCE Inc - Belconnen and Kingpin Canberra draw the strongest praise for hosts who run the event, with BOUNCE also handling dietary needs. Zone Bowling Tuggeranong in Greenway, Power Kart Raceway in Griffith and Inflatable World Kambah each separate younger and older kids. iPlay Belconnen has broken machines in many reviews. For films, HOYTS Belconnen has recliners for long runtimes and Dendy Cinemas Canberra has IMAX in the city, with confusing parking signage.