National Capital Exhibition
Barrine Dr, Parkes ACT 2600, Australia
ClosedToday 09:00 – 17:00 · by the venue's published hoursFull hours
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An exhibition telling the story of Canberra's design, on Lake Burley Griffin, rated 4.5 across more than 2,500 reviews.
Practical details
Opening hours
Closed- Monday
- 09:00 – 17:00
- Tuesday
- 09:00 – 17:00
- Wednesday
- 09:00 – 17:00
- ThursdayToday
- 09:00 – 17:00
- Friday
- 09:00 – 17:00
- Saturday
- 10:00 – 16:00
- Sunday
- 10:00 – 16:00
Why it's worth checking out
The National Capital Exhibition sits at Regatta Point on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra's Parliamentary Triangle. A free attraction, it tells the fascinating story of how the national capital was planned, designed and built — from Walter Burley Griffin's winning vision to the city you see today — through engaging displays and exhibits.
The appeal is that combination of genuine insight into Canberra's unique, purpose-built design and a beautiful lakeside location, with sweeping views across the lake to the city's landmarks. It's a great place to get your bearings and understand the deliberate, ceremonial layout of the capital, especially at the start of a visit.
With a 4.5 rating from more than 2,500 reviews, it's a much-loved attraction. General entry is free, but opening hours, displays and any events vary, so it's worth checking current details before you go — and pairing the visit with the lovely lakeside surrounds and the nearby national institutions to make the most of the Parliamentary Triangle.
Spot Score
The Spot Score is our composite of five signals — two about the venue's standing with visitors and three about how complete and current this listing is. It is not a visitor rating and not a verdict on the food or the experience. The 4.5 from 2,572 reviews is Google's visitor rating, shown separately and never altered by us.
About the venue · from Google
- ReputationGoogle star rating, smoothed for review count
- 80
- PopularityHow many Google reviews it has
- 100
About this listing · our record
- Information qualityWebsite, menu and structured details on file
- 30
- Category fitHow well it matches its listed category
- 70
- FreshnessHow recently we last checked our sources
- 30
Last checked against sources 18 June 2026.
Our independent editorial score — not a user rating.
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