Best of Canberra Self-Guided Driving Tour: Capital Highlights & Scenic Lookouts
Places: 23 POIs
Distance: 19.45 mi
Duration: 1h:09m
GPS-guided narration through
Your Smartphone
Apple CarPlay
Android Auto
Tour #2924
Canberra, Australia: Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour of Capital Highlights incl. Parliament House
About this English self-guided 1h:09m driving tour in Ainslie
Welcome to Canberra, Australia's capital city — a place that wasn't simply built, but carefully planned from the ground up to become the centre of the nation's government and democracy.
On this driving tour, we'll explore Canberra from some of its best viewpoints and drive through the monumental heart of the city. We'll begin high above the capital at Mount Ainslie Lookout, where you'll get your first look at the remarkable geometry that defines Canberra.
From there, we'll descend toward the Australian War Memorial, drive along ceremonial Anzac Parade, cross Lake Burley Griffin, and pass many of Australia's most important national institutions, including the National Library, National Gallery, Old Parliament House and, of course, Australian Parliament House.
We'll also explore Canberra's diplomatic neighbourhood, where embassies and high commissions from around the world sometimes bring a little of their own country's architecture to Australia's capital.
Along the way, we'll tell you the stories behind the places you're seeing, explain why Canberra looks the way it does, and introduce you to a few things you might otherwise drive straight past without noticing.
And we'll finish where we began — with a view from above. This time from Dairy Farmers Hill Lookout in the National Arboretum, where you can look back across much of the city we've just explored.
So get comfortable, follow the navigation, and we'll take care of the stories.
Welcome to Canberra, and welcome to UCPlaces. Let's get started!
Top landmarks on this tour
Australian Parliament House- Old Parliament House & the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
- Mount Ainslie Lookout
- Lake Burley Griffin
- Captain Cook Memorial Jet
- Questacon
- 1For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
- 2Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
- 3Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant (
![UCPlaces AI Bot Icon]()
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
Route Preview
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Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place #1
![Map Pin]()
Recommended Starting Point
Distance: 0.00mi
, Attraction : Lookout
Mount Ainslie Dr, Australian Capital Territory 2609, Australia
Mount Ainslie Lookout - Panoramic City Views
Okay, here we go! And we're starting our tour with one of the best views in Canberra.
Just ahead is Mount Ainslie Lookout. Find a place to park, get out of the car, and take a few minutes to enjoy the view — and of course, take some photos.
Don't worry, we're not going to explain everything you're looking at just yet. Once you're back in the car and we start making our way down the mountain, we'll tell you more about what you just saw — and why that view is actually the perfect introduction to Canberra.
For now, just enjoy it. We'll meet you back in the car!
Just ahead is Mount Ainslie Lookout. Find a place to park, get out of the car, and take a few minutes to enjoy the view — and of course, take some photos.
Don't worry, we're not going to explain everything you're looking at just yet. Once you're back in the car and we start making our way down the mountain, we'll tell you more about what you just saw — and why that view is actually the perfect introduction to Canberra.
For now, just enjoy it. We'll meet you back in the car!
Place #2
![Map Pin]()
Distance: 0.19mi
, Attraction : Memorial
17 Anzac Park, Reid ACT 2612, Australia
Anzac Parade: The Road to the Australian War Memorial
Welcome to Anzac Parade. You saw this grand avenue clearly from Mount Ainslie, and now we're driving straight down it.
Anzac Parade is Canberra's main ceremonial avenue and one of the most symbolic roads in Australia. Its name comes from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps — ANZAC — and the avenue is lined with memorials honouring Australians who served in different wars and military campaigns.
And you really can't miss what's directly ahead of us. That impressive building at the end of the avenue is the Australian War Memorial.
Opened in 1941, the memorial was created to commemorate Australians who died in war and to preserve the stories of those who served. At its centre is the domed Hall of Memory, and beyond the entrance are the commemorative courtyard and the Roll of Honour, bearing the names of more than 100,000 Australians who lost their lives in war and military operations.
We're not stopping there on this tour, but from Anzac Parade you get one of the best views of the memorial and a real sense of why it was placed here.
We'll continue all the way to the end of Anzac Parade, where we'll make a U-turn in front of the Australian War Memorial and then head back toward the city.
Anzac Parade is Canberra's main ceremonial avenue and one of the most symbolic roads in Australia. Its name comes from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps — ANZAC — and the avenue is lined with memorials honouring Australians who served in different wars and military campaigns.
And you really can't miss what's directly ahead of us. That impressive building at the end of the avenue is the Australian War Memorial.
Opened in 1941, the memorial was created to commemorate Australians who died in war and to preserve the stories of those who served. At its centre is the domed Hall of Memory, and beyond the entrance are the commemorative courtyard and the Roll of Honour, bearing the names of more than 100,000 Australians who lost their lives in war and military operations.
We're not stopping there on this tour, but from Anzac Parade you get one of the best views of the memorial and a real sense of why it was placed here.
We'll continue all the way to the end of Anzac Parade, where we'll make a U-turn in front of the Australian War Memorial and then head back toward the city.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1
Mount Ainslie Lookout - Panoramic City Views
Place 2
Anzac Parade: The Road to the Australian War Memorial
Place 3
Anzac Parade Memorials: Nurses, Vietnam & the Rats of Tobruk
Place 4
Lake Burley Griffin
Place 5
Captain Cook Memorial Jet
Place 6
Crossing the Lake: National Library & National Museum
Place 7
National Library of Australia: Stories of a Nation
Place 8
Questacon: Where Science Gets Hands-On
Place 9
Flags, Art & Australia’s Highest Court
Place 10
Two Galleries, Two Ways to See Australia
Place 11
Kings Avenue Bridge: A Bridge Before the Lake
Place 12
Old Parliament House & the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
Place 13
Australian Parliament House: The Heart of Canberra
Place 14
Australian Parliament House: How Australian Democracy Works
Place 15
State Circle: Canberra by Design
Place 16
Embassy Row & Papua New Guinea’s Remarkable High Commission
Place 17
From Estonia to Indonesia
Place 18
Embassies of France and Pakistan
Place 19
Embassies of Turkey & the United States
Place 20
A Few More Embassies
Place 21
Government House Lookout
Place 22
National Arboretum Canberra
Place 23
Dairy Farmers Hill Lookout: One Last View of Canberra
Click below for full access to this tour
Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
+ How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
+ What does this tour include?
This self-guided driving tour includes 23 stops, covering top attractions such as Mount Ainslie Lookout - Panoramic City Views, Anzac Parade: The Road to the Australian War Memorial, Anzac Parade Memorials: Nurses, Vietnam & the Rats of Tobruk, Lake Burley Griffin, Captain Cook Memorial Jet.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Mount Ainslie Lookout - Panoramic City Views (Address: Mount Ainslie Dr, Australian Capital Territory 2609, Australia). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
+ What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided driving tour designed to be completed by car, covering scenic routes, city highlights and optional key stops.
+ Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided driving tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you. The only vaiables that might affect your pace are speed limits and traffic congestion.
+ Do I need a car for this tour?
Yes, this is a driving tour, designed to be completed by car, with stops spread across different locations connected by a driving route.
+ Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There are two things that you need - 1. A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour). 2. A car. Here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a charging cable for your car. 2. Connect your phone to the car speaker system via bluetooth or use our CarPlay/Android Auto option for the best experience.
+ How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. This works great either directly from your phone, or while connected to your car's multimedia system and using our CarPlay or Android Auto options. Just follow the route and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
+ What known landmarks and main sites does this tour have?
The top landmarks and main sites on this tour include Australian Parliament House, Old Parliament House & the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Mount Ainslie Lookout, Lake Burley Griffin, Captain Cook Memorial Jet and Questacon. In total, the tour has 23 points of interest along the route.
+ Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
+ What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
+ I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
+ What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
+ Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!