National Museum of Australia

One of Australia's premier museums showcasing the nation's social and cultural history through interactive exhibits and powerful storytelling. Essential for understanding Australian identity, Indigenous cultures, and significant historical events.

Things to do

• Explore the Tangible Culture exhibition — Engage with interactive displays exploring Indigenous Australian material culture, sacred objects, and their contemporary significance through multimedia storytelling.
• Experience the Australian Journeys permanent collection — Navigate through immersive galleries chronicling Australia's social history from pre-colonial times through migration, war, and modern identity formation.
• Participate in a guided Indigenous cultural tour — Join Aboriginal guides who provide deeper context and personal perspectives on Indigenous history, art, and continuing cultural practices.
• Browse the museum shop for Indigenous artworks — Purchase authentic Aboriginal art, crafts, and cultural items directly supporting Indigenous artists and communities across Australia.
• Walk the waterfront sculpture garden — Stroll through the outdoor gardens on the museum's grounds featuring contemporary sculptures and views of Lake Burley Griffin.
• Attend a special exhibition or cultural event — Check the museum calendar for rotating exhibitions, film screenings, and performances highlighting different aspects of Australian culture and history.

Food to try

• Native Australian bush tucker menu items — Seek out café offerings featuring native ingredients like lemon myrtle, macadamia, and wattleseed reflecting traditional Indigenous food practices.
• Canberra-style modern Australian cuisine — Experience contemporary Australian cooking at nearby restaurants emphasizing local, seasonal ingredients and multicultural influences.
• Lamingtons and Anzac biscuits — Sample these iconic Australian treats at the museum café, representing classic homestyle baking deeply embedded in Australian cultural identity.
• Flat white coffee culture — Enjoy Canberra's café culture with expertly prepared flat whites, an Australian coffee tradition central to daily social interaction.

Local customs & good to know

• Show respect for Indigenous perspectives — Approach Indigenous history and cultural exhibits with reverence, understanding that many objects and stories carry sacred significance to Aboriginal peoples.
• Allow sufficient time for thorough engagement — Plan to spend at least 3-4 hours exploring the museum's extensive collections, as rushed visits diminish understanding of Australia's complex social narrative.
• Acknowledge Australia Day sensitivities — Be aware that January 26 (Australia Day) is controversial among Indigenous Australians who view it as marking colonization; the museum contextualizes this historical tension.
• Engage with first-person stories and testimonies — Pay close attention to oral histories, video testimonies, and personal accounts throughout the museum, as these authentic voices are central to understanding Australian identity beyond official narratives.