Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Canberra Parliament House Tours

My family and I are considering visiting the inside of the Parliament House, in July.

Here is the web site to the tour:

http://www.australianexplorer.com/canberra_parliament_house.htm

One option is for us to go in as private citizens - perhaps on the weekend, when Parliament would not be sitting (perhaps July 11 or July 12?). I presume from reading the web site, that tours are conducted when Parliament is not sitting - which includes all weekends?

The other option is to take a day tour of Canberra from Sydney (only on MWF) - I guess if Parliament is sitting? (eg July 6-10), then one's ability to see the inside of Parliament my be seriously curtailed. Of course, the cost (there are 5 of us in our party) of a day tour would be much greater than renting a car and going to Canberra from Sydney on our own.

What do you think about the 2 options - and would one see the insides of the Parliament House comprehensively.

PS-from the web site, I could not find when Parliament is open for tours on the weekends - although the web site states that "large areas of the house are open to the public everyday, between 9.00am-5.00pm".

The official website for Parliament House is http://www.aph.gov.au . This page should give you plenty of info http://aph.gov.au/visitors/visiting.htm

You can turn up anytime Parliament House is open and there are vast areas open to the public.

I doubt you will be able to get a "back of house" tour due to the House being functional and due to security issues, however you can still visit the Public Gallery of both houses when Parliament isn't in session.

Entry is free and there are plenty of staff around to answer any questions you have (or if you get lost!).

One thing the APH website doesn't mention is that there is a copy of the Magna Carta on display http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta#Copies

Don't forget to take a walk down the road to Old Parliament House http://moadoph.gov.au/ where you can sit in the member's seats as well as roam the corridors and enter the various offices, cabinet rooms and PM's office (including the shower).



Evan :->

The official website for Parliament House is http://www.aph.gov.au . This page should give you plenty of info http://aph.gov.au/visitors/visiting.htm

You can turn up anytime Parliament House is open and there are vast areas open to the public.

I doubt you will be able to get a "back of house" tour due to the House being functional and due to security issues, however you can still visit the Public Gallery of both houses when Parliament isn't in session.

Entry is free and there are plenty of staff around to answer any questions you have (or if you get lost!).

One thing the APH website doesn't mention is that there is a copy of the Magna Carta on display http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta#Copies

Don't forget to take a walk down the road to Old Parliament House http://moadoph.gov.au/ where you can sit in the member's seats as well as roam the corridors and enter the various offices, cabinet rooms and PM's office (including the shower).



Evan :->

Thank you, for the information. It is still not clear to me, after reviewing the information in the links which you have provided, whether one can see the parliamentary chambers and other working locations - should I take a day bus tour from Sydney (on one of MWF of the week of July 6) or take a guided tour, perhaps on Saturday July 11 or Sunday July 12.

If Parliament is sitting, you may need to queue up to visit the Public Gallery of both houses.

If Parliament isn't sitting, you can walk in and out of the Public Galleries as you please (including weekends).

You wont be able to sit in the chamber itself (where the members sit).


This is the view you could expect http://www.evandavis.id.au/canberra/houseofreps.jpg


Basically you are allowed free access to the Public Galleries of both houses, The Great Hall, the Cafe (it's crap!) and the various galleries (mainly pieces of art and pictures of current and former members).

You wont be able to go into other working areas.


Evan :->

If Parliament is sitting, you may need to queue up to visit the Public Gallery of both houses.

If Parliament isn't sitting, you can walk in and out of the Public Galleries as you please (including weekends).

You wont be able to sit in the chamber itself (where the members sit).


This is the view you could expect http://www.evandavis.id.au/canberra/houseofreps.jpg


Basically you are allowed free access to the Public Galleries of both houses, The Great Hall, the Cafe (it's crap!) and the various galleries (mainly pieces of art and pictures of current and former members).

You wont be able to go into other working areas.


Evan :->

I will be in Sydney for 9 days, from July 4.

From this link, it looks like there are no parliamentary sessions in July.

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/info/sittings/index.htm