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A woman in a black blazer walking between indigenous memorial poles.

Barton and Parkes

Parkes is home to the National Triangle and many of Australia's iconic museums and galleries. These cultural icons offer intriguing and ever-changing experiences, each sharing and holding the stories of Australia. Barton is fast becoming a foodie hotspot and wellness hub with day spas and wine bars.

Highlights of the area

Best museums and galleries in Australia

Enjoy short walks between many cultural attractions as you delve into exhibitions dedicated to art, history and science.

Stylish spas and eateries

From fine-dining restaurants to your choice of day spas, this leafy precinct is a great spot to relax and recharge.

Great tours on offer

Choose between Segway tours near Lake Burley Griffin and behind the scenes looks at national attractions.

LEGO Senate Chamber
Featured

Australian Parliament House

Watch democracy in action on a visit to Australian Parliament House. A range of free guided tours are offered including Yeribee, an Indigenous themed tour, to art and architecture tours of this impressive ‘mini city’.

Enjoy high tea at Queen's Terrace Cafe before you have a chuckle at the Lego model of Parliament House which features many humorous references to the building's history. While tickets are free, bookings are essential for all visits.

Australian Parliament House
Main entrance to the National Capital Exhibition

National Capital Exhibition

TripAdvisor rating73 reviews
Parkes, ACT
Arbor in the centre of the Ladies Garden

Old Parliament House Gardens

TripAdvisor rating47 reviews
Parkes, ACT
National Workers Memorial in Kings Park

National Workers Memorial

TripAdvisor rating43 reviews
Parkes, ACT
Girl on a moving bridge in the Boundless Playground

Boundless Playground

TripAdvisor rating19 reviews
Parkes, ACT
A dimly lit restaurant interior

Louis Dining

TripAdvisor rating18 reviews
Barton, ACT
Not specified
Family taking the Australian of the Year Walk. Photo by Jinkyart

Australians of the Year Walk

TripAdvisor rating7 reviews
Parkes, ACT
towards National Library

Reconciliation Place

TripAdvisor rating7 reviews
Parkes, ACT
Canberra Contemporary exterior

Canberra Contemporary

TripAdvisor rating7 reviews
Parkes, ACT
sunset on Lake Burley Griffin at The Jetty Canberra

The Jetty

TripAdvisor rating6 reviews
Parkes, ACT
Not specified
The Bible Garden

The Bible Garden

TripAdvisor rating2 reviews
Barton, ACT
Ostani Bar

Ostani Bar

TripAdvisor rating418 reviews
Barton, ACT
Between $20 and $30
The front glass doors of a cafe. There are stained glass windows on the back wall of the cafe.

Bookplate cafe at the National Library of Australia

TripAdvisor rating378 reviews
Parkes, ACT
Between $20 and $30
Chifley’s Bar & Grill

Chifley's Bar & Grill

TripAdvisor rating239 reviews
Barton, ACT
Over $30
Three glass oil bottles on jute fabric and a sprig of palm leaf to the left

mudd The Spa

TripAdvisor rating55 reviews
Barton, ACT
Fenceline posts Blundells Cottage

Blundells Cottage

TripAdvisor rating29 reviews
Parkes, ACT
A woman and young girl looking at books in the National Library of Australia Bookshop
18–20 Jun 2026

National Library of Australia Bookshop sale

National Library of Australia Bookshop, Parkes
Next on tomorrow from 9:00am to 5:00pm
People gathered around a work of art

Collection Tours

by National Gallery of Australia Tours

Parkes, ACT
A smiling, mature woman with short, gray hair, looking directly at the camera in front of a blurred
13 Aug 2026

Author talk: Beyond Timbuktu with Catherine DeVrye

National Library of Australia, Parkes
Next on 13 Aug 2026 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Joan Child sitting at her desk in the Speaker's Suite

Madam Speaker Tour

by Tours at The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House (MoAD)

Parkes, ACT
A monumental tapestry by renowned Australian artist Arthur Boyd.
20 Jun – 18 Oct 2026

Arthur Boyd: tapestries

National Gallery of Australia, Parkes
Next on 20 Jun 2026
Market sign at the lake
7 Mar – 5 Dec 2026

The Little Burley Market

By the lake on Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes
Next on 4 Jul 2026 from 9:00am to 2:00pm
Rear vision exhibition banner
12 Jun – 11 Oct 2026

Rear vision: the Holden collection

National Archives of Australia, Parkes
Next on today from 9:00am to 5:00pm
The front of a cafe register.

Paperplate cafe at the National Library of Australia

Parkes, ACT
Under $20
black & white image of a banged-up car speeding past with passengers and one man on the car roof
5 Dec 2026 – 29 Mar 2027

Full Throttle

National Gallery of Australia, Parkes
Next on 5 Dec 2026
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