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A budget-friendly guide to enjoying Canberra

A list of free and budget-friendly activities in Australia's capital.

A day well spent, without spending much. Here are a few free (or budget-friendly) ways to enjoy Canberra, Australia.

Canberra points of interest, museums and galleries

Parliament House
One of the most obvious and iconic (but no less interesting) places to visit in Canberra is Parliament House. Visiting the hub of Australia’s government and politics is insightful and informative. The best way to experience Parliament is on a guided tour. Free tours run daily (except for Christmas Day), with the option to go on a paid tour to discover the best of the open to the public parts of Parliament House on sitting days or go behind the scenes on non-sitting days. 
Daily guided tours are free. Discover Parliament House tours are $15 and Behind the Scenes tours are $25 per person. 
National Gallery of Australia
The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) is home to an extensive collection of over 160,000 pieces of art from across the globe. Displays vary from indigenous art and Australian photography to sculptures and textiles from Asia, artefacts from the Pacific, and pieces from famous artists including Monet and Warhol. As with Parliament House, the National Gallery is open every day except for Christmas. 
Admission to the NGA is free. Some special exhibitions may charge an entry free from time to time. 
The Royal Australian Mint
No list of cheap or free things to do in Canberra would be complete without a mention of The Royal Australian Mint, the place where Australia’s coins are made. Entry to the Royal Australian Mint is free, so you can look at money without having to spend a cent! Staff will share the stories behind various Australian coins over the years and you’ll also get to see how the Mint makes hundreds of millions of coins every single year. 
Entry to the Royal Australian Mint is free.
Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre
Whether you’re travelling with kids or not you must make some time to visit Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre. This interactive science museum is one of the most fun things to do in Canberra, with more than 200 hands-on exhibits on site for all ages.
If you do happen to be travelling with the little ones, Questacon offers a great range of school holiday activities too. Examples include Gamecraft where you can learn how to make your own video game or Robot Hack to prototype a robot that will help you get stuff done – like your chores! 
Adults $23, Concession and kids aged 4-16 $17.50, kids under 4 free, Family (2 Adults, 3 Kids) $70, School holiday workshops are $55 each.

The great outdoors and more

Have a picnic in one of Canberra’s picturesque parks 
Canberra is home to many beautiful parks and green spaces. Make the most of the natural beauty of Canberra by packing a picnic and heading to the park. This budget friendly fun is an excellent way to soak up the sights without splashing all your holiday cash. Visit Mount Ainslie and marvel at the views, or visit other popular spots such as Lake Burley Griffin or the National Arboretum to name a few.
Pack your favourite picnic snacks, the rest is free. 
Visit the home of the FreakShake™, – Patissez  
Keep up with your Canberra sightseeing schedule by visiting Patissez for a much needed sugar rush. This local hotspot is home to the original FreakShake™, an over the top milkshake overflowing with toppings, sauces, cookies, cake and other treats. Order the ‘Regular Freak’ if you’re game or planning to share, or the ‘Baby Freak’, a smaller version, if you’re also grabbing a bite to eat or ordering one for the kids. 
Snap up a ‘Regular Freak’ for $13.90 or a ‘Baby Freak’ for $8.90. 

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