Best Canberra Galleries To Visit | Australian Traveller

There are a lot of treasures to be found in Canberra galleries. Use our guide to create an itinerary that loops in everything from major institutions to intimate galleries.

Canberra galleries contain a lot of treasures. I know this because I’ve spent years ducking into artist-run spaces, studios and landmark institutions in the nation’s capital to better inform this guide to the best galleries.

From major galleries housing collections of national significance to smaller Canberra galleries locals recommend should be on my radar, this guide brings together the best Canberra galleries, with insider tips on how to experience them.

1. National Gallery of Australia

admiring artworks at The National Gallery of Australia, Canberra — The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra celebrates art from Australia and the world. (Image: VisitCanberra)

If you only had 72 hours in Canberra, the National Gallery of Australia is where you’d start. Opened on 12 October 1982, the gallery brings together Australian, Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander, American, European, Asian and Pacific art into one incredible collection. All up, there are about 166,000 works that make up the permanent collection. The gallery was established in 1967 by the Australian Government as a national public art museum. Don’t miss the outdoor Sculpture Garden which showcases works by international and Australian artists.

Address: Parkes Pl E, Parkes, ACT

2. Canberra City Art Trail

The Canberra City Art Trail celebrates the artists who embrace brick walls as their medium. All up, there are about 350 murals painted around Canberra. Favourite places include Tocumwal Lane, a tourist attraction for its stylised Superhero-themed artworks by local artists such as Sprinkles, Josh Roy Barlow, George Rose and Anna Keightley. You will also see some of Canberra’s best street art along the Condamine Street Art Turner Trail that loops in works by local artists Happy Decay and Byrd. The entire PCYC building is considered a living canvas. Use Street Art Cities as a guide to map out your walking tour; it’s one of the best things to do in Canberra.

Address: See visitcanberra.com.au

3. The Gallery of Small Things

an art exhibition at The Gallery of Small Things — Find a carefully curated exhibition of works at The Gallery of Small Things. (Image: VisitCanberra)

The art on show in Anne Masters’ backyard studio is wide-ranging. Masters runs Canberra’s tiniest walk-in gallery and showcases everyone from up-and-coming designers to established artists. The Gallery of Small Things is a great snapshot of Canberra’s creative talent, while also offering a platform for local artists. Anne transformed her 1960s laundry into a tiny gallery so she could realise her dream of starting up workshops to assist artists with business basics. Masters’ big idea, to celebrate all things small, continues to grow. Visit the Watson Gallery to find a carefully curated exhibition of works in textiles, jewellery, photography, paintings and print media.

Address: 27 Wade Street

4. Canberra Glassworks

glassmaking at Canberra Glassworks — Observe the art of glassmaking inside the studio. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Canberra Glassworks is both a glass studio and gallery where you can observe the art of glassmaking and purchase bespoke pieces. It is the largest professional facility dedicated to studio glass in Australia. Visit Canberra Glassworks – housed in the heritage-listed Kingston Powerhouse – to gain insights into the practices of artists working in contemporary glass art, craft and design. Peer into the Engine Room to see the artists in residence developing glass art that ranges from pendant lighting and wine decanters to experimental installations. The gallery also offers courses and workshops to members of the public.

Address: 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston

5. National Portrait Gallery

an installation view inside the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra — Take a guided tour of the National Portrait Gallery. (Image: Lean Timms)

The National Portrait Gallery houses a collection of significant portraits of famous and infamous Aussies from across the ages. Those featured are considered important in their field of endeavour or are people whose lives set them apart as individuals of long-term public interest. The NPG’s soaring structure opened in 1968. But it continues to move with the times, with everything from exhibitions to events, live-streaming activations and apps. Expect portraits of singer Nick Cave, surfer Mick Fanning and Truganini, one of the most well-known names in Indigenous history amid the 1400 portraits on display.

Address: King Edward Terrace, Parkes, ACT

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

6. Craft + Design Canberra

Develop your sense of wonder with a visit to this not-for-profit organisation that presents a significant snapshot of Canberra’s creatives. A stroll around Craft + Design Canberra offers visitors the chance to connect with emerging and up-and-coming artists at every stage of their careers. Browse the gift shop to buy unique contemporary art and crafts such as bespoke bowls by Caslake and Pedler, stoneware vases from Lea Durie and Votive Vessels by Fran Romano. Time your visit to coincide with the annual Craft + Design Canberra Festival, one of the best things to see and do in Canberra.

Address: Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit

7. Canberra Museum and Gallery

artwork viewing at the Canberra Museum and Gallery — Admire a creative assortment of artworks at the Canberra Museum and Gallery. (Image: Penny Bradfield / VisitCanberra)

There’s a bit of crossover between what constitutes a museum and a gallery in Canberra. I’m drawn to Canberra Museum + Gallery because it ticks both boxes as places that document the country’s social history and celebrate its collection of art. From stories honouring our First Nations people, to moving images and narratives around identity and belonging, it tells the story of the place chosen to be Australia’s national capital in 1909. CMAG is home to the Foundation Collection of Sir Sidney Nolan’s paintings, donated by the artist in 1974.

Address: Cnr London Circuit and Civic Square

8. Aboriginal Dreamings Gallery

Aboriginal Dreamings Gallery is a private, commercial gallery that has a collection of ethically sourced art that dates back from the 1970s to the present day. The ethically sourced Indigenous art has been selected from Indigenous communities and art centres from around the country. The exhibitions change every four to six weeks and there is a gift shop onsite. The gallery has an offshoot at Artworld ADG – Canberra City London Circuit, corner of Gordon Street

Address: 19 O’Hanlon Place, Gold Creek Village, Nicholls; Artworld ADG – Canberra City London Circuit, corner of Gordon Street

9. Grainger Gallery

Grainger Gallery in Canberra — The space set up by Canberra artist Kacy Grainger features emerging artists’ artworks.

Grainger Gallery is where I go to see works by emerging artists in Canberra. The space set up by Canberra artist Kacy Grainger features everything from pencil drawings to landscapes and photographs that look almost like abstract art. Grainger Gallery serves to establish a place for local artists to show their works. And walking around the Fyshwick gallery is akin to a master class in a new way of seeing. The collections on show here move through different moods in celebration of art and nature, and all that is changing and ephemeral.

Address: Building 3.3, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick

10. M16 Artspace

M16 Artspaceoperates on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people and is an inclusive gallery that supports Canberra’s arts community. The gallery has developed a program of classes and workshops that appeal to everyone from the complete novice through to those with experience who want to develop their creativity. M16 runs three gallery spaces, manages some 30 artist studios and houses various arts organisations that offer a diverse array of art classes. The gallery, established in 1985, also runs residency programs.

Address: 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

11. Canberra School of Art & Design Gallery

an art exhibition at the ANU School of Art & Design Gallery in Canberra — Canberra School of Art & Design Gallery presents the works of graduates and post-graduates in situ. (Image: David Paterson)

My husband and I are drawn to the ANU School of Art & Design Gallery as a way to tap into the energy of the art school. The cutting-edge gallery presents exhibitions by students, graduates and visiting artists that have been curated by world-leading creatives. The gallery presents an ever-changing roster of exhibitions, public programs, performances and publications. It also presents the works of graduates and post-graduates in situ, which reflects the standing of the school on the international stage.

Address: The Australian National University, Canberra

12. Drill Hall Gallery

Euan Macloed Flux, installation view, Drill Hall Gallery, ANU — The Drill Hall Gallery houses the works of Australia’s leading contemporary artists, collectors and curators. (Image: David Paterson)

The Drill Hall Gallery is housed in an historic drill hall that was established in the 1940s as a place for soldiers in Canberra to train for the Second World War. Located on the campus of the Australian National University, it’s considered one of the best Canberra galleries for its works by some of Australia’s leading contemporary artists, collectors and curators. The scale of the space allows works to breathe and I often find myself spending longer here than I’d planned. Check the website for highlights of the current collections.

Address: Kingsley Street, Acton

13. Civic Art Bureau

artworks on display at Civic Art Bureau — Civic Art Bureau provides opportunities for both artists and curators. (Image: David Hempenstall)

A former Australian National University student has founded a gallery in Canberra’s city centre. Civic Art Bureau is an amalgam of all former art history and curatorship students, and practising artist, Adam Bell, who learned at ANU. Established as a gallery to provide opportunities for both artists and curators, Civic Arts Bureauwill feature a program of innovative presentations that reflect Bell’s experience curating music and sound art at Unsound festival.

Address: Upstairs in the Melbourne Building, 76 Alinga St

14. Belconnen Arts Centre

Galleries such as Belconnen Arts Centre rival some of the best in the country. This popular Canberra gallery honours mediums as diverse as dance, music, visual arts, theatre and more. The exhibitions at Belco Arts Centre are carefully curated to celebrate everything from the contribution of the Australian migrant population to nights of monthly live music. It’s one of the strongest suburban arts centres in the city, generous in scope and inclusive in tone. Fuel up while you’re in Belco, which has some of the best cafes in Canberra.

Address: 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen

15. Ainslie+Gorman

Ainslie+Gorman are twin centres located just 400 metres away in buzzy Braddon. While the Ainslie Arts Centre is the city’s new dedicated music hub, the focus at Gorman Arts Centre is more multi-disciplinary. Together, the two centres form one of Canberra’s most vibrant precincts. Ainslie Arts Centre is anchored by a restored concert hall hosting lunchtime concerts, while Gorman broadens the mix with poetry slams, experimental sounds, film and visual art. With dozens of resident artists and events running weekly, this is where to go to feel the city’s creative pulse.

Address: Ainslie Arts Centre, 30 Elouera Street; Gorman Arts Centre, 55 Ainslie Avenue

Whether you’re after the perfect family holiday or after something a little more romantic, Accor has the stay for you.

Nothing sets the tone of your holiday quite like the accommodation you’ve chosen. After all, who can imagine a wellness retreat without an on-site day spa, or a sprawling family resort without a kids’ club (or babysitting service)? The truth is there are as many ways to holiday as there are types of travellers – but happily, there’s accommodation for every type of traveller.

Fun family holidays

A successful family holiday requires plenty of space – not to mention essential amenities, like a fully equipped kitchen and laundry, a central location near plenty of activities and attractions, and those all-important beaches. The following properties all fit the bill and were designed with kids in mind.

1. Peppers Beach Club Port Douglas

inside room at Peppers Beach Club Port Douglas — Peppers Beach Club Port Douglas is perfect for a family getaway.

Will it be a day of snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, horse riding along the golden sands of Cape Tribulation, or trying your hand at watersports at Four Mile Beach? For those checked in at Peppers Beach Club Port Douglas, the correct answer can only ever be ‘all of the above’ – but only if you can convince the kids to get out of the hotel’s lagoon-style swimming pool.

Featuring one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments (some with private swim-up pool decks), the hotel is also conveniently located moments from the town centre.

2. Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour

Kids’ club: the two words most parents of little ones long to hear. With Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour, however, that’s only the beginning. This eco-friendly hotel (which is famous for its spacious rooms) pulls out all the stops, serving up a 10-metre outdoor pool, tennis court and a signature restaurant, The Ternary.

Located in the heart of Sydney’s vibrant Darling Harbour precinct, the hotel is steps from WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and the Australian National Maritime Museum.

3. Mantra on Salt Beach Kingscliff

Mantra On Salt pool — The Tweed offers the best of both worlds.

When the kids are screaming ‘Gold Coast theme parks’ but your body needs a little Byron Bay downtime, the answer arrives in the form of Mantra on Salt Beach Kingscliff, an airy resort located in The Tweed. Some of Queensland and New South Wales’s top beaches and attractions are only a short drive away.

Featuring one- and two-bedroom suites, a tennis court and a lagoon-style pool (plus a children’s wading pool), guests also have the option to rent a bike, book a treatment at the onsite day spa, or organise child-minding for date night.

Couples getaways

Remember those candlelit dinners when you first got together? Or what about those long walks along the beach and lazy sleep-ins – complete with room service?

If you’re still searching your memory, it’s time to hit reboot on romance by booking a hotel geared around good food, good times and more than a little privacy.

1. Sofitel Melbourne On Collins

inside room at Sofitel Melbourne — Soak in the gorgeous view.

Located in the heart of Melbourne’s shopping and theatre districts, there’s every reason those checking into Sofitel Melbourne On Collins will want to head out and explore. A night in, however, can mean a champagne or signature cocktail (or two) at The Atrium Bar on 35 before an intimate feast at No35, where French gastronomy reaches new heights.

Top tip? Book the Romance Getaway Package, which includes a bottle of French champagne, breakfast in bed and a leisurely 2pm check out.

2. Mondrian Gold Coast

inside a room at The Mondrian — Enjoy classy surrounds at The Mondrian.

The Gold Coast suburb of Burleigh has all the ingredients needed for a romantic escape. And the best place to explore it all from is the stunning beachfront lifestyle precinct, Mondrian Gold Coast.

Stay in one of 208 accommodation options, including studios, suites, homes and houses. Taste your way through the levels of dining options, from authentic Italian and surf-to-plate seafood, and dive into the lively pool club. Or relax with a restorative treatment together at the spa.

City escapes

Nabbing a front-row seat to urban life (and momentarily feeling like a local) is as easy as checking into a city hotel and letting the streets around you set the pace for your next holiday.

Laidback retreats and coastal getaways will always have their place, but here you can step straight into galleries and boutique stores, roll into restaurants and tumble out of bars – all before watching the sun rise across a gleaming skyline.

A convenient location, of course, is key.

1. 25hours Hotel The Olympia

25hours Sydney Atrium — Book into Sydney’s newest boutique spot.

Hotels are all too often about retreating from the city they’re located in, but at Sydney’s newest boutique spot, 25hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia, a stay is all about immersing yourself in the area. Channelling the energy and creativity of its Oxford Street location, the hotel’s bold and playful design is a nod to the building’s arthouse beginnings as West’s Olympia Theatre. Guests can choose to stay in either a light and airy Dreamers room or the more dramatic Renegades option.

This is home to two stand-out bars (one of them on the rooftop) and a cafe serving Lune croissants, as well as The Palomar, a hot dining spot that serves as a love letter to the Mediterranean.

2. Hyde Melbourne Place

Some of Melbourne’s finest restaurants might be on Hyde Melbourne Place’s doorstep, but there’s no need for guests to venture out the front door for a bite to remember. The innovative brand’s first Australian offering is not only home to three distinctive venues (including an atmospheric rooftop restaurant), but is also the winner of a Michelin Key 2025.

Conveniently located in the east end of the city’s CBD within moments of the city’s iconic laneways, accommodation ranges from a soothing General Admission Queen to the spectacular Headliner Suite (many with balconies overlooking the city buzzing below). A high-end fitness space and Peach Pilates streamed straight to your in-room tablet are available too. Our top tip? Call ahead for a Sonna Brightening LED Face Mask and say yes to winding down with a meditative ritual designed to support skin health, clarity and calm.

Tranquil retreats

There’s no question 2026 is going to be your year, but it would be foolish to hard-launch this new and improved you without first taking some time to relax, rejuvenate and reflect on how you can find better balance in the year to come.

It’s time to treat yourself to a wellness getaway that’s designed around peace, natural beauty and more than a few spa treatments.

1. Pullman Bunker Bay Resort

Pullman Bunker Bay pool — Relax into Pullman Bunker Bay Resort.

Kangaroos at dawn, Margaret River wineries at noon and a long evening of life-affirming massage treatment come the late afternoon; there’s a lot to love about a stay at Pullman Bunker Bay Resort. And that’s without even touching on the resort’s secluded beachfront location.

Whether you check into a studio villa or a three-bedroom, three-bathroom villa, the views stretching out over the lake or garden will help you hit reset as you ponder the important questions: should you take a drive to nearby Geographe Bay to enjoy the dive of a lifetime, settle in for a long and lazy day in the resort’s heated infinity-edge pool, or make booking after booking at Vie Spa to try its extensive range of massages, facials and treatments?

The cherry on top? The resort has a complimentary – albeit seasonal – kids’ club, too.

2. Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge

couple in spa at Peppers Cradle Mountain — Connect with yourself and nature at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge.

Welcome to the ultimate alpine wellness experience, a luxurious lodge nestled in the lush peaks of Tasmania’s World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, where ‘forest bathing’ takes on a whole new meaning.

Offering quick and easy access to some of the region’s most iconic walking trails (not to mention a window to our most striking flora and fauna), every cabin and suite at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge – some with their own fireplace – is designed to help you exhale.

Say yes to a wealth of included activities, such as an evening wildlife safari, a guided Crater Lake mountain walk or the Aboriginal Heritage & Bush Tucker tour. Unwind by retreating to the famous Waldheim Alpine Spa, where treatment rooms overlook rugged mountains and ancient forests.

Wellness has never looked – or felt – so luxurious.

Learn more and plan your next escape at All.com.

A comprehensive round-up of the best Canberra galleries