The award-winning National Museum is full of fascinating stories, interesting objects, and things to do for all ages.

Visit our permanent galleries, our unique rotating theatre Circa, the remarkable Garden of Australian Dreams, and Kspace – an interactive space where kids can design vehicles and buildings for the future.

Make the most of your visit to the National Museum of Australia with a guided tour, led by one of our knowledgeable Visitor Services Hosts. And, check out our suggested itineraries for different interests.

There is always something new to see at the National Museum with our exciting program of temporary exhibitions exploring a diverse range of topics.

All of our permanent galleries use high-tech multimedia, interesting displays and objects from our collections to help tell the stories of Australia.

Our permanent galleries profile 50,000 years of indigenous heritage, settlement since 1788 and key events including Federation and the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

• Australian Journeys explores the fascinating journeys of people and objects that connect Australia to the world. Australian Journeys was opened in January 2009 as part of the National Museum's Museum Development program.
• Eternity: Stories from the Emotional Heart of Australia tells the personal stories of 50 ordinary and extraordinary Australians.
• First Australians: Gallery of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples traces the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their spirituality, diversity, identity and survival.
• Old New Land: Australia's People and Environment looks at how human history is written on the land and how the environment has shaped life and agriculture.
• Landmarks: People and Places across Australia explores a broad history of Australia through stories of places and their peoples.

The National Museum of Australia is undertaking an exciting program of Museum Development which involves the renewal of some of our permanent galleries as well as other spaces throughout the Museum.

There is always something new to see at the National Museum with our exciting program of temporary exhibitions exploring a diverse range of topics.

If you have a passion for learning, a love of reminiscing or a particular interest in Australian life and history, then the National Museum of Australia's programs offer new insights and the chance to meet others with similar interests.

For up to date information check out What's On at the National Museum.

The National Museum has many entertaining and educational experiences on offer for families and children. The National Museum, as a public facility, recommends that young children are supervised at all times. If you are visiting with older children or teenagers we recommend that they stay with their friends or siblings and that you identify a meeting time and place when you arrive.

A trip down memory lane

If you love to reminisce about key moments in Australian history, then put these on your list:

• Visit Eternity where you'll find the personal stories of 50 ordinary and extraordinary Australians, from the hopeful to the mysterious. You can even leave your own story.
• In the Australian Journeys gallery you'll find the wobble board used by Australian artist and musician Rolf Harris, as well as photographer Frank Hurley's Debrie camera used in Antarctica. Also relive summer with stories on cricket over the past 150 years starting with Greg Chappell's cricket cap.
• Then visit the Paddle Steamer Enterprise, moored on Lake Burley Griffin. Launched in 1878, the PS Enterprise worked on the great rivers of south-eastern Australia for more than 100 years. Now part of the National Museum's collection, it is maintained by a crew of 40 volunteers.
• Don't forget the National Museum Shop where you can purchase a memento of your visit.

Go walkabout in the Gallery of First Australians.

• The Gallery of First Australians introduces visitors to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Marvel at the extraordinary diversity and similarities shared between the many indigenous groups.
• At the Gallery of First Australians, every hour the doors open to a special space where you can get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of some 2,000 objects from the National Museum of Australia's Indigenous collections. Open Collections is open for 15 minutes on the hour from 10am until 4pm.
• Find out more on the First Australians tour with one of our knowledgeable Visitor Services Hosts. The tour provides further insight into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' history, cultures, spirituality and connections to country. Fees apply.
• Visit Dhari a Krar – an exhibition of spectacular masks and headdresses from the Torres Strait.
• Explore the Garden of Australian Dreams by talking to one of our knowledgeable Visitor Services Hosts. Discover how the symbolism and modern design links in with Australia's many stories on a giant tapestry of interwoven maps.

Opened in March 2001, the colourful building itself is an architectural landmark, one which complements the beautiful surroundings of Canberra's Acton Peninsula. With its soaring loop, the jigsaw-like building wraps around the central Garden of Australian Dreams, a remarkable garden and cultural arena.

A passion for learning

If you have a passion for learning, then here are some suggestions for how to spend your time at the National Museum:

• Join one of our knowledgeable Visitor Services Hosts on a guided tour of the National Museum. Choose from the National Museum highlights tour that introduces the National Museum or our First Australians tour which provides an insight into Australia's Indigenous history. Fees apply.
• Come to one of our talks – find out more about What's On at the Museum.
• The National Museum Shop sells catalogues and other books published by the National Museum Press.
• After your visit you can find fascinating information about the National Museum's collections and hear some of our recent talks on the National Museum's website.

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