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 are well known around the country for being a major draw for visitors to the nation’s capital. From backyard studios to landmark galleries and outdoor exhibitions, a visit to Kamberri/Canberra on the Traditional Lands of the Ngunnawal people is worth multiple return visits.

Here are the best galleries to visit in Canberra.

1. The Gallery of Small Things

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 Masters’ backyard studio at The Gallery of Small Things, Canberra — Step into Anne Masters’ backyard studio. (Image: VisitCanberra)

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.

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

Address: 27 Wade Street

2. Canberra Glassworks

Canberra Glassworks is both a glass studio and gallery where you can observe the art of glass making and purchase bespoke pieces. It is the largest professional facility dedicated to studio glass in Australia and is housed in the. Visit Canberra Glassworks to gain insights into the practices of artists working in contemporary glass art, craft and design.

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

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 housed in the heritage-listed Kingston Powerhouse also offers courses ranging from beadmaking to term-long workshops to sculpt your own chess set.

Admire colourful glassware at Canberra Glassworks. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston

3. National Portrait Gallery

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 an individual 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. Take a guided tour of the gallery and you will be led to a portrait of Truganini, one of the most well-known names in Indigenous history.

Expect to see familiar faces such as singer Nick Cave, entertainer Barry Humphries and surfer Mick Fanning amid the 1400 portraits on display.

a woman entering the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra — Take a guided tour of the National Portrait Gallery. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: King Edward Terrace, Parkes

4. National Gallery of Australia

If you only had 72 hours in Canberra, you’d factor in a visit to the National Gallery of Australia . Opened by the late Queen Elizabeth II on 12 October 1982, the National Gallery of Australia features a comprehensive collection that encompasses Australian, Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander, American, European, Asian and Pacific art. All up, there are about 166,000 works that make up the permanent collection.

a couple admiring artworks at he National Gallery of Australia in Canberra — Factor in a visit to the National Gallery of Australia. (Image: VisitCanberra)

The gallery’s vision is to ‘be a source of inspiration for the people of Australia.’ It was established in 1967 by the Australian Government as a national public art museum.

colourful lights at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra — Tthe National Gallery of Australia in Canberra celebrates art from Australia and the world. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Don’t miss the stunning outdoor Sculpture Garden which showcases 26 sculptures made by international and Australian artists.

the outdoor Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra — The permanent collection features approximately 166,000 works. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: Parkes Pl E, Parkes

5. See Canberra street art

Feel the pulse of the underground art scene in Canberra by celebrating the artists who embrace brick walls as their medium. All up, there are about 350 murals painted around Canberra. Use Street Art Cities as a guide to map out your walking tour of the nation’s capital to see its best street art.

s superman street mural at Tocumwal Lane — See Superhero-themed artworks along Tocumwal Lane. (Image: VisitCanberra)

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.

family admiring a graffiti in Braddon — Go on a walking tour to discover the city’s best art. (Image: Lightbulb for VisitCanberra)

6. Grainger Gallery

Those wanting to see the works of emerging artists in Canberra galleries should head to Grainger Gallery . 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 of 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

7. Canberra Museum and Gallery

There’s a bit of crossover between what constitutes a museum and a gallery in Canberra. As the nation’s capital, there are attractions that tick both boxes as places that document the country’s social history and celebrate its collection of art.

black and white patterns on the facade of Canberra Museum and Gallery — The Canberra Museum and Gallery tells the story of the place chosen to be Australia’s national capital in 1909. (Image: VisitCanberra)

From stories honouring our First Nations people, to moving images and narratives around identity and belonging, the Canberra Museum + Gallery 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.

visitors exploring the Canberra Museum and Gallery — See a creative assortment of artistry at the Canberra Museum and Gallery. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: Cnr London Circuit and Civic Square

8. Beaver Galleries

Beaver Galleries is one of the best Canberra galleries to celebrate the city’s hard-working commercial artists. The gallery is the longest-established privately owned gallery in Canberra and a great place to see what emerging contemporary artists have been beavering away on.

The Deakin Gallery has three spacious rooms that feature work in a diverse range of disciplines from sculpture to printmaking and painting. Want to pick up some Canberra art as a souvenir? There’s a gallery shop with select works by Australian designers and makers.

Address: 81 Denison Street

9. 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 the space, at the intersection of craft and design, offers visitors the chance to connect with emerging and up-and-coming artists at every stage of their careers.

artists gathering at Craft + Design Canberra for the Urban Biome — Get a chance to connect with emerging and up-and-coming artists.

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. And time your visit to Craft + Design Canberra to coincide with the annual Craft + Design Canberra Festival , one of the best things to see and do in Canberra.

contemporary art and crafts at Craft + Design Canberra for the Urban Biome — Shop unique contemporary art and crafts at the gift shop.

Address: Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit

10. M16 Artspace

M16 Artspace operates 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.

The gallery 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

11. Canberra School of Art & Design Gallery

What better way to plug into the zeitgeist in the national capital than by factoring in a visit to the School of Art & Design Gallery , Australian National University. The cutting-edge gallery is a celebration of the fusion of art in our daily existence with exhibitions curated by world-leading curators.

a look inside the Canberra School of Art & Design Gallery — Canberra School of Art & Design Gallery presents the works of graduates and post-graduates in situ. (Image: David Paterson)

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.

the degree of concern exhibit at Canberra School of Art & Design Gallery — See the ‘Degrees of Concern’ exhibition at the Canberra School of Art & Design Gallery. (Image: Brenton McGeachie)

Address: The Australian National University, Canberra

12. Drill Hall Gallery

The Drill Hall Gallery is a destination in its own right. The gallery is housed in a historic drill hall that was established in the 1940s as a place for soldiers in Canberra to train for the Second World War.

wall art at The Drill Hall Gallery, Canberra — The Drill Hall Gallery is considered one of the best Canberra galleries

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. Check the website for highlights of the current collections.

artworks on display at Drill Hall Gallery, Canberra — The Drill Hall Gallery houses the works of Australia’s leading contemporary artists, collectors and curators.

Address: Kingsley Street, Acton

13. Aboriginal Dreamings Gallery

The No.1 consideration when sourcing Indigenous art is to ensure it’s been procured in an ethical manner. 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 for more than three decades. 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

14. Civic Art Bureau

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 student and practising artist, Adam Bell learnt at ANU.

artworks on display at Civic Art Bureau, Canberra — Catch innovative works at the Civic Art Bureau. (Image: David Hempenstall)

Established as a gallery to provide opportunities for both artists and curators, Civic Arts Bureau will feature a program of innovative presentations that reflect Bell’s experience curating music and sound art at Unsound festival.

artworks mounted on a white wall at Civic Art Bureau, Canberra — Civic Art Bureau amalgamates all former art history and curatorship student and practising artist, Adam Bell. (Image: David Hempenstall)

Address: Upstairs in the Melbourne Building, 76 Alinga St

15. Belconnen Arts Centre

You don’t need to do battle with the traffic when visiting Canberra galleries. And while the crowds might be thinner, galleries such as Belconnen Arts Centre rival some of the best in the country. This popular Canberra gallery is a shrine to the arts honouring mediums such as dance, music, visual arts, theatre and more.

Belco Arts Centre is considered a cultural institution. The program of exhibitions has been carefully curated to celebrate everything from the contribution of the Australian migrant population to nights of monthly live music. Fuel up while you’re in Belco, which has some of the best cafes in Canberra.

Address: 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen

Discover the best things to do in Canberra.

This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.

The True North Adventure Cruise in between sandstone cliffs. — Adventure starts where the road ends.

1. Discover Broome, and beyond

Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.

At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.

If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.

Ride a camel along Cable Beach as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light across the sand and sea. — Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)

2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley

Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.

At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.

Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.

Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.

A cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters. — Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.

3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality

You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.

Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.

4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley

These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.

If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.

Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.

A small group glides through Kimberley’s rugged coastline by boat, passing ancient cliffs. — Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.

5. Relax in luxurious lodgings

Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts – sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.

A helicopter soars above the sea, with a sleek cruise ship gliding in the distance. — See the Kimberley from sky to shore.

6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences

You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.

Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.

If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.

aerial of people walking on eco beach in the kimberley western australia — Stay off grid at Eco Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)

Find out more about your trip to Australia’s North West at australiasnorthwest.com .

A comprehensive round-up of the best Canberra galleries