A FREE SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF ANZAC PARADE, CANBERRA

If you’re looking to visit Australia’s Capital city, then at some point, you’ll probably end up on Anzac Parade, Canberra. This main thoroughfare is flanked at either end by two iconic tourist attractions, Parliament House and The War Memorial. It’s an easy place to visit being located within the city centre, where you can appreciate the sculptures on display here and get to know a bit about the nation’s history.

While many people will simply pass by these monuments without a second look, I would highly encourage you to stop and take in the structures for yourself and read the amazing stories that go along with them. From tales of bravery and courage to overcome adversity, it’s all here in this makeshift open-aired museum. And best of all it’s free.

So before you hit up the museum, be sure to make a pit stop here first to soak up the atmosphere and see why my family and I braved a very hot summers day to enjoy the sculptures on display.

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BEGINNING OUR WALKING TOUR

When we stepped on board the bus, we were hit with a lovely icy blast of air conditioning! Absolute heaven! As the bus made its way through the city, I was shocked by how quiet Canberra was. We hardly saw anyone walking around the streets! Where was everybody? As it was a Sunday during the school holidays, I thought the streets would be teeming with people. Nope! In fact, it was so quiet that after departing the bus at Anzac Parade, Canberra, it would be another 30 minutes until we even saw anyone else. How strange!?

One benefit of catching the bus was that we got to explore Anzac Parade as we made out way to the War Museum, something I would highly recommend doing if you can. It’s a road home to many sculptures and monuments that are dedicated to the numerous wars and conflicts Australia has fought in over the years. It’s quite emotional paying homage to the soldiers who lost their lives over the centuries but will undoubtedly whet your appetite for what’s to come.  

THE BOER WAR  

As we made our way down the parade, the first memorial we saw was dedicated to the Boer War (1899-1902), which happened to be Australia’s first war as an independent nation, having once been a colony of Great Britain. You’ll learn a lot about this while in Canberra. The Boer War was a horrible conflict between Britain and what is now the country of South Africa. To cut a long story short, the British claimed these territories from the Dutch, who had been living there first until the British arrived and moved them on. Gold and diamonds were found many years later, and war broke out between the Dutch and the British, who then annexed many of the Dutch’s remaining territories. Subsequently, a peace agreement was signed in 1902. Obvs, I already knew this information and definitely did NOT Google any of it! The monument shows four horsemen in military gear, trotting through the fields of South Africa and seemingly looking around, hoping the enemy doesn’t ambush them. Be sure to read some excerpts from the soldiers’ diaries recovered from the conflict, which have since been immortalised here in brass. What a lovely tribute!

WHERE IS EVERYONE?

Further up the road, we came across the Vietnam War Memorial, which significantly differed from the others due to its much more modern design. The large circular concrete structure has been created using three solid slabs, which allow you to move freely throughout the space. Various quotes and facts have been etched into the metal wall, which contrasts nicely with the large image engraved into the concrete at the far end, showing a war scene with a helicopter coming into land while troops await on the ground. It almost makes you believe that you’re part of the conflict and are actually there with the soldiers. It was very touching to see the number of people who’d come to pay their respects and laid red felt poppies by the memorial or placed them in gaps throughout the design. But again, I found myself wondering where the heck everybody was?

THE BUNKER

Next up was the Korean War Memorial, which was really impressive. The whole thing was designed to look like some kind of crazy bunker. When you approach it from the road, you will see tall metal spires which flank it on either side of the entrance. Scattered amongst them are a handful of soldiers dressed in full combat gear. One of them appears to be carrying a bomb while looking surprisingly calm! As we approached the exhibit, we caught a glimpse of some photos within, which was enough to entice us to enter. Once inside, we were surrounded by metal walls with a collage of pictures and newspaper clippings etched into them, which looked really cool. They were combined with some maps and photographs to help explain how and why the war started. Just as we were leaving the monument, we actually passed another couple entering. Wow! We’d finally seen some other people on the streets of Canberra! So people do exist in this city!?

NATIONAL AUSTRALIAN HELLENIC MEMORIAL

By this point, we were just minutes away from the War Memorial Museum. But before that, we had to stop and take a look at the National Australian Hellenic Memorial. It was designed to look like an ancient Greek ruin, and it certainly does, as the completed structure immediately made me think of an old Grecian theatre. It’s an excellent nod to this once ancient empire and its love of the arts. The floor is decorated in coloured mosaic tiles, and in the centre, metal objects were sticking up next to a large white pillar. To the side of this, there was a pile of stones, which reminded me of towns in war-torn countries. I just loved how cleverly constructed the whole thing was.

At the end of Anzac Parade lies your final destination, the War Memorial. As your appetite for knowledge would have been well and truly whetted from the jaunt up this historical street, it will make you appreciate the museum even more.

SIMPSON AND THE DONKEY

Once you cross over the road and head towards the museum, you will see the ‘Simpson and the Donkey’ statue right by the entrance. A nearby plaque tells the story of the incredibly brave John Simpson Kirkpatrick, who fought at the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915. He would carry water back and forth to Australian soldiers on the front line, as well as carry injured soldiers back to safety on his donkey. Sadly, Simpson was killed four weeks after arriving in Gallipoli, but many soldiers had witnessed his bravery during the conflict. Despite this, most people only ever came to know him as ‘the man with the donkey.’

If you’d like to read my full post from the War Memorial Museum,

then CLICK HERE.

RUNNING LATE

Before leaving the museum a few hours later, we checked the bus timetable online and realised that we only had around ten minutes before the next one was due to arrive, so we significantly quickened our pace to avoid missing it. Therefore, I can only give you a brief description of the next few monuments along Anzac Parade, Canberra. I’m sure you can appreciate how hard it was for me to get some photos, read the plaques, and still keep up with Zac and Aria, who by this point were moving at light speed. I have to admit that I’m a bit of a pain in the bum when it comes to taking pictures at the wrong times, and he’s usually the one left holding the baby while panicking that we’re running late.  

GALLIPOLI

While walking back on the other side of the road, we sped past several other memorials that deserved more time than just the super quick glance-over we gave them. We first passed the Kemal Ataturk monument. It did appear rather plain, but upon exploration, we learned it was dedicated to the soldiers who died at the battle of Gallipoli in 1915, and the design started to take on some meaning. It describes who Kemal Ataturk was and his role in leading the Turkish Army against the ANZACs. There is also a sculpture of his face within the curved concrete wall, which represents the crescent-shaped moon and the five pillars that appear on the Turkish flag. There’s some soil buried in a time capsule from Galipolli underneath the memorial, which I thought was really touching.

TRYING TO KEEP UP

I was trailing behind Aria and Zac now, so I started jogging in the sticky hot weather to catch up to them when I ran past the Royal Australian Navy Memorial. The first thing I spotted was an anchor sticking up in mid-air with several men below looking like they were hanging on to it for dear life. I thought this was a really cool sculpture. I’m assuming this was a dedication to all of the people who served in the navy who have tragically lost their lives at sea while serving their country, but I never had the time to read any of the plaques.

By this point, I was just a few meters behind Aria and Zac. You wouldn’t have even known that I’d stopped to take another 732 photos. Classic me! We were making good time, and we still had around 5-7 minutes until the bus arrived. It was then that I spotted the Australian Service Nurses National Memorial, one of the best monuments on Anzac Parade. It was made of a large piece of blue glass in the shape of a wave, with etchings of nurses from the front-line. As I walked through the wave, admiring the work, I heard, “Lindsay-!” then something about a bus, and I realised I’d lagged way behind Zac yet again. I came running out of the monument to see that he’d stopped further down the road and was yelling at me to catch up! Oops!

A BIT OF A BLUR

We were halfway down the road now, and I knew I couldn’t fall behind again, no matter what. I did manage to keep up the rest of the way, so I’m afraid my last descriptions are not quite as detailed, as I had to increase my speed to walk just behind them both. We passed the Australian Peace Keeping Memorial, which actually reminded me of an ultra-modern version of Pura Lempuyang (Gateway to Heaven), a famous temple in Bali, Indonesia. That’s all I can really say about that!

We were still in haste to the bus stop as we passed our last sculpture, the New Zealand Memorial. It’s a straightforward metal structure in a curved upsidedown ‘U’ shape and commemorates the strong bond we have with our Kiwi allies. Sadly, it’s also the most underwhelming structure compared to the rest of the tributes on the parade.

Anyway, we rounded the corner and made it to the bus stop. No one was there, and we didn’t pass a single person on the walk back. Either no one walks around the streets in Canberra, or literally, everyone drives… except us!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

STORY BEHIND ANZAC PARADE, CANBERRA

The road was officially opened in 1965 to mark the 50^th Anniversary of the Gallipoli landing. At one end, you have the Australian War Memorial, and at the end of the road is Parliament House. Several major wars have been honoured along the route from the Vietnam War and an Australian Nurses Memorial to statues commemorating the Australian Royal Navy.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

If I were to do my visit here all over again, I would go either early in the morning or at sunset to try and avoid the oppressive sun. Plus, I think you would be able to get some pretty nice photo’s here too during golden hour!  

WHAT ARE THE OPENING HOURS

The road is open 24-hours a day as it is one of Canberra’s main roads. Therefore it is never closed.

THINGS TO DO NEARBY

There are so many things to do nearby in Australia’s capital. As mentioned, you have Parliament House at one end of the Parade and the Australian War Memorial Museum at the other. There’s also the Lake Burley Griffin, the National Carillion, Questacon and the National Gallery of Australia.

HOW LONG DO YOU RECOMMEND STAYING HERE?

As there are around ten memorials, I’d recommend at least an hour to be able to appreciate each individual piece and read the information thoroughly.

HOW TO GET TO ANZAC PDE

If you don’t have a car, you catch the bus here. From the City Center Bus Station, it takes around 12-minutes on the number 55 bus, then a five-minute walk to Anzac Parade.

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Thanks for reading my post today on a Self-Guided Walking Tour of ANZAC Parade in Canberra. It really is a great spot to learn about Canberra’s war history, as it’s like an open-air museum, taking you from the Boer War, which happened around the time of Australia’s independence, to more current conflicts just as the Vietnam War. I wrote this guide for anyone who is an independent traveler like me, looking for ideas of things to do while in Australia’s Capital. It can be used by anyone who is visiting the city or families wanting a helpful free guide.

Are you planning on visiting Canberra in the future? Will you be visiting ANZAC Parade? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Still looking for more inspiration for your trip to Canberra? Check out my post on the National Portrait Gallery, and Cockington Green for more fun things to do while in the city, or you can scroll to the bottom of this page for more articles.