The Australian War Memorial with Kids

This post focuses on how to visit the Australian War Memorial with Kids. While it may not seem to be a place to take kids, it does have a child friendly area and it’s great to expose kids to the significance of war memorials. It’s also a great activity for rainy days.

One of the hardest parts of travelling with kids is when you want to go to a museum or an art gallery or a place of historical significance but you have loud little shadows who made it impossible.

There are just some places you can’t go with kids. Thankfully a lot of global tourist attractions have realised this and are now taking steps to make the attractions more child friendly.

The Australian War memorial is one of these places that have recently upgraded a space that’s kid friendly. You can now visit the Australian War Memorial with Kids, you just have to know how to visit.

I’ve also set out some logistics so you know how to get there and when you can visit.

The Australian War Memorial With Kids

The Australian War Memorial has to be one of the most famous sights of Canberra. The walls lined with red poppies and the big rectangular pool. It’s iconic. 

What’s really interesting is that it was built in 1941 so the design phase would have been just after the First World War at a time when they thought that such a travesty of loss may never happen again but then building and opening happened just after the start of the Second World War. It must have been harrowing to open a memorial of this nature knowing that at the same time young men and women were losing their lives on foreign soil all over again. It’s so sad!

Remembering the fallen. I think even if you're visiting the Australian War Memorial with Kids you must still try visit these areas and explain the importance of the site to them.
Remembering the fallen. I think even if you’re visiting the Australian War Memorial with Kids you must still try visit these areas and explain the importance of the site to them.

The Memorial has really changed and grown over the years. It still has the beautiful old buildings but then newer fancy galleries too. It’s great… But can you take kids to visit?

While large parts of the Memorial are not exciting and may not maintain a little child’s interest for long, there is a special section that is perfect for young kids.

Top Tip for visiting the Australian War Memorial With Kids: Give the kids something to eat then head out into the open area for them to look around the pool and the poppies, head inside to see what you want to see with promises of going to fly a helicopter if they behave well. That way you’ll get to see as least some of the Memorial.

Features of the Australian War Memorial

The Memorial is way bigger than I expected it to be. It extends beyond what you would normally see in photos to chambers filled with memorabilia and artefacts.

There are a lot of things to see and do. There are outside areas, an incredible view across ANZAC Parade and inside various galleries.

In all the different galleries. There are:

  • planes hanging from the ceiling;
  • displays of uniforms and war time memorabilia;
  • chilling stories of different soldiers, nurses and peace keepers;
  • photographs and paintings;
  • medals; and
  • interactive screens.

You could spend all day at the War Memorial. I think when my parents come we’ll definitely have to drop my dad off and come back for him later that night.

Because there is so much to see and do I am only going to highlight a few aspects of the War Memorial and then guide you in the direction of the other elements.

The iconic Australian War Memorial in Canberra has upgraded its facilities to make it more welcoming for families. You can now visit the Australian War Memorial with Kids!

The Commemorative Area and Roll of Honour

Both the commemorative are and the Roll of Honour is outside in the front of the Memorial.

Here you will find the Pool of Reflection and the Eternal Flame. Look above and you’ll see 26 sculptures carved in sandstone, representing the people and animals inhabiting Australia.

The Roll of Honour, adorned by the red Poppies, contains the names of over 102,000 members of the Australian armed forces who have died during or as a result of war service.

Hall of Memory & Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

This is one of the most beautiful and moving spaces in the whole of Canberra! Every aspect of it pays homage to a different war or set of people. It’s so beautiful!

The stained-glass windows are to commemorate those fallen in the First World War and the mosaic is to commemorate those lost in the Second World War.

The Hall of Memory is at the opposite end of the Memorial from the entrance. You can only get there by walking along the outside corridors that have the rolls of names with the Poppies on.

It’s not the easiest place to visit with kids but it is worthwhile and won’t take you very long. It is the home of the Tomb of the Unknown soldier.

The heartbreaking tomb of the unknown soldier at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. We recently visited the Australian War Memorial with kids and it was a good experience.

Galleries & Exhibitions

There are lots of different galleries throughout the Memorial. These galleries contain the permanent exhibitions and ever-changing temporary exhibition spaces. There are photos and notes, medals and reconstructed planes.

There are three main galleries

  • Australia in the Great War covers the First World War. In this gallery you’ll find out about Gallipoli which I wish I’d known at the time we visited so that I could talk to the kids about it. They do so much around it at school that it would have been good for them to see actual images or items from it.
  • Second World War
  • Conflicts from 1945 to today I think this really resonated with me. It feels so real and present, which it is.

Tours

Free Guided Tours

There are three different length tours of the Memorial led by volunteers. A 30 minute, 60 and 90 minute tour.

$10 Audio Tours

The highlights audio tour is a 60-minute tour and includes the First World War, Second World War and Hall of Valour galleries.

There is also an optional 30-minute tour of the Conflicts 1945 to Today gallery. I’m not sure whether this is included in the $10 fee or whether it’s additional. You must ask the Front Desk.

Special Events

Special ceremonies are held at the Memorial every Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.

Our kids loved the Discovery Zone at the Australian War Memorial. We weren't there for a long time but they enjoyed being hands on!
Scouting through the periscope.

The Kids space at the Australian War Memorial

My kids loved the kids space at the War Memorial. It’s not very big but there are some interesting things to do in there. I also took the chance to show them what gangrene looked like – that was a personal highlight. I told them that if they didn’t wear the shoes I told them to then that would happen to their feet. Excellent parenting that!

Enough about my kids, lets talk the Discovery Zone! This is what you want to aim for.

What is in the Discovery Zone

You’re looking for the Discovery Zone. That’s the Kids space. It’s on the lower level of the Memorial right near the stairs. The staff are really kind and helpful and everyone knows where the kids space is so just ask if you’re lost!

This space will really help the kids understand why you’re at the Memorial. It gives them a hands-on practical understanding… to some degree. If your kids are younger than 4 they probably wont understand the whole import of the space but will enjoy it nevertheless.

The Discovery Zone includes:

  • a trench on the Western Front in France from the First World War;
  • the Australian home front during the Second World War;
  • you can control Iroquois helicopter hovering in a field in Vietnam;
  • view through the telescope of a Oberon Class submarine, searching for enemy targets; and
  • a peacekeeping mission in a community.

Special Opening Hours of the Discovery Zone

As this space is also an educational space for school groups there are certain times that the Discovery Zone is open to the public.

The public can really only visit the Discovery Zone from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm on weekdays.

You can visit any time during weekends, public holidays and ACT school holidays but if there is a school booking during the ACT school holidays, the Discovery Zone may be unavailable for 30 minutes at 12.00pm and 4.00pm.

This is the chopper simulator in the Discovery Zone of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Flying a chopper simulator. I think this was the kids favourite part of the Memorial.

Special Family Events

During the school holidays and especially from December through to January the Memorial focuses on the family. There are all sorts of activities and special events aimed at people visiting the Australian War Memorial with Kids.

These family events include special family tours early in morning, meeting with curators of the galleries, hands on history experiences for kids and make and create. You can find out more about special events on the Australian War Memorial Website.

Facilities at the Memorial

Accessibility

Access into the War Memorial from the underground car park to the main entrance is via a gradient ramp with handrails.

The lift for disabled visitors is adjacent to the main entrance at the front of the Memorial.

There are wheelchairs and strollers available for free loan.

Parents Room

There is a room referred to as a “carers room” on the lower level which has private seating and changing and washing facilities.

The disabled toilets in Anzac Hall also have baby changing facilities.

Lockers

You can’t take large bags into the Memorial but there are free cloaking facilities are also available.

Cafes

The Memorial has two cafes:

  • Poppy’s cafe (located in the Memorial grounds) is open 8.30 am – 4.30 pm daily.
  • The Landing Place (located in Anzac Hall) is open 10:30 am – 4.30 pm daily.

Where is the Australian War Memorial

Location

The Australian War Memorial is situated just East of Canberra CBD. It’s in the opposite direction of the Telstra Tower (that tall spire you can see) and before you cross the big Lake.

Top Tip: It’s much more enjoyable to drive up ANZAC Park to drive past all the smaller statutes and memorials.

Address

The actual address for the War Memorial is Treloar Crescent, Campbell, Australian Capital Territory, 2612.

It would actually be better to put in the following intersection into your GPS: Corner Treloar and Fairborn Avenue. That will take you to where you turn into Treloar for the big parking lot.

Parking

There is onsite parking in a large parking garage off the corner of Treloar and Fairborn Avenue.

4 hour limits apply between 7.30am – 6.00pm (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays).

Top Tip: If you need to stay longer than 4 hours you can ask the Front Desk for a temporary parking pass.

Is Visiting the Australian War Memorial with kids possible? It sure is, you just need to know how to visit it!

Opening Hours and Tickets

Entry Cost

It’s absolutely FREE to visit the Australian War Memorial.

Opening Hours

The Australian War Memorial is open every day from 10am to 5pm except for Christmas Day.

There are different opening and closing times on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.

The memorial is closed on Christmas Day!

More in Canberra

If you’re visiting Canberra with kids, I have a whole list of what to do in Canberra with kids.

Alternatively, you can check out the following guides based on our great experiences in the Capital City.