Parliament House

The basics

There’s no charge to visit Parliament House, and travelers are free to explore the exterior and public areas, as well as to join free tours on Friday mornings during the dry season. Quite a few Darwin city tours stop here, and guides can point out details such as the coat of arms over the ceremonial doors, the use of light-colored Tasmanian timbers to reflect sunlight, and the stylized Sturt’s desert rose in the foyer. You can also admire the exterior from a Darwin cruise.

Things to know before you go

• Parliament House is a great choice for anyone with an interest in architecture or politics.

• Though foreigners usually consider it one of Australia’s states, the Northern Territory is, like the Australian Capital Territory, a territory, not a state.

• Parliament House is fully accessible to wheelchair users, with wheelchair-friendly bathrooms.

How to get there

Parliament House sits in the southeast of Darwin’s Central Business District, just behind Darwin Waterfront, next to the Supreme Court, and opposite Government House. It’s a stone’s throw from the city’s main bus station, Darwin Bus Interchange, served by buses #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #10, #14, #15, #21, #22, #25, #28, OL1, and OL2. You can also walk, cycle, or drive.

When to get there

Parliament House is open daily from morning to evening, and provides free guided tours on Friday mornings from April to October. The public areas are rarely crowded, so stop by at a time that works with your schedule.

Australia’s Pearl Harbour

Parliament House sits pretty much on the site of the Darwin Post Office, a communications complex that was Australia’s main link to the outside world since it opened as a telegraph office in 1871. On February 19, 1942, a devastating raid on Darwin by almost 200 Japanese bombers destroyed the post office, shipping, and more. Ten post office workers were among the 235 people who died in an attack that’s sometimes called Australia’s Pearl Harbour.