Canberra gets a bad rap compared to other Australian capital cities, so you might be surprised that it’s home to one of the top ten free tourist attractions in the world. At the Australian War Memorial, you can discover the Australian experiences of war and connect with the stories of people and events that shaped our nation. Place a poppy on the Roll of Honour to remember the sacrifice made by our servicemen and women, and stay for the moving Last Post closing ceremony at 4.30pm daily.

Funnel webs, king browns, redbacks, salties – find Australia’s most deadly critters at the country’s oldest museum, stuffed or behind glass – as well as some prehistoric terrors and creatures from around the globe. Laugh in mortality’s face, glory in the wonders of natural history, and scare the rellies off your sofa bed and onto the next flight home. General admission to the Australian Museum is free, but it’s worth timing your visit with one of the museum’s blockbuster limited-time exhibitions.

Museums aren’t just restricted to four walls, and you’ll find one of Australia’s greatest at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site. Just a 90-minute drive from Hobart, this is proudly Australia’s most intact and evocative convict site, with more than 30 historic buildings and ruins to explore. Stroll through the 40-hectare landscaped grounds, join an introductory walking tour, embark on a complimentary 20-minute harbour cruise where you’ll catch glimpses of the Isle of the Dead – and then come back to do it all again, with tickets granting you entry for two consecutive days. Trust us, you’ll need it.

Dive deep into the riches of Western Australia’s maritime history from the state’s dedicated sea museum, located on the water’s edge in Fremantle. You can trek through time with a free highlights tour, hosted daily at 10.30am and 2.30pm, where you’ll learn about the museum’s most historic and significant objects, including the America’s Cup winning yacht, Australia II and Jon Sanders’ Parry Endeavour.

The striking loops of the National Museum of Australia’s exterior have been a feature of the Canberra skyline since the institution opened in 2001. You can delve into the rich and diverse tapestry of Australia’s history while browsing the museum’s permanent collections, which feature Indigenous art, textiles, vintage cars and Phar Lap’s heart (which weighs 6.35kg). You can come back to the NMA time and time again too, with free host talks in the Great Southern Land, First Australians or Landmarks galleries or the Garden of Australian Dreams, on the hour between 10am and 4pm daily.

There is a misunderstanding that the Sydney Jewish Museum is only meant for Jewish people to visit, or only of interest to WWII buffs. In reality, the museum’s mission is to make history accessible through the lens of the Jewish experience, and in doing so, help us to understand our present. Some 45 Holocaust survivors still regularly volunteer at the Jewish Museum and share their inspirational stories with visitors, young and old. The interactive AI-generated conversations are also not to be missed and won’t be soon forgotten.

A glorious, sprawling space filled with themed displays, interactive areas, IMAX cinemas and no end of surprises, Melbourne Museum rewards first-time visitors and repeat patrons equally. Victoria’s history is vividly evoked through artefacts, art and well-carved prose. Its ancient past is rekindled in the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre; while its recent history delights visitors with the stuffed hide of Depression-era hero thoroughbred racehorse Phar Lap, still one of the most popular exhibits with young and old alike. And if you think you have seen it all, think again. The Melbourne Museum also hosts an impressive collection of rotating exhibitions, movie screenings, artist talks and after-dark events.

Reserve the whole day for a trip to this five-storey natural history museum in Adelaide. There are more than four million specimens of flora, fauna, geology and Indigenous culture to discover, with interactive and eye-opening galleries dedicated to earth sciences and biodiversity, plus the world’s most comprehensive collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural material. Time your visit around the prestigious biennial Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, which celebrates the best of science and art in the natural world.

If you’re after a big day of discovery, the MAGNT is a sure bet. This two-in-one museum and gallery houses more than 30,000 artefacts, including the body of Sweetheart, a 5.1m saltwater crocodile responsible for attacking boats; relics from the category four Cyclone Tracy that changed Darwin’s urban landscape; and bones of Melville, the Northern Territory’s 21.9m pygmy blue whale. The MAGNT is also home to the annual Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards – the most significant award of its kind nationwide.