A trip to Canberra is an Australian school kid’s rite of passage, but in no way is Canberra just a city for young children. This spring, follow in the footsteps of innumerable small humans and head to the capital – you won’t be disappointed.

Here’s how to enjoy Canberra’s best attractions, loved by school children and grown ups alike. School group or no school group, a trip to Canberra is what you make it.

#1 Questacon

Ahhhh, Questacon. The science and tech museum was THE highlight of any school trip – and we put it all down to those glass balls of electricity that, when touched, legit make you feel like a wizard commanding a storm. And it just gets better as you get older.

At Questacon, you can (gently) elbow your way through hordes of school children to interact with a robot (aptly named Robo Q), free fall for six meters wearing a fabulous grey jumpsuit, or learn about the physics of beer before you drink a couple of them at the nearest pub (which is Hotel Kurrajong, FYI). If there’s an inner child inside your cold, black, adult heart, Questacon will bring it out.

#2 Parliament House

This is it, guys – this is where the magic happens. It’s where the business of running the country happens, where (prior to that big old fence being erected) hundreds of people rolled down the famous grassy slopes, and where our political parties battle it out. It’s Parliament House, and much the same as a fine wine, it only gets better with age.

Now you’re an adult, getting a ticket to Question Time comes with a bit more context, and watching parliamentary proceedings from the public gallery means you’ll likely see politicians you’ll recognise. No, you won’t be able to tell Pauline Hanson exactly what you think of her, but maybe you’ll be close enough to Albo to tell him you saw him DJ that one time.

#3 The Galleries

We don’t mean to alarm you, but visiting the National Portrait Gallery is actually a really grown up thing to do. Don’t believe us? We bet you’ll enjoy exhibitions like Dempsey’s People: A Folio of British Street Portraits 1924-1844, and Nicholas Harding: 28 Portraits, focused on Harding’s paintings of legendary Australian actor baes like Hugo Weaving and Richard Roxburgh.

Next stop on your gallery tour is the National Gallery Of Australia. It’s a cultural institution you probably wouldn’t have been able to fully appreciate as a young primary school whippersnapper, so take a moment to relish in just how cultured you’ve become. Once the smugness has worn off, check out Hyper Real, a new exhibition that explores this idea of stretching the boundaries of what makes us human (think: a levitating man or a genetically engineered baby). You’ll catch works from artists including George Segal, Maurizio Cattelan and Sun Yuan, spanning everything from kinetic sculptures to bio art.

#4 The Mint

A wise man once equated having more money with having more problems, but he’d obviously never been to The Royal Australian Mint. A trip to The Mint as an adult serves to remind us just how much we love $$$ (if they’d just produce more money we’d all be laughing amirite?). Unlike the school children swarming around, clutching their special commemorative coins, you actually have rent to pay and take away food to order, so visiting The Mint can really put things in perspective. Plus, The Mint offers free guided tours and cool stories about coins found on shipwrecks.

Before the crisp smell of $100 bills fills your head with naughty ideas, remember that A) security is tight and B) The Mint doesn’t actually print notes – you’re fresh out of luck there.

#5 The National Museum of Australia

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Who doesn’t love going to museums as an adult? Seeing dinosaur bones suspended from the ceiling never gets old, even though you definitely do. The National Museum of Australia is obviously a must-visit for any self-respecting adult in Canberra. Do you like learning about Australia’s Indigenous heritage? Of course you do. What about spending a night at the museum and indulging in a bit of karaoke? Duh. It’s all waiting for you at the National Museum, so pay your full adult entry fee (except for the permanent exhibitions, which are all free) and get ready to have your mind blown.

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Lead image: Questcaon/Facebook

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Those school kids are onto something. Whatever you’re into, Canberra has it all in spades. Book a trip and start planning your visit here.