Updated on August 20, 2024
1. Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House offers accessibility services to persons with visual, hearing, and physical disabilities in all its theatres and venues, ensuring equal experience for audiences and performers of all abilities. Australia’s pride and joy cultural edifice ensures accessibility tickets cost the least, accessible seating (companion seating space) for wheelchair users, accessibility maps for the whole structure, ramps and lifts, accessible bathrooms, courtesy wheelchairs on loan one hour before the performance, and accessible buggy service to take wheelchair users from the allotted accessible gates into the building.
2. Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are the second-oldest botanical garden in Australia. They hold historic plant collections and several significant trees, many dating back to the nineteenth century on 34 hectares of land in Hobart, Queens Domain. The Gardens are designed to be accessed by all visitors; from families with prams and young children to the elderly and those with limited mobility. There are 3 accessible bathrooms in the gardens, free wheelchairs at the Visitor Centre (book ahead of your visit), all entry gates are accessible, 2 accessible parking bays, designated wheelchair spaces at events, and an accessible map of the gardens.
3. Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) is a national war memorial and museum dedicated to all Australians who died during the war. The AWM was established in 1925, and the current museum was unveiled in 1941. The AWM is situated in a suburb of the Australian capital of Canberra, Campbell. The compound includes a sculpture garden and five buildings. The Memorial Building houses most of the museum galleries and commemorative areas are contained in the Memorial Building.
The Australian War Memorial offers services to visitors of all abilities. Their accessibility services for visitors with limited mobility include accessible parking spaces at a car park, accessible pickup and drop off points near the Memorial entrance, lift access, allowing assistance animals into the AWM, accessible toilets, limited seatings on request, mobility aid services, and free wheelchair hire (on request at AVM). Accessible dining is also available at Poppy’s Café.
4. National Museum of Australia
The National Museum of Australia in Canberra profiles 50,000 years of Indigenous heritage and settlement since 1788. It also covers key events such as the Federation of Australia and the 2000 Olympics hosted by Sydney. The museum possesses the heart of Phar Lap the champion racehorse, the Holden prototype No. 1 car, and the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal bark paintings and stone tools.
The National Museum of Australia has free accessible parking spaces at a car park 40m from the main entrance and 2 coach bays for coaches fitted with mobility access hoists, ramps or lifts. Two accessible toilets are within the grounds, access lifts are available to access the different floors in the museum, and free wheelchairs and motorised scooters are available for hire (book 24 hours in advance).
5. Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is the largest privately funded museum in the Southern Hemisphere, located within the Moorilla winery on the Berriedale peninsula in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Home to David Walsh’s collection of ancient, modern, and contemporary arts with sex and death as its central themes. Mona hosts the annual Mona Foma and Dark Mofo music and arts festivals that showcase large-scale public art and live performances.
The MONA also caters to visitors of all abilities. For visitors with limited mobility using wheelchairs, MONA offers services that range from an accessible entry tunnel for visitors coming via a ferry (also equipped with ramps and lifts). For accessible visitors coming via road, accessible parking, and accessible pickup or drop-off point are all available. Most of MONA is limited mobility accessible to prams, scooters, walkers, wheelchairs etc., and animal assistants are also admitted (trained and registered). MONA has free wheelchairs for hire and it’s on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are 6 accessible toilets in the MONA grounds (inside and outside).
6. Perth Zoo
Perth Zoo is a full institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) first opened in 1898. The 17-hectare (41-acre) zoological park is in South Perth, Western Australia. The zoo has housed 1258 animals of 164 species and an extensive botanical collection by 2011.
Perth Zoo welcomes visitors of all abilities. The zoological garden offers free admission for carers or companions (providing a Companion Card on entry), has an accessibility map, and a Social Story to provide information about the zoo and animals for visitors of all abilities. The zoo also has an interactive playground with a wheelchair-accessible trampoline and raised sandpit. Animal Assistants are also admitted, and the drinking fountains and lockers are accessible.
7. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the oldest and largest koala sanctuary in the world. It is situated on 18 hectares (44 acres) of land in a Brisbane suburb in Queensland, Australia. The park was founded in 1927 and is currently home to about 80 species of Australian animals.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has free parking, accessible toilets, free admission for carer or companion, admission of animal assistant (call ahead to make arrangements), wheelchair hire (a $6 maintenance fee) and an accessibility map.
8. ACMI (The Australian Centre for the Moving Image)
ACMI, established in 2002, is Australia’s national museum of screen culture; film, television, videogames, digital culture and art. The museum is located in Federation Square, Melbourne.
ACMI welcomes all visitors. All levels of the museum are accessible with lifts on each level, 2 accessible toilets, free admission for carer or companion, admission of animal assistant, free wheelchair hire, and free accessible parking.
9. Australian National Maritime Museum
The Australian National Maritime Museum focuses on the relationships between Indigenous Australians and the sea, the navigation of Australian waters, travel to Australia by sea and the naval defence of the nation. It also houses Four museum ships open to the public, and other smaller historical vessels berthed outside for viewing only.
The entire maritime museum is accessible to wheelchair and scooter visitors; automatic doors, accessible toilets, accessible lifts, changing places, admission of animal assistance, free wheelchair hire, free admission for carer or companion, and an accessible dining area.
10. Daintree Rainforest
Being home to 40% of Australia’s bird species; 35% of Australia’s frogs, marsupials and reptiles; 65% of Australia’s bat and butterfly species; and many plants and animals, the Daintree Rainforest is significant. The Daintree has wheelchair-accessible aerial walkways, accessible toilets, free companion or carer admission, accessible parking, and admission of guide dogs.
Looking for reliable and trustworthy care services?
At Centre Disability Support, we offer tailored support services for individuals with disabilities throughout Australia. We offer housing options in Logan, Ipswich and Brisbane areas, where we provide independent supported living or assist individuals in finding suitable options for individualised living.
Additionally, we provide day-to-day support for individuals with mental health issues, complex behaviour and other types of disabilities. We also have support coordinators available to assist with planning, navigating NDIS plans, and offering casework support.
Whether you’re seeking support for yourself, or a loved one, or simply wish to learn more about our services, we’re here to help.
ALSO READ
Accessible Accommodation: What You Need to Know
10 Wheelchair Accessible Beaches In Australia
What Is A Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle?
Accessible Rails: What You Need to Know
