Autumn Courtyards Accessible Tour
Highlights
- Explore the vibrant autumn colours of Australian Parliament House's courtyards, experiencing nature's beauty in full bloom.
- Stroll through diverse gardens, discovering unique sculptures and plant selections that highlight landscape artistry.
- Pause and appreciate the iconic 'Budget Tree', a symbol of Australia's democracy, with expert insights from your guide.
- Savour a freshly baked scone with a hot drink from the Queen's Terrace Café, enhancing your leisurely visit.
Come and explore the private courtyards of Australian Parliament House while they’re bursting with the rich red, orange and golden colours of autumn.
You’ll discover that Parliament House is not only the home of Australia’s democracy, but a masterpiece of landscape architecture and design.
Stroll through the gardens and see how each courtyard is different from the next through sculpture, scale, plant selection and colour. Led by a friendly guide, this walking tour also offers you a rare chance to see the iconic ‘Budget Tree’ in person.
Make your visit even more enjoyable by adding a refreshment package to your ticket. You’ll enjoy a fresh scone baked by the Parliament House pastry chefs, served with a hot drink of your choice from the Queen’s Terrace Café.
Led by one of our knowledgeable guides, this slower, more leisurely tour is a chance to explore the formal yet dignified courtyards, visit the renowned “Budget Tree” and bask in the red and gold of autumn colours.
Designed to move at a slower pace, with accessibility being key, you will pause and discover the sculptures, plant selection and quiet of the courtyards. This tour is a relaxed and sensory delight.
Images and Video
Dates & times
- Next occurrence: reoccurring
Features
Actively welcomes people with access needs.
General access
- Offers multiple options for booking – web, email, phone is available.
- Offers a range of contact methods for receiving complaints.
- Companion Cards are accepted.
- Employs people with disabilities.
- Staff are trained in disability awareness.
- Asks all visitors if there are any specific needs to be met.
- Website meets <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/" target="_blank">WCAG 2.0</a> accessibility standards
- Advise tour guides of the access needs of guests at the time of booking (includes pick up and drop off requirements)
- Assistance with booking arrangements (includes providing clear itineraries with written instructions on what to do at various destinations)
Communication
Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)
Vision
Caters for people who are blind or have vision loss.
- Uses easy to read fonts in their signage and communication materials (Helvetica and Arial).
- Raised tactile buttons in lifts are available.
- Handrails on all stairways
Hearing
Caters for people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
- A hearing loop is available.
- Staff are trained in communicating with people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
- Caption all entertainment (TVs, live shows, performances) is available.
- TVs with captioning option is available.
Physical – Mobility
Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
- Uses floors/coverings which are slip resistant, firm and smooth
- Uses non-slip tiles in the bathroom or slip resistant matting
- Grab rails in the bathroom
- Seating in common areas including reception area
Physical – Wheelchair
Caters for people who use a wheelchair.
- Step free outdoor pathways (includes picnic areas, barbecues and shelters)
- A step free main entrance to the building and/or reception area (includes ramps or slopes with a maximum gradient of 1:14, otherwise are too steep for wheelchairs)
- Step free access to restaurant, lounge and bar
- Step free access to the conference or function room
- Accessible seating areas in theatrette
- Lifts with enough space for people using a mobility aid to enter and turn around to use the lift buttons. Buttons are at accessible height.
- An accessible public toilet which is unlocked.
- A wheelchair accessible toilet / shower and change room is available.
- At least one wheelchair accessible parking space with wheelchair accessible signage clearly displayed (International standards are 3200mm wide x 2500 mm high).
- Wheelchair accessible transport options available in the general vicinity (provide information on name of the operator, phone and website link to individual providers for private vehicles, community transport train, mini vans, hire cars, buses, taxis, ferry, tram, light rail etc in their access statement).
Physical – High support needs
Caters for people with high support needs who travel with a support person.
- A bathroom which is fully accessible and equipped with ceiling hoist and adult change table.
- Have a Changing Places or Lift & Change toilet with a hoist and adult change table
Allergies and intolerances
Caters for people with allergies and intolerances.
- Modify their cooking and cleaning practices to cater for people with food allergies or chemical intolerances (could include menus with meals free from: nuts, dairy, seafood, eggs, gluten etc).
- Staff are trained to respond to allergic reactions.
- Complies with The Food Authority requirements for allergy management in food preparation.
- Equipment to respond to anaphylactic shock such as epi–pens and defibrillator.
- Toiletries which are chemical and fragrance free (if requested).
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