Canberra, Australia

City Guide

Introduction  |  Attractions   |  Tourist Information Offices   |   Entertainment & Eating Out   |  Shopping   |  Cyber Canberra  |   Getting from A to B   |  Tours   |  Events

Introduction
Canberra is the capital of Australia and is located 150km inland from the southeast Australian coast. Small and modern, it is cocooned within its own small territory, the ACT. As a planned and somewhat artificial city, Canberra is green, open and flat.

Canberra is rather odd, a strange combination of politics, art and porn. It is the seat of national power and a fairly conservative place, but not without a few flashes of character. Beyond Parliament are superb galleries that art lovers will thoroughly enjoy. Canberra also has a less refined side, raising eyebrows with its thriving sex industry and red light district.

But still, the capital has a reputation for being boring and lacking soul. That may be a little unfair but it is undeniable that few go to Canberra for a holiday. Canberra is however unique, and makes a good stopover en route to Melbourne, Sydney or the Snowy Mountains.

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Attractions
Before going anywhere, it's a good idea to call into the National Capital Exhibition. This gives a good introduction to the city. Look for the Captain Cook Memorial jets which blast tonnes of water from the lake skywards and nearby Regatta Point outlining Cook's voyages.

Stroll through the tomb of the unknown warrior and browse through military memorabilia at the absorbing Australian War Memorial. One can't help but be moved by the roll of honour. Highly informative, this memorial is much more than just a sombre block of granite.

The National Gallery of Australia houses the national art collection and hosts exhibitions from around the world. With over 100,000 impressive pieces of priceless art it's one of Australia's most highly regarded tourist attractions. It's easy to spend a day meandering through this excellent gallery - definitely a must see.

Poignant Australian War Memorial

Old Parliament House, the previous home of national politics, now offers guided tours of its historical chambers. Hanging within are portraits of famous Australians in the National Portrait Gallery.

No Canberra itinerary would be complete without the unique city symbol, Parliament House. This almost Martian piece of architecture sits atop Capital Hill and is the seat of national power. Apart from viewing the art collections visitors can book a seat in the public galleries and watch Australia's political dramas unfold. Free guided tours run regularly - entertaining and educational.

Put the entertaining Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre on the list, particularly if travelling with kids. The lively centre exhibits fascinating interactive displays. 'Please Touch' signs make for a fun educational experience and the 200 displays change regularly.

Telstra Tower provides a fine panoramic view and stands 195m above the summit of Black Mountain. The landmark and viewing gallery is Canberra's communications centre and houses an exhibition of related history.

At the foot of Black Mountain are the Australian National Botanic Gardens, the largest collection of Australian Flora in the world. The gardens are exclusively devoted to Australia's rainforest, desert and mountain flora. Opening hours extend in summer to include live music at weekends.

The Royal Australian Mint runs presentations continuously and coin freaks will certainly find the historical displays and coin press fascinating. Watch them being made, mint your own, shop for collector's coins and more.

Much older than the capital, Queanbeyan was settled by explorers looking for the Murrumbidgee River in 1820. Visitors can explore the moderately interesting restored buildings and local museum.

Cockington Green is a popular recreation of miniature buildings from all over the UK. Set in manicured gardens, it gives an authentic feel of a quaint English village. The park was recently extended to incorporate a new international section. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but a pleasant enough diversion.

Australian artist Sir Sydney Nolan is famous for his Ned Kelly images but he has also explored a number of other themes. Some of his works, along with other contemporary pieces are on display at the Nolan Gallery. 30km out, it's well worth a visit for art lovers.

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Tourist Information Offices
Canberra has a comprehensive Visitors Centre a little inconveniently located a few km north of the city centre on Northbourne Avenue.

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Entertainment and Eating Out
Luckily, Canberra has a large student population so there are quite a few good entertainment venues. Although Canberra is small it is culturally diverse - this is reflected in the city's dining.

The Parliament House

One of the best areas for dining out is Dickson, which is considered the oriental hub. Kingston and Manuka have lots of restaurants and cafes and the Turkish and Thai in particular are very good.

The capital has a decent supply of pubs, bars and clubs. The liveliest nightlife can be found just north of Vernon Circle and within staggering distance of the Australian National University close by.

The Canberra Theatre Centre regularly stages top theatrical performances featuring local and international talent.

Casino Canberra is a compact establishment offering the full range of cash draining facilities. Live entertainment changes regularly and there's also a nightclub for the over 25's. Plenty of large clubs with poker machines are dotted all around town.

Canberra has a very robust sex industry indeed. Fyshwick is an industrial area but is better known for its pornography and prostitution. The busy red light district even has popular tours with stops for shopping and viewing.

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Shopping
Canberra is not a shopper's heaven at all. A fairly predictable but reasonable selection of goods is available.

One of the good malls is the Civic Centre, which has a wide range of typical department stores. There are a few good markets where it's possible to find some decent crafts. The Old Bus Depot market and The Gorman House Market are worth a browse on Saturdays.

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Cyber Canberra
Canberra is well wired and rates are okay. Internet facilities are widely available at cafes, business centres and hotels.

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Getting From A to B
Canberra is pretty small and simple to get around. Roads are wide and open, and traffic jams almost unheard of.

The capital has a very good bus network. The bright orange Action Buses are regular and have a broad coverage of the city. Taxis are easy to flag down and are the handiest way of getting about town.

Skier in Kosciuszko National Park

Being a planned city, Canberra is excellent for cyclists with 300km of cycle paths throughout. Bicycles are available for hire at the Civic Centre or the Lake.

There are plenty of hire cars available in Canberra at reasonable prices.

Interstate buses depart regularly from the Jolimont Centre to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and beyond. Connections throughout surrounding NSW pull away from the same point.

The city is not so well connected by rail and is a final stop rather than a hub. Getting to Sydney is straightforward with trains departing 3 times daily for the 4-hr trip. The lengthy journey to Melbourne is more complicated and requires a combined train-bus trip.

Only 10 minutes from the city centre is Canberra Airport which connects to the 6 major Australian cities in the Southeast. There are no direct international flights to Canberra but weekly there are hundreds of flights Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.

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Tours
Canberra doesn't receive many tourists there's nothing particularly striking in the ACT. The city has however managed to conjure up a few enjoyable tours.

Summernats Car Festival burnouts

A short drive from Canberra is the Tinbilla Nature Reserve. Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and emus can all be seen in their natural habitat. Various tours are available including interesting night tours that reveal the contrasting nocturnal world.

The turn of the century steamboat SL Jenny departs from the National Library, National Gallery and Regatta Point Jetties for cruises of Lake Burley Griffin. Bookings are recommended for the popular lunch and high teas.

As Canberra has no skyscrapers or much air traffic, balloons conveniently lift off from the town itself. Alternatively short scenic flights circle above the city.

There are a number wine trips in the region to the local cool-climate wineries with sampling sessions of award winning wines.

The Snowy Mountains lie south of the ACT and offer some of the best skiing in Australia. The Snowy Mountains lie partly in Kosciuszko National Park an area that offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor pursuits such as hiking, white-water rafting and climbing.

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Events

Cuddled in natural habitat

Floriade is a festival of flowers that blooms for 30 days around September. During the festival, various horticultural events and activities take place around the city.

In January, thousands converge on Exhibition Park for the Summernats Car Festival. For some enthusiasts it's a chance to show off a little more than their motor vehicles - not always an elegant display. Probably best for those with a serious passion for motor vehicles.

The National Wine Show of Australia in the first 2 weeks of November showcases some top wines from local vineyards and across the continent.

For those in Canberra at the beginning of February, the Hyatt Australian Jazz Festival is a must see. This top musical event features some of Australia's major Jazz talents. Some great food, wine and entertainment is also laid on.

The Canberra Festival celebrates the founding of the city every March. The lively event includes a broad range of enjoyable exhibitions, concerts, performances and activities.

The GMC 400 race stops off at Canberra during the bank holiday weekend in June. Leading V8 supercar drivers thrash it out on Canberra's streets and in the shadow of Parliament House.

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