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 Canberra,
the national capital of Australia,
is a unique destination where city style meets the
beauty of the Australian bush. Canberra
is just over three hours drive from Sydney, or
less than seven from Melbourne, and is the seat of
Australian government. The national capital is a
young and modern city with a population of around
320,000 people. Today people from all over the
world meet in Canberra – through the national
parliament, universities and a vibrant diplomatic
community.
Canberra
offers so much more than politics an
eclectic mix of restaurants, wineries, shopping,
entertainment, galleries, museums and world-class
monuments and attractions – all within easy
reach of accommodation.
Most
attractions
are around the lake, in what is know as the
"Parliamentary Triangle", and in easy
walking distance of one another. Festivals,
galleries, embassies, gardens and sport –
there’s always plenty to do and see. You can mix
with the locals at the shops, markets, theatre and
sporting events, or ‘go bush’ to discover
wildlife and Canberra’s untouched beauty.
The
name Canberra comes from the aboriginal word Kamberra which meant ‘meeting place’, either of rivers or of
tribes from the surrounding areas. The Parliament
House (photo) is located at the apex of the
Parliament Triangle.
There
are plenty of
outdoor activities to enjoy in Canberra’s great
year-round weather. Hire a bike and ride around
Canberra’s centerpiece, Lake Burley Griffin,
drift over the city in a hot air balloon, or play
golf at one of many fabulous golf courses. You can
try abseiling, hang gliding, parasailing,
paintball, mountain bike, canoeing, white rafting,
and lots of activities. There are more than 300
restaurants, cafes and bars with a huge variety of
cuisines on offer which reflect the diversity of
the national capital. Canberra has a busy
nightlife with pubs, nightclubs and a Casino,
offering plenty of entertainment. For pure
pleasure take a tour of the Canberra district’s
award-winning cool climate wineries. Set in
beautiful rural surrounds, the wineries are small
and friendly and offer a personal experience where
you may even get to meet the winemaker at the
cellar door.
Most cellars are only 25 minutes from the city.
In
spring, millions
of bulbs and annuals transform Canberra’s
Commonwealth Park into Floriade
– Australia’s largest spring floral
festival. From mid-September to mid-October every
year, the flowers bloom on cue to celebrate the
miracle of spring. Each year, Floriade
presents fresh and different floral displays that
illustrate a new theme. Each weekend is different
at Floriade, bringing you new flowers, new
entertainment, displays and demonstrations.
Entry to Floriade is free.
Canberra
boasts many other festivals and events such as, the Subaru Rally of
Canberra, the National
Multicultural Festival, National Folk Festival and
the famous
Canberra Balloon Fiesta. Distinct seasons make
Canberra visually exciting. Glorious blossoms in
spring are followed by hot, lazy summers around
the lake. Autumn offers a rich tapestry of color
as millions of trees turn reds and gold, and
Canberra winters are crisp and cool with beautiful
clear blue skies. A wealth of attractions and
hidden surprises will make a visit to Canberra an
unforgettable experience.
A
visit to Canberra can certainly give
you a deeper understanding of the first
Australians and indigenous Ngunnawal people who
called Canberra home. Through various galleries
and museums, Canberra is a keeping place of art
and artifacts, of treasures and treasured
knowledge of the indigenous people of Australia.
The stories and experiences of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples – their
spirituality, diversity, identity and survival –
are explored in the First
Australians Gallery at the National
Museum of Australia.
While profiling some 40,000 years of
indigenous heritage, the Gallery also looks
frankly at history and contemporary issues, using
multi-media and interactive technology. On show is
part of the largest collection of bark paintings
in the world. The diversity and beauty of
Aboriginal Art can also be seen at the National
Gallery of Australia. The Gallery’s
permanent collection recognizes that indigenous
art is one of the major art traditions practiced
in Australia today. The Gallery’s collection
incorporates the multitude of styles and
techniques of art used by indigenous artists,
including drawings by 19th Century
Aboriginal artists, bark paintings from Arnhem
Land and significant works by today’s urban
indigenous artists.
Animal
lovers will
enjoy the National Zoo and Aquarium. This is
Australia's only combined Zoo and Aquarium where
you can see the Australia's largest collections of
'big cats'. Within its rural setting, 20 minutes
from Canberra, in Gold Greek Village, you
come face to face with wildlife at the Australian
Reptile Centre where you can wonder at the
diversity of Australia's reptiles, cuddle a python
and feed the birds. Over there is located the
National Dinosaur Museum fascinating all ages with
its prehistoric displays, including a real 150
million-year-old Dinosaur bone and ten full sized
Dinosaurs cast from original fossils.
Nearby is the historic
Gold Creek Station
, offering an experience on working sheep and
cattle farm.
Canberra
and Region Visitors Centre
- Northbourne Avenue, Dickson ACT 2606
-T: (61 2) 6205 0044
- F: (61 2) 6205 0776
Email: visitcanberra@act.gov.au
or CRVC@act.gov.au
Website:
www.visitcanberra.com.au
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