healthy active living

Travel guide to Canberra

Canberra was purposely built as Australia’s capital city in 1913. Set at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory it is steeped in history, beauty, architectural feats and should be visited by the discerning Australasian traveller.

The seat of Australian Parliament is situated in Canberra, along with the Australian High Court and many other judicial and government departments as well as a whole host of culturally significant buildings, marking Canberra as one of Australia’s intellectual high points.

Top five things to do in Canberra

Telstra Tower
Even if you’re not interested in the history of Canberra’s telecommunications, this tower is worth a trip. Standing at 190 metres, this tower has both an open air and enclosed viewing platform from which you can see the entire city. It also houses a revolving restaurant, café and panoramic views which cannot be beaten.

National Museum of Australia
This building is interesting both on the inside and out, and can provide a day of fun and education for all ages and budgets thanks to free admission. There are a number of temporary and permanent exhibitions, as well as activities and a café. Not to be missed is the First Australian’s exhibition which gives an insight into the history and culture of the Australian people. There’s plenty of stuff to keep big kids and little kids occupied all day.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Only 40 minutes form the city centre is the stunning Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, packed full of spectacular views, exotic plants and indigenous wildlife. Tours by car, bicycle or foot are available, but if you’re more adventurous you can go it alone. There are also interactive exhibitions and picnic sites, as well as a chance to learn about Aboriginal life.

Gold Creek Village
A fantastic day trip just 15 minutes from Canberra city centre is Gold Creek. It includes hundreds of attractions, shops (including an all year Christmas shop), galleries, restaurants, pubs and caf és. GinninderraVillage, built in 1883 houses the arts and craft shops andactivities; it is beautifully preserved and well worth a snoop around.There is also an award-winning restaurant here serving mouth-wateringmeals.

Historic Homes
Keen on preserving what little history it has, Canberra has a number of historic homes open for the public to visit. Owned by early white settlers and people key to the development of Canberra, there are a number of houses that you can wonder around, including Duntroon House, Blundell’s Cottage, Calthorpes’ House, Mugga-Mugga, and the Lanyon and Tuggeranong homesteads. Fantastic if you’re nosey or interested in the development of Australia.

Where to stay in Canberra
To be close to attractions and transport, it’s always best to stay close to the city centre; the south end of Northbourne Avenue, Canberra Avenue and Adelaide Avenue are all very central. Go for the areas of Kingston or Manuka to be close to trendy drinking and dining, or north of the city for budget motels.

Where to eat and drink in Canberra
Canberra is a hotbed of good and varied food. If you’re on a budget head to the Students Union at the university – good, filling food and drinks at half the price, but for high-end eating, Manuka is the place to be seen, as is the Kingston area. Caf és and restaurants along Franklin, Fourneauxand Bougainville Streets, as well as on FlindersWay are affordable, tasty and friendly. There are plenty of goodclubs in the city centre, as well as the Kingston and Dickson areas if aquiet night is out of the question.

How to get around Canberra
There are three main ways of getting around Canberra: car, bicycle and bus. Car is by far the most popular, hire is cheap and the roads are designed to be easily navigable. If you’re only in town for a couple of days, it’s probably easier to either cycle or catch the bus. Buses run frequently and are relatively cheap; tickets can be bought from vending machines around the city. The city is split into zones, and the all day all zone ticket is very economical for a tourist. Tours of the city by bus are also available. Cycling is a fantastic way to see Canberra; bike hire is available from a number of outlets found on the Internet or in the Yellow Pages.

The best time to visit Canberra
Canberra has very distinct seasons, with cold winters and hot dry summers. Snow is rare, but thunderstorms are prevalent between March and September. October sees Stonefest, a popular music festival, but for more sedate music tastes, the National Folk Festival is held in March. March also sees Canberra Festival and Canberra Day, a ten day celebration of the cultural diversity and vibrant atmosphere that is Canberra.