Destination Canberra and Surrounds

Canberra - the capital of Australia - is sometimes referred to as the bush capital because pockets of bushland reserve extend almost to the city centre and over half of the Australian Capital Territory, within which Canberra lays, is classified as national park or nature reserve.

With a population of more than 313,000 people, Canberra is the city that Federation created. Australia's national government sits here, as does the highest court of Australia. Many of the most important monuments in the country are located in Australia and they're visited by millions of people each year. Some of these attractions include the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia and Canberra's newest attraction, the National Museum of Australia.

Canberra is a young capital - a planned city like many other capitals in the world. American architect Walter Burley Griffin designed the city after winning an international architectural competition in 1912. The spirit of his original design, which celebrates Canberra's natural environment, is still evident as the city grows.

Canberra is located 300 kilometres from Sydney and 655 kilometres from Melbourne and is accessible by road, train and air transport.

Articles

Canberra's Must-Dos

Canberra has so many fantastic things for visitors to see and do. This list of must-dos will help you plan your trip to make the most of your stay in the nation's capital. more

Events

Canberra is an exciting place to visit, particularly during one of the many events and festivals held each year. Plan your visit around any number of popular events, including Floriade - Australia's Celebration of Spring or the Canberra Balloon Fiesta when hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes fill Canberra's skies with activity and colour. more

Food, Wine and Nightlife

Canberra is bursting with fabulous restaurants, stylish cafes, fashionable bars and award winning wineries. Indulge in fresh pastries from one of Canberra's best breakfast spots, lunch with a difference at a national attraction, sample some of the region's cool-climate wines, enjoy a dining experience fit for a king and then top it all off at one of Canberra's hottest lounge bars. more

Fun for families

Keep the kids entertained with a great range of activities and things to see and do. Many national attractions provide free entry and there is an excellent range of facilities to suit every budget. A trip to Canberra can also be very educational, where you can learn lots of fun science facts, the meanings of Aussie words like “chook” and “yakka” and so much more! more

Getting Active

Canberra reveals Australia's passion for sports and the great outdoors in so many ways. Witness this passion by visiting the Australian Institute of Sport, seeing a football game, going bushwalking, floating through the skies in a hot air balloon, horse riding, playing a round of golf or watching high performance cars burn rubber. more

National Attractions

From the internationally recognised architecture of Parliament House to the moving exhibits at the Australian War Memorial, visitors to the nation's capital are spoilt for choice. Each attraction tells the story of Australia and its people in different ways, so take the time to fully explore all that the nation's capital has to offer. more

Surrounding Region

Canberra is a fantastic base from which to explore the surrounding region. Within only a few hours drive from the city you will find historic townships, beautiful beaches, great skiing, abundant wineries and a stunning natural environment. more

Experiences/Activities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander:
Adventure:
Caravan and Camping:
Cruise:
Defence Tourism:
Educational Tourism:
Farm Stay:
Fishing:
Flora/Fauna:
Food and Wine:
Health and Wellbeing:
Historic/Heritage:
Indulgence/Luxury:
Nature based:
Nightlife/Clubs/Pubs/Casinos:
Rail:
Rainforest:
Sport:
The Arts:
Underground:
Wildlife:
Abseiling:
Animal Viewing:
Art and Craft:
Astronomy:
Ballooning:
Birdwatching:
Bush Tucker:
Bushwalking:
Caravan and Camping:
Canoeing:
Cruising:
Cycling:
Farm/Station:
Gambling:
Golfing:
Horseriding:
Ice Skating/Roller Skating:
Kayaking:
Lessons/Tutorials:
Meditating:
Motor racing:
Motorcycling:
Mountain Biking:
Off Road Driving:
Rock Climbing:
Sailing:
Scenic Flights:
Self-Guided:
Shopping:
Skydiving:
Swimming:
Tennis:
Trail bike riding:
Train Ride:
Water Skiing:
Wind Surfing:
Wine Tasting:

Canberra and Surrounds region directory

Australian Capital Territory link directory