Introduction
With a history of just around 100 years, the capital city of Australia, Canberra, has become a great tourist attraction and this is no mean achievement. A beautiful city design, open landscapes, attractive sightseeing options, fun–filled events, and an administration that feel proud in welcoming its guests, all these and more make the city so special. As it is well connected to other major cities in the country, visiting Canberra has never been a problem. In short, Canberra is the place to be, if planning a holiday trip in the near future.

What to do
The city offers a wide array of activities to indulge in. Pedal through the lanes of the city and discover the beauty of Canberra or visit the countryside, the choice is yours. If you are not satisfied with regular sightseeing options than you have enough opportunities for shopping, participating in adventure and water sports besides, visiting the most happening places in town.

City at a Glance

Latitude 35šS Longitude 149šE Area 4,067 sq km Population 309, 500 Language English Religion Christianity Telephone Code 02

History
Canberra is a total newcomer if we look on the profile of other major capital cities of the world. In the year 1908, it was decided to form a new capital for the Federation of Australian States, on a site that was somewhere between Sydney and Melbourne, two of the largest cities of the country. In fact, European settlement in this designated region had begun almost 100 years back in the first quarter of 19th century which was then called Canberry (changed from local Aborigine term Kamberra, meaning "the meeting place"). The city was designed by American architect Walter Burley, who won the contract after a competition. The parliament of the Federation sat here first in the year 1927 and the city never looked back after that.

Weather and Best Season to Visit
It is said that it was not the location but the climate of the region that helped Canberra becoming the capital and score over bigger cities like Sydney and Melbourne. The city has a pleasant weather all year round. For most parts of the year Canberra enjoys warm sunny days. However, spring when Canberra experiences perfect moderate climate along with a blooming environment form the ideal time to visit this city.

HIGHLIGHTS
Old Parliament House
The old house is now home to National Portrait Gallery and is far modest in comparison to its successor.

Australian War Memorial
The memorial was opened in the year 1941 and more than anything else is the museum of Australia's war history. It contains miniature battle scenes, collection of pictures, relics, a collection of old aircrafts, and many other interesting items.

National Gallery
The gallery has got the best collection of art objects in the country. The gallery has exclusive collections of traditional Aborigines belonging to the 20th century, artefacts besides being the most favoured venue of the exhibitions in the city.

National Botanical Gardens
The Garden is spread on an area of around 123 acres behind the Australian National University. Major attractions here are rain-forest area, eucalyptus lawn, and educational walks that pass through different parts of the garden.

Important Festivals and Exhibitions
Canberra Festival which marks the birthday of this city is held in the month of March is celebrated with much enthusiasm and fanfare. During this ten day long festive occasion the city wears a totally different look.

Floridae Festival which is celebrated during spring is another important annual event in Canberra. The festival is held at the Commonwealth park which is decorated with flowers of different hues.

AFTER HOURS
The city abounds in evening entertainment options like dining places, wine bars, dance clubs, piano bars, jazz spots, and acoustic venues. There are exciting late night shopping options in the city on Friday and at some places on Thursdays.

SHOPPING
Places such as Bungendore Wood Work Gallery, Cuppacumbalong Craft Centre, and Gold Creek Village gives enough opportunity to shop for local handicrafts. For shopping of necessary items, you can find convenient shopping arcades in almost all parts of the city.

WHERE TO STAY
The city has excellent accommodation options ranging from luxurious large hotels to camping grounds for the backpackers. In between, you have the options like Youth Hostel, Bed and Breakfast, and cabin facilities.

WHERE TO EAT

Dickson, in the north of the city, houses Canberra's Chinatown where you can savor some authentic Chinese dishes. In the city centre and the nearby suburbs of Kingston and Manuka, there are good eating places that cater to different tastes and budgets. Thai and Turkish food are the most preferred of international cuisines, though cuisine from the places all around the world are well represented here.

TRAVEL INFORMATION
Air Travel Resources
Canberra International Airport is located just 7 km from the city centre and connected to all the major cities in Australia. As the airport is not an entry point to the country, convenient connecting flights are available to and from Sydney, as well as Melbourne.

Land
Intercity coaches are the most comfortable way to travel long journeys in Australia. Bus services operate to places like Young, Cowra, Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Cooma, Eden, Cootamundra, Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne from Canberra. There are regular trains from Canberra that connect cities like Sydney and Melbourne. You can also hire a taxi or rent a car for self driving here, if travelling on your own pace is your wish.

Local Transport
The absence of traffic jams and pollution in the city sets Canberra apart from other places. Their is an excellent road network with around 300 km of bike path which makes pedalling the best way to appreciate the city. Otherwise, you can use taxis that are available here, or the local Orange Action Buses that ply on all major routes in the city.