See Canberra Guide

Burn-out by the Canberra Bush fires of 2005 Tidbinbilla has bounced back with wildlife and fauna reinvigorating the park. Situated quite a distance from Canberra City Centre make sure you allow for the travel time. Really exposed to the elements and therefore avoid the hottest time of the day.  

 Experience New Parliament House in Canberra in the mornings before the crowds arrive by the bus load. While you can no longer walk the green terraces to the flag pole at the top of the Hill, you can navigate your way through the magnificent public boulevard to the lift which takes you outside. Beware though, it can get very windy and cold in Canberra, especially between May - September.

Ask anyone who has visited Canberra and they’ll tell you visit the Parliamentary Triangle opposite Lake Burley Griffin. Why??

Well it is of course where you’ll find almost all the major tourist attractions and national institutions in the Capital. Starting with Parliament House built into Capital Hill with the flag flying on top, visitors can go into the building during the day all year for free, even when our Politicians are debating one another on the floor of the house beneath you as you watch. You can catch a lift inside the house to go underneath the flag and get a good photo of Canberra City to take home. Parliament House also features a wonderful gallery of potraits and interesting rooms. Note: the best kept secrets are behind closed doors and if you can get a tour of the House with an insider it opens a whole new world to the Parliament House experience.

Just below Parliament House is Old Parliament House. Rather than knock down the original it is now a museum. A great place to see an exhibition or learn about Australia’s political system. The National Library of Australia, the National Potrait Gallery, Archives Australia and the National Gallery of Australia are also get places to see art exhibitions within the Parliamentary Triangle. All are located within easy walking distance from each other. This part of Canberra is well serviced by Public Transport and Tour Operators.

If you prefer fun to culture, then head to Questacon with the kids and see how learning about science can be a whole new experience. There are a number of hands-on interactive activities for everyone to do. It really is worth the admission fee. Recommend the slippery dip!

The High Court of Australia is the last of the National Institutions in the zone. It is quite a fascinating building and has that awe of importance surrounding Courts and Parliaments. When your finished at the High Court check out the Garden behind the National Gallery and take a stroll between the flags on the lake’s edge.

In front of the Library after the flags are plagues to the Australian of the Year winner. There are other monuments, fountains and displays in the Parliamentary Triangle. The most known is the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on the lawns of Old Parliament House. Closer to the lake there is a more modern recognition of Australia’s Indigenous people at Reconcilation Place.

Have you been told the story of Kangaroos in the street? It is a classic Australian tale told to tourists as a joke. But here in Canberra it is really true!

In several places in Canberra you can see wild Kangaroos do what they do best anytime of the night or day. One such place is at the Governor-General’s residence at Yarralumla Bay. 20-30 Kangaroos can be seen through the fence opposite the golf course - not silly are they? the drive towards the GG’s Residence is one of the best scenic trips in Canberra. Best in Spring and Autumn!

If you want to pat a real Kangaroo then I’d suggest the National Zoo and Aquarium. They also let you get up close and personal with any number of exotic and endangered species including cheetahs.

Now if you prefer flora to fauna then along Lake Burley Griffin you’ll find the Canberra Arboretum, the Lindsay Pryor National Arboretum, the National Botanical Gardens and the Canberra Cork Plantation.

On the otherside of Yarralumla Bay towards Parliament House you’ll discover the Yacht Club and access to all the major National Embassies. There is also a lovely Japanese Garden located behind the Hyatt Hotel.

It is best to do this trip by car or bike. A round trip around the West Basin of Lake Burley Griffin is about 20kms. There isn’t much in terms of public transport servicing this part of Canberra on its own on a regular basis.

If you come to Canberra expecting to see shiny mutli-storey buildings dotting the city skyline forget it! Canberra City (Civic as it is known by locals) is overshadowed by only two things in the sky, Telstra Tower atop the wonderful Black Mountain and the Australian Flag above Parliament House.

There’s more to the city then just the skyline. Civic is home to a huge shopping complex called the Canberra Centre where you’ll find almost anything you’d expect to find in any Westfield in Sydney, plus other speciality stores like Hugo Boss. It is a fashion icon for those in the know in Canberra.

Of course life isn’t all about shopping you know. The academics among us would be heading to the Australian National Univesity in the city, it is one of 5 Universities in the ACT. It has an amazing 1 kilometre diameter and sits below Black Mountain and right on Lake Burley Griffin. The walk from the north western end of the ANU along O’Sullivan’s Creek to the lake is a must for those who like to get a feel for a town. There are naturally plenty of books, scholars, buildings and live events being held for students and their mates.

If a step back in time is more your thing, like reading a good book, how about visiting the National Film and Sound Archive for the images and sounds of film, television, radio and recording of Australia’s rich culture. Also only a short walk away is the entertaining National Museum of Australia. It is a great place to take the kids. Best of all it is free!

If you have been following this guide to the letter, then your now only a short distance away from Commonwealth Park and Stage 88 (located in the park) - the home to Floriade. It also is right beside Lake Burley Griffin and hosts the Captain Cook Memorial Jet (a 150m spray jet of water) and the Capital Exhibition Centre (the top of Regatta Point).

From Regatta Point you can walk around the Central Basin of Lake Burley Griffin in about 60 minutes. It is a flat 5km trip. But if your new in town you’ll probably want to look at all the attractions around the lake at the same time. Might take you days to finish!

Becareful - at lunchtimes a lot of locals will join you for a stroll, jog or bike ride around the lake. Yes bikes and paddle boats can be hired, plus there are boat tours. A bike ride around the whole of Lake Burley Griffin will take the healthy rider over 1 hour. The less serious can complete the West Basin route (Museum, Zoo, Governor-General’s, Yacht Club, Embassies) in the same amount of time.

Canberra lies in the Australian Capital Territory, 300 km southwest of Sydney [3.5 hours drive from the City] and 650 km northeast of Melbourne [7 hours]. Canberra has a population of over 300,000 people - though you’d never know it.

It is nick-named the Bush Capital because it is like a big country town, unlike the traditional metropolis model of Sydney or Brisbane. Canberra is a planned city based on the work by architect Walter Burley Griffin. 

Canberra has 5 town centres which are separted from one another by man-made lakes, natural bush land and hills. The design allows Canberra to be a free flowing city with little traffic congestion and consequently not much urban noise and pollution.

The downside to the arrangement is that Canberra has a Car culture and one must travel to/from their destinations by car. The bus service which is the only public transport system is adequate, just not always convenient.

The Nation’s Capital is serviced not only by magnificant freeways from Sydney and Melbourne, but also a Countrylink Train service from Sydney and an (almost) International Airport. All the major airlines fly to Canberra.

As Canberra is the Capital City of Australia it boosts a number of National Institutions and Attractions worth visiting. Of course the town isn’t all about the Prime Minister and Parliament House, with magnificient scenery to experience, some of Australia’s best wineries and a dining out culture second to none in the Country.

Many outsiders consider Canberra to be a back-water on the entertainement stage, but with a vibrant music, art and social scene those in the know get to experience a lot more from life then their counterparts in other parts of the Country.

Canberra is also ideally situated between surf and snow, which is the only upside to not being located on the coast like other major Australian cities. Located within easy striking distance from the Capital are uniquely Australian Towns, Villages, Coastal Inlets and Mountain Escapes all in the Canberra Region.

Unusually quiet because of the Federal Election, the City is still alive as spring offers a number of activities and great weather to explore Australia’s best culture institutions and outdoor attractions.