|
Canberra Travel Guide
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Visit Canberra: Home to 325,000 people, Canberra is one of the world’s few planned cities, a city in a park, with golden autumn leaves and glorious spring blooms. Surrounded by native bushland, Canberra is perfect for getting back to nature. But hidden beneath the leafy surrounds is a thriving modern city with stylish restaurants, hip bars, boutique shopping, fun for the kids and a busy calendar of events and festivals. The surrounding region offers more than 30 wineries, historic townships, beautiful coastlines and the famous Snowy Mountains. Wikipedia: The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory, 280 kilometres (177 mi) south-west of Sydney, and 650 kilometres (400 mi) north-east of Melbourne. The site of Canberra was selected for the location of the nation's capital in 1908 as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne, the two largest cities. It is unusual among Australian cities, being an entirely purpose-built, planned city. Following an international contest for the city's design, a design by the Chicago architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin was selected and construction commenced in 1913. The city's design was heavily influenced by the garden city movement and incorporates significant areas of natural vegetation that have earned Canberra the title "bush capital". Although the growth and development of Canberra were hindered by the World Wars and the Great Depression, it emerged as a thriving city after World War II. As the seat of the
government of Australia, Canberra is the site of Parliament House, the
High Court of Australia and numerous government departments and agencies.
It is also the location of many social and cultural institutions of
national significance, such as the National Gallery of Australia and
the National Museum of Australia. Australian Government: Today Canberra has become a hub for western New South Wales, as well as a major tourist destination for Australians and international visitors. People visit the national capital because it is the seat of federal government, and also because it boasts many major Australian cultural organisations and important cultural landmarks like the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, the High Court, Parliament House, Old Parliament House, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, and the National Library of Australia. Canberra Day is
held on the third Monday in March each year, the culmination of a 10
day Celebrate Canberra festival where Canberrans are able to celebrate
the physical beauty, and cultural diversity and vibrancy of their city.
The Day commemorates and celebrates the official founding of Canberra
on 12 March 1913. Historical Sights
Canberra Highlights Canberra: planning a family holiday. While Canberra boasts the prestigious title of being our 'National Capital' it's not just another town full of public servants. This chunk of land hidden in the lower corner of NSW and stamped ACT on the map is a definite destination on the list of must-do holidays, especially if you've got the kids in tow. "Family holiday in Canberra? Are you crazy?" My friends all questioned, knowing perfectly well the answer to that. Canberra is the domain for the big guns of Australian politics, so expect to find a well-manicured city. Here magnificent monuments adorn wide avenues and architecturally-designed masterpieces of power are on display in the forms of the National Art Gallery, Parliament House, High Court and the selection of origin-based embassies. Activities Canberra Off the Beaten Path Tips by tiabunna: What’s the Murrumbidgee River Corridor I hear you say…. Well, the Murrumbidgee travels 1600km from the Snowy Mountains to the Murray River. For about 66km of that distance, it is in the ACT and much of that distance is available for recreation. At most public recreation areas there are toilets, mown grassed areas, picnic facilities with free barbecues, shelters and walking tracks. Depending on what takes your fancy, you also can go swimming, take your dog for a walk, go fishing (no licence required, but some restrictions apply), go canoeing, or even rip off everything and legally go skinnydipping (at Kambah Pool). Just be sure that what you do is permitted where you are doing it! This photo is at Casuarina Sands, a popular swimming area in the warmer months (the photo was taken in late Autumn). You also can go swimming at many other spots, from Uriarra to Tharwa. The Casuarina Sands reserve is off the side of Cotter Road, after you have passed Mount Stromlo – be careful as you leave the main road, the exit is on a hairpin bend.
Tours Hotel
World Tours: For those who want to get to know Canberra with limted
time, then this is the tour for you. We visit Telstra tower, Red Hill
and Mt Plesant as well as having morning/afternoon tea on Mt Ainslie.
Travel through the parliamentary triangle and find out where all the
major attractions are located. Helicopter Twilight Scenic Flight: As the sun begins to set, it's headsets on as your helicopter takes off for a spectacular twilight flight. Be bathed in the soft golden glow of the setting sun and fly over the open countryside to track along the Murrumbidgee River in the foothills of the Brindabella's before turning at Mt Stromlo Observatory to head back to the city. As the sun disappears and dusk sets in, your scenic helicopter flight heads over Lake Burley Griffin for the best views of Canberra you're ever likely to see. From above, sit back and let Canberra's night lights show the city's iconic architecture at its very best and all against the backdrop of the evening sky. Go Bush Tours: Brindabella Coaches and Go Bush Tours is a family owned and operated Canberra Business striving for excellence in providing a range of quality based tours at an affordable price. Lookouts Tour - This tour is designed to take the visitor to Canberra who has no transport of their own, or those that wish not to drive, to the Four major lookouts in Canberra Gondwana Dreaming offers a wide range of personalised nature discovery tours. A geologist explains the landforms, the rocks and the fossils. Discover how the geology of a region can affect history and the distribution of native animals and plants. Join a fossil dig, hunt for gold and precious stones, or simply discover the local plants, birds and wildlife and the environment they live in. Add new meaning to time travel when you discover the world as it was, millions of years ago. Mud
Maps:
Are you looking for a way to really escape the city and experience the
spectacular beauty and remote wilderness of the Australian High Country?
To explore the high plains and high country huts, to discover the Red-Shouldered
Wallabies and strange Snow Gum forests, or walk the little towns and
talk with the locals.
Holiday Company Descriptions Blue Holidays: Canberra is famed for its huge lake and giant flagpole, while those massive roundabouts spin you off to discover unexpected delights. For example discover the over friendly animals at the National Zoo and Aquarium, meet a local winemaker and sample the fruits of their labour at one of over thirty wineries, and breathe easy with our clean fresh air. Make your way over to the National Museum of Australia and see Pharlap’s heart, an original FJ Holden and Captain Cook’s teacup; take a behind the scenes tour with an elite athlete at the Australian Institute of Sport; and feel the courage of our Anzacs at the Australian War Memorial’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Set within leafy surrounds, this modern city offers fun for the kids, a busy calendar of events and festivals – like Floriade, Australia’s celebration of spring, as well as stylish restaurants, bars and shops. But don’t just take our word for it, come and see for yourself. Classic
Australian Adventure: As soon as you leave the airport and the vibrant
& cosmopolitan cities you'll find barren desert and outback, lush
tropical rainforests, rolling hills and vineyards, golden sandy beaches
and coral reefs kissed by azure seas. Whether you want to get close
to nature, savour fine foods and wines, enjoy active pursuits or simply
relax in the sun, Australia is the perfect setting for so many different
holiday experiences. Oz Talk: Enjoy Canberra and the variety of activities available throughout the Australian Capital Territory with this exciting 18 night package. Experience a day in the real Australian Bush as well as seeing all the highlights of Canberra, before heading onto the Blue Mountains for some more exploration of the Aussie wilderness. Canberra is Australia’s capital and is home to attractions such as the Australian Institute of Sport and the Australian Botanical Gardens. Lake Burley-Griffin is the main feature of this constantly expanding capital. As well as being a cosmopolitan modern city, Canberra is surrounded by wild bushland which is fascinating to explore. Freedom Australia: With breathtaking scenery and an easy going country lifestyle, New South Wales provides a striking contrast to the hustle and bustle of city life. The tree covered Blue Mountains and amazing Three Sisters rocks are just an hour and a half from Sydney, or take time to visit some of the 70 wineries around the beautiful Hunter Valley. On New South Wales northern coast you'll find natural wooded headlands and deserted beaches by the score around the old fishing ports of Coffs Harbour and Port Stephens - a great base for dolphin watching. In the mountains south west of Sydney lies the state capital of Canberra, a beautifully ordered city of lakes, wide boulevards and with many of Australia's national monuments.
Holiday Accommodation Oz Hotels: Ozhotels is a group of independently owned and non-related hotels, motels and serviced apartments located across Canberra, Australia. Oz hotels allows you to deal directly with the hotels and apartments giving you the best possible rates for this Canberra accommodation. Canberra
Hotels: Welcome to Canberra's leading and trusted hotel reservation
service : Australian Accommodation Agency. Canberra Hotels are fully
authorised representatives for Canberra hotels and confirm every booking
"in writing". Preferential priority bookings enable Canberra
Hotels to guarantee secure bookings with no additional booking fees.
Saville Park Suites: Perfectly located in the CBD with shopping and nightlife at your fingertips, Saville Park Suites Canberra offers apartment style accommodation combined with the facilities of a 4 star hotel. Select from a hotel room or a Superior one or two bedroom apartment. Dine in Zipprestaurantbar or take advantage of 24 hour room service. The hotel can cater for all your conference and catering requirements for 10 to 150 people. Relax and unwind in the gymnasium, indoor heated pool and sauna. Boutique Hotel Kurrajong: Nestled in the quiet leafy streets of Barton, surrounding the heart of Australia's seat of Government, the Hotel Kurrajong offers the most modern facilities as would be expected from Canberra's Premier Boutique Hotel. Positioned adjacent to The Parliamentary Triangle, the Award Winning Hotel Kurrajong is close to the Business, Political, Cultural and Tourism heart of Canberra. Crowne Plaza Canberra is the largest hotel in the region, boasting 295 well appointed accommodation rooms with both Glebe Park and city views. The hotel is ideally located in the heart of the Nation’s Capital, within minutes walk of the CBD, Canberra’s main shopping fair, many fine restaurants and bars, and national attractions. The hotel is contemporary and modern in architecture and design, providing deluxe accommodation. Novotel
Canberra Hotel offers premium hotel accommodation in the heart of
the Canberra CBD, retail and entertainment district. Our hotel accommodation
rooms are light, spacious and contemporary in design. Ideal for all
your Canberra hotel room accommodation needs, all the attractions, restaurants,
bars and nightlife of Canberra are at our door. Business travellers,
conference delegates and meeting planners find our meeting and function
venues ideal as well as our close proximity to the Canberra Convention
Centre. Novotel
Canberra is family friendly too; kids stay and eat free* and all the
family can enjoy visiting Parliament House, Questacon, the National
Museum and much more. And the CBD and shopping precinct is opposite
the Novotel and only a moments stroll or a short cab ride.
PleaseTakeMeTo Australian Capital Territory
|
Tour
Guides 
|
News and Search Guardian
Unlimited, Times Online,
Daily Telegraph, The
Independent, |