Travel to Canberra

Travel to Canberra

Canberra is located inland towards the southeastern corner of New South Wales, roughly in between Sydney and Melbourne. Situated in the north of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which was set up in the early 20th century after the formation of a federation of the former Australian colonies, Canberra has been the nations capital ever since. It was designed and built specifically for government and suffered from an identity crisis for a time, although major inroads were made to attract tourists and residents with the building of numerous quality attractions and interesting landmarks. Canberra now has a culture all of its own and also boasts one of the best climates of any Australian city.

Transportation to Canberra

Canberra International Airport is the gateway to the ACT, receiving flights from all over Australia to the tune of two million annual passengers. Access to central Canberra from the airport is provided by local buses, an airport bus, hotel shuttles and taxis and limousines.

You can also get to Canberra by train from Sydney and Melbourne as well as by bus with Murray Coaches or Greyhound Pioneer for those with tighter budgets. Driving here from either Sydney or Melbourne is also straightforward, with the Hume Highway running past the turn-off for Canberra from either city.

What to see

Canberra is loaded with impressive landmarks and monuments, both old and new, as well as a wealth of family-fun attractions and more sedate sightseeing options. The powers that be have made sure that the city has a great deal to offer tourists, whereas in the past, this was perhaps not so.

Marvel at the old and new parliament buildings, St Christophers Cathedral and the amazing views from the Telstra Tower; or perhaps visit the collection of creepy reptiles at the Australian Reptile Centre, take a cruise on picturesque Lake Burley Griffin or relax in the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Perhaps the best way to get an overview of Canberra is to take an historic guided or self-guided walking tour.

Daytrips

Canberra has many interesting suburbs and is surrounded by villages, towns and cities that hold much historical interest. Bywong Town Gold Mining Village is known for its gold rush history, while Goulburn is one of the oldest cities in Australia. The countryside is also beautiful and there are many national parks in the region, while several outstanding beaches reside on the New South Wales coastline within easy driving distance of Canberra.

Kangaroo Valley has some superb natural beauty spots, while Murrumbateman is known for vineyards and the Snowy Mountains for ski resorts. You can be at the beach within 3 hours of leaving Canberra; Jervis Bay and Batemans Bay are two of the most popular beaches, with their white sand and clear waters. Huskisson is another scenic area with dolphin and whale watching, scuba diving and great beaches.

Activities and leisure

Visitors can partake in a number of activities and adventures in and out of the city. There are several bike trails around the city as well as out in the country around the Lake Burley Griffin area, while sailing and canoeing on this lovely stretch of water is great here in the summer. Hiking, rock climbing and golfing are also very popular in Canberra, while spectator sports including rugby, Australian rules football and cricket are extremely popular among the locals.

Safety issues

Canberra is about the safest city in Australia. Crime levels and theft from tourists are low, although a percentage of tourists do run into hassles. Being aware of your surroundings, particularly at night around Civic, Woden, Tuggeranong and Belconnen bus interchanges, and keeping all valuables out of sight is recommended. Those who plan on taking part in adventure sports and the like should make sure their insurance covers them for all eventualities.