Canberra and Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Canberra, Australia’s capital city, is in the smallest territory,
called the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). It is set between the Great
Dividing Range of mountains and the coastal plains, 288kms from Sydney and
647kms from Melbourne. Canberra is one of the world’s few planned cities
a city in a park and surrounded by bush land.
The Australian Capital Territory and its centrepiece Canberra are located
286 kilometres from Sydney, and 648 kilometres from Melbourne, 150 kilometres
inland and 571 metres above the Pacific Ocean.
The Australian Capital Territory is 250,000 hectares in area and is surrounded
by the beautiful valley of the Molonglo River. The river is a tributary of
the Murrumbidgee, which was dammed in 1964 to create beautiful Lake Burley
Griffin, around which modern Canberra has been built.
Canberra should not be missed on any holiday between Sydney and Melbourne
or on a trip to the Snowy Mountain region, where some of the best skiing
in Australia can be found.
Canberra has four distinct seasons: generally a warm spring, a hot dry summer,
a brilliant autumn, a cold winter and there is a festival to celebrate them
all. Canberra is the perfect place to visit on the way to the snow fields
of the Snowy Mountains. The maximum temperature in summer is 27C and in winter
the maximum temperature is 12C.
Highlights
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National Museum of
Australia |
The National Museum of Australia,
with its striking architecture, is one of Canberra’s newest attractions.
Silhouetted against Canberra’s inner city skyline is a giant red
sculptural loop, gesturing straight towards Uluru, the spiritual heartland
of Indigenous Australia. Inside, find exciting hands-on exhibits and
unique objects telling fascinating stories of Australia’s past
and present, or wander the Garden of Australian Dreams outside. |
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Australian War Memorial |
Take time to reflect at the
Australian War Memorial, which commemorates the commitment and camaraderie
of Australians in war. See some of the world’s most significant
military relics, such as the Lancaster Bomber G for George, and experience
a night raid over Berlin. The Hall of Memory, with its Tomb of the Unknown
Australian Solder, is the commemorative heart of the memorial. |
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Parliament House |
One of the world’s most
acclaimed buildings, Australia’s Parliament House is the place
to reflect on Australian democracy and to see parliament in action during
Question Time at 2 pm each sitting day. Marvel at the 81-metre flagpole,
wander the renowned collection of Australian contemporary art and stroll
through the beautifully landscaped gardens. Australia’s Aboriginal
heritage is reflected in a 100,000 piece mosaic in the forecourt of Parliament
House, symbolising the country before it was inhabited by Europeans. |
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