Canberra is the capital city of Australia, located in the Australian Capital Territory (which is surrounded by the state of New South Wales), southwest of Australia's largest city Sydney. It has a population of about 325,000 people.
History of Canberra
Canberra was established in 1913 as a purpose-built capital for the newly federated Australian nation - this brought the rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne for national capital status to an end. The artificial creation of the city was not without critics however - many said that it was a "waste of a good sheep pasture"
Travel & Tours in Canberra
Adventure Travel represents over 1,000 hostels, hotels, tour companies & attractions across australia that we can book for you often at a discouted rate. At Adventure Travel we also operate a number of our own tours.
Currency used in Canberra
In Canberra the standard currency used is the Australia Dollar. The Australia dollar comes in denominations of 5c ,10c ,20c ,50c ,$1 & 2$ coins, and $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100 notes. Most bars, restaurants, backpacker hostels, shops and Adventure Tour desks in Canberra all take credit card, eftpos and cash. There is several cash machines in Canberra all which dispense the Australia Dollar currency. To check the Australian dollar exchange rate against a foreign currency then click here.
Backpacker Hostel Accommodation & Hotels in Canberra
In Canberra there is a number of Backpacker Hostels and Hotels where we can pre - book your accommodation. If you are looking for a budget hostel bed the click here or if you are looking for more luxurious accommodation then click here.
Discounted Travel Insurance
Adventure Travel offers a range of Backpacker Insurance policies at heavily discounted rates. We understand that you are on a budget and prefer to save your money to backpack around the world.
Security in Canberra
Canberra in Australia is a very safe place to travel with 1,000's of visitors touring through Canberra every year. This is a popular destination for sailing enthusiasts, sunlovers, families and backpackers. To check any foreign office information on Australia you can click here.
Weather in Canberra
The weather in Canberra is seasonal with 4 distinctive seasons. To get more information on the weather in Canberra Australia, then click here.
Travel to Canberra
By road - Canberra is 300 km (186 miles) drive from Sydney and 650 km (404 miles) drive from Melbourne.
Get around Canberra
Tips for riding the local buses:
If you need to change buses to get somewhere, ask for a transfer ticket; it'll let you on to as many buses as you need within 90 minutes of getting on the first bus. By cycle - Canberra has a very good network of cycle paths, which are generally separate from the road network. The grade can be a little steep as Canberra is fairly hilly. Bike helmets are compulsory.
Attractions in Canberra
Australian War Memorial - Treloar Crescent. Not just a memorial, this is one of Australia's premier museums, covering Australian military history from Federation to the present day and including fascinating exhibits of equipment, memorabilia and battle dioramas. Parliament House of Australia - across the lake from ANZAC Parade.The seat of Australia's federal government and legislature and a remarkable piece of modern architecture.
Old Parliament House - King George Terrace. The headquarters of Australian government from the 1920s to 1988, this building is a must for political and/or historical junkies.
NationalMuseum of Australia -Lawson Crescent. This controversial museum has lots of interactive exhibits.
National Gallery of Australia - Located by Lake Burley Griffin, this modern structure is one of the country's largest art galleries. It has a vast collection of paintings and sculptures collected from Australia and the rest of the world and have excellent Aboriginal artwork. National Library of Australia - notable for its neo-classical architecture.
Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) - The AIS is Australia's elite athlete training facility. It is open both for tours and for fitness classes. There is a large pool available for public lap swimming at certain hours.
Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre. Questacon is an interactive museum of science with exhibits illustrating scientific ideas from the principles of physics to the motion of an earthquake.
Royal Australian Mint - Take a tour of the mint and see how coins are made. You will even get the chance to mint your own souvenir coin.
Australian National Botanic Gardens – Ithas the largest collection of Australian native flora in the country. It also has some interesting water dragons that live in the water features around the gardens. A delightful place for a picnic, try to grab some food from the city centre first to take with you for lunch. If you are there during summer, call and ask about the jazz evenings.
Events in Canberra
Floriade - the festival of flowers, a yearly event held in spring (September), not to be missed. The Multicultural Festival - a must to visit, has many events, such as concerts, performances and an International Food Fare with over 200 stalls selling original food of different countries. Thai Embassy Food Fair - once a year - do not miss this! The Philippines, Sri Lanka and some other embassies do similar events sometimes. Diplomatic Charity Bazaar - held occasionally. Great place to buy original things specific to various countries, sold by staff of the embassies. The National Folk Festival - held every Easter over 5 days, featuring local, national and international folk musicians, dancers and craftspeople.
Things to do in Canberra
Lake Burley Griffin: Hire a paddleboat, canoe or kayak and have fun on the lake. Walk, cycle or skate around the lake.
Mountain Biking: Canberra offers a large number of Mountain Biking locations around Canberra, many of which are considered some of the best in Australia.
Old Bus Depot Market: By the shores of the lake in Kingston, this weekend market hosts craft stalls, fresh food from various cultures, plants, organic food, street performances and more.
Dendy Canberra Centre Upper Level: A movie theatre with a difference. Open late and screening world movies as well as some Hollywood flicks, Alcohol and a large array of hot food makes this cinema more of a cross between a restaurant and a movie theatre than your traditional popcorn and coke style cinema.
Tours / Packages Related To: Canberra
3 Day Sydney to Melbourne Explorer As you travel between Australia's two largest cities you will experience a diverse range of environments. Discover Canberra, Australia's capital city, it's highest mountain Mt Kosciuszko, the Snowy River wilderness and Wilsons Promontory National Park. Itinerary: day by dayDay 1 – ...
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3 Days Melbourne to Sydney Explorer As you travel between Australia's two largest cities you will experience a diverse range of environments. Discover Canberra, Australia's capital city, it's highest mountain Mt Kosciuszko, the Snowy River wilderness and Wilsons Promontory National Park. Itinerary: day by dayDay 1: Melbour...
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Greyhound Bus Pass - Sydney to Melbourne An economical way to go from A to B with a rest stop or two on the way. Choose from our range of Passes including; Sydney to Melbourne via Canberra, Adelaide to Alice Springs via Coober Pedy, Brisbane to Sydney via 2 stops of your choice, Adelaide to Mildura with 3 Stops or Sydney to Mildura ...
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Greyhound Bus Pass - Brisbane to Sydney An economical way to go from A to B with a rest stop or two on the way. Choose from our range of Passes including; Sydney to Melbourne via Canberra, Adelaide to Alice Springs via Coober Pedy, Brisbane to Sydney via 2 stops of your choice, Adelaide to Mildura with 3 Stops or Sydney to Mildura ...
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Great Southern Rail- Australia Rail Pass The Backtracker Rail Pass allows unlimited travel on the XPT and The Xplorer rail services and connecting coach services to over 360 destinations including Melbourne and Brisbane. The Backtracker Rail Pass also provides access to the capital cities of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canb...
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22 Days Sydney to Darwin Explorer Connecting Sydney, Canberra, Snowy Mountains, Wilsons Promontory, Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Grampians, Adelaide, Flinders Ranges, Coober Pedy, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, Katherine Gorge, Kakadu and Darwin. Itinerary: day by dayDay 1 – Sydney to Snowy Mountains (via Can...
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Greyhound Bus Pass - Brisbane to Adelaide Feel the energy of the south east sun. Take in the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. Our cities and beaches make a beautiful holiday. Travel from Brisbane or Adelaide. Valid: 30 Days Travel Distance: approx 2770kmNOTE: Concession rate metioned above applies to ISIC,...
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Greyhound Bus Pass - Adelaide to Melbourne Greyhound Multi-trip passes are an economical way to go from A to B for regular commuters.Multi-Trip Passes are available for travel between Sydney and Canberra, Brisbane and Toowoomba, Adelaide and Melbourne or Adelaide and Coober Pedy, in either direction.You have 12 months from the date o...
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Greyhound Bus Pass - Brisbane to Toowoomba Greyhound Multi-trip passes are an economical way to go from A to B for regular commuters.Multi-Trip Passes are available for travel between Sydney and Canberra, Brisbane and Toowoomba, Adelaide and Melbourne or Adelaide and Coober Pedy, in either direction.You have 12 months from the date o...
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Greyhound Bus Pass -Sydney to Canberra Greyhound Multi-trip passes are an economical way to go from A to B for regular commuters.Multi-Trip Passes are available for travel between Sydney and Canberra, Brisbane and Toowoomba, Adelaide and Melbourne or Adelaide and Coober Pedy, in either direction.You have 12 months from the date o...
