The capital city of Australia, Canberra is located in the southeast section of the Australian continent between larger cities Sydney and Melbourne. Canberra is known as being a city that was highly planned out when the city was first constructed — this detailed planning was intended to develop a city that remained functional and beautiful even as it expanded from its humble beginnings to one of Australia's major metropolitan areas. Its high concentration of monuments and public institutions, along with its extensive planning, likens the city to Washington D.C. in the United States.
Today, Canberra is a unique travel destination and one highly sought out by visitors to Australia. Like the rest of Australia, its residents are English-speaking and the city uses the Australian dollar as its official form of currency. Canberra's climate can vary from hot, dry summers to dry cold winters — it rarely snows in Canberra. Cool winds from the nearby Snowy Mountains often provide cool relief from the hot summer evenings.
Tourists can hit a number of worthwhile sights while visiting Canberra. At the top of the list is the Australian War Memorial, which pays tribute to the Australian military service members who have been lost during the country's various war efforts. Black Mountain Tower, previously known as the Telstra Tower, is a beautiful steeple featuring a rotating restaurant at the top — it's an excellent destination for a romantic night out in Canberra. The New Parliament House is an architectural beauty and stands not far from Australia's old Parliament House, letting visitors get a taste of Australia's political history throughout the years.
Cockington Green is just 10 to 15 minutes away from the Parliament House, and a number of other galleries, museums, gardens and lakes can all be found close to Canberra's political heart.
Tourists can get to Canberra by car, plane or train, and within the city they have several means of getting around. Cars can be rented, but the city's ACTION bus system can take visitors throughout the city with relative ease. Canberra is also very accommodating to bicyclists, featuring a network of off-road bicycling paths that make biking a safe and fun method of transportation.
A wide range of fine dining venues are available regardless of your budget — these range from hole-in-the-wall eateries to upscale, suit-and-tie restaurants. Visitors should be aware that many of these restaurants are closed on Sundays, and all public restaurants in Canberra are smoke-free.
Overall, Canberra is a safe and comfortable city and has one of the lowest crime rates in Australia. Even so, there is a palpable racial tension present in certain parts of Canberra, particularly among youths. It is also common to be approached by panhandlers throughout the city. Travelers can learn more about specific customs or areas to avoid by consulting the front desk of their hotel or hostel.
Canberra isn't the most popular tourist destination in Australia, but it does offer a cultural and political setting unlike any other on the continent. Its convenient proximity to other attractive Australian destinations makes an easy and worthwhile detour for any tourist.
