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    • Capital Territory

    Capital Territory travel guide

    View Australia travel guide

    Overview

    The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was created as a compromise: both Sydney and Melbourne thought that they should be Australia's capital city and the authorities decided that the only answer was to create a new city, within its own territory, between the two rivals. ACT is landlocked in the mountainous state of southeastern New South Wales; Sydney is 190 miles (306km) to the northwest. The territory is tiny by Australian standards: it is 50 miles (80km) from north to south and about 20 miles (30km) wide.

    The capital city, Canberra, and its surrounding suburbs are in the northeast of the territory and surrounded by the artificial Lake Burley Griffin. The parliament and other government buildings are located to the south of the lake and to the north is Civic, the name for the city's central business district, where visitors will also find the university and the main shopping and nightlife streets. Civic is a lively district and fun to explore for travellers, but Canberra seldom features prominently on the itineraries of foreign tourists, despite being the capital. Two or three days in Canberra will be sufficient for most travellers, but luckily many wonders await just beyond.

    The Namadgi National Park occupies the whole southwestern area of the Territory, providing a great opportunity to explore some of Australia's natural abundance for visitors to Canberra. Many travellers visit ACT as a daytrip from Sydney, and Canberra is a popular weekend getaway for Australians.

    Cockington Green

    Opened to the public in 1979, Cockington Green at Gold Creek Village is an award-winning display of miniature buildings and landscaped gardens and one of Canberra's best-loved attractions. The park was created by Doug and Brenda Cockington and has been a family-run business ever since. The family make sure to keep the park in perfect condition, adding new attractions whenever possible. As well as the wonderful miniature displays and breath-taking gardens, there is a Heritage Rose Walk, a maze, several cafés, a barbecue, picnic and playground areas, and a steam train ride that circles the grounds. A fairly recent addition, created with funding from the Sultanate of Oman, is a small-scale replica of Oman's Jabrin Fort. Other international small-scale replicas include one of Israel's Masada Northern Palace, and a large collection of great historical Australian homes.

    Address: Gold Creek Village, 11 Gold Creek Road, Nicholls
    Website: www.cockingtongreen.com.au
    Cockington Green Gardens Maze Cockington Green Gardens Maze Michael
    Australian War Memorial

    Consistently voted Canberra's premier tourist attraction, the Australian War Memorial is not only a fitting tribute to the men and women who gave their lives in service of their country, but also a fascinating, highly-informative museum that seeks to educate modern Australians about the conflicts that have blighted their country's past. Housing an in-depth exhibition for every war Australia has ever been involved in, and boasting passionate, knowledgeable tour guides, visitors are strongly advised to set aside at least half a day to do the museum justice. The Australian War Memorial is a must-see for anyone seeking a sobering, humanising reminder of how dearly war can cost a nation, and it is a good introduction to the country's history for foreigners. Entrance to the Memorial is free, and there are free tours conducted daily by knowledgeable volunteers.

    Address: Treloar Crescent, Canberra
    Website: www.awm.gov.au
    Australian War Memorial Australian War Memorial Travis

    Phrase Book

    English Pronounciation

    On average, Canberra has seven hours of sunshine a day all year round, which, together with a low rainfall average, makes this a fine holiday destination year-round. The city enjoys an oceanic climate, with the chance of rain in any month, but plenty of sun. Summer weather in Canberra is generally hot and fairly dry with mild easterly and northwesterly winds prevailing. Nights become cooler when autumn sets in, and winter is characterised by the arrival of numerous cold fronts. Temperatures are lower in winter, but the sun still shines most of the time. In summer, between December and February, temperatures average between 52°F (11°C) and 82°F (28°C); and in winter, between June and August, temperatures average between 33°F (1°C) and 55°F (13°C).

    The Capital Territory experiences warm summers and cold winters, often with light snowfalls. It rains throughout the year, especially in the mountains, and strong winds are common. Canberra enjoys an oceanic climate, with fairly mild summers and frosty winters. In summer, peaking between December and February, temperatures average between 52°F (11°C) and 82°F (28°C); and in winter, between June and August, temperatures average between 33°F (1°C) and 55°F (13°C).

    Canberra International Airport
    Location: The airport is situated five miles (8km) east of Canberra.
    Time: GMT +10 (GMT +11 from last Sunday in August to last Saturday in March).
    Getting to the city: Transport Canberra operates ACTION Bus route Rapid 3 and there are regular services between the Airport terminal through to City interchange, Belconnen interchange, Cohen St interchange to Spence Terminus, seven days a week, including public holidays. The Rapid 3 route runs every 15 minutes through the day on weekdays, and every 30 minutes on weekends. Taxis are available at all times to the city centre. Limousines are also available.
    Car Rental: Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar and Thrifty, among others, are represented at the airport.
    Facilities: A bar, a restaurant, post office and ATM are available in the terminal, and there is a foreign exchange bureau on the departures concourse. Those with special needs are well catered for.
    Parking Short- and long-term parking is available at the airport close to the terminal.
    Website: www.canberraairport.com.au
    Capital Territory

    Buses are the main public transport option in Canberra and the Action bus company's routes cover most tourist attractions from four town centre bus interchanges: Civic, Woden, Tuggeranong and Belconnen. Passengers can either pay cash for their fares or use the prepaid MyWay card.

    Cycling is also a popular means of transport in Canberra and there is an extensive network of bicycle paths around the city. Taxi ranks are available in most major areas of the city and, when taxis cannot be found on the street, they can be ordered by phone. The light rail system, Canberra Metro, provides a quick, direct way to move between Civic and Gungahlin.

    Canberra is a well-organised city with top-class amenities, lots of leisure opportunities and some brilliant cultural sightseeing options. Sites like the Australian War Museum, the National Gallery of Australia and the National Museum of Australia are proud Australian cultural landmarks and well deserving of the time of travellers. But these stately attractions aside, Canberra is also a fun city for families travelling with kids, offering attractions like the National Zoo and Aquarium, Cockington Green, Questacon and the Australian Railway Historical Society, where old-fashioned steam train rides can be enjoyed.

    Special tourist discount deals are available, including 3infun Canberra which provides one ticket to visit three of the city's most popular attractions: the Australian Institute of Sport, Cockington Green, and Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre. If purchased online this ticket gives something like a 25 percent discount.

    Canberra's city centre is relatively compact and easy to get around for visitors, with many of the top attractions close together. Possibly the best way to see the city of Canberra is on a hot air balloon ride, and those who happen to be visiting in autumn shouldn't miss out on the grand extravaganza of Canberra's Fiesta, during which dozens of colourful hot air balloons rise gently into the early morning air from the lawns in front of Canberra's Old Parliament House. Canberra has a busy events calendar and tourist numbers peak during popular events like the Fiesta and the spring festival of Floriade.