Canberra, ACT Travel Guide

Welcome to Canberra, ACT!

Australia's largest inland city, Canberra was selected in 1908 to be the capital of the newly federated country. Being one of the world's first and few planned cities, it was the compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne, two of Australia's largest urban centres. To be as diplomatic as possible, Canberra was built between the two, 281 km (175 mi) from Sydney and 660 km (410 mi) from Melbourne.

As the seat of the government of Australia, Canberra is the site of the Parliament House, the High Court of Australia and numerous government departments and agencies. It is also the location of many social and cultural institutions of national significance, such as the Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia and the National Museum of Australia. Totally worth visiting, the city—s national museums and attractions hold and share the treasures of this nation.

Though Canberra is full of fantastic experiences for visitors, including a busy calendar of events, stylish restaurants and bars and boutique shopping, it is also a fantastic base from which to explore the many treasures of the surrounding area. A natural wonder, the region boasts expansive coastlines, a handful of historic townships and the famous Snowy Mountains.

Tourist Attractions