Introduction
A smooth lake, a glamorous gallery and a whole lotta politics. Canberra is often described by Australians who haven't been there as a boring town, full of politicians, bureaucrats - and not much else. But those who go there find beautiful galleries and museums clustered around a lake and cupped in bushland.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +10
Area: 287
Coordinates: -35.3499984741 latitude and 149.042007446 longitude
Population: 329000
Area codes: 02
Getting There
Autumn (March to May) in Canberra is quite simply gorgeous. The days are sunny and crisp, the trees turn a golden-brown and everything looks lovely. Winter (June to August) is cold - really cold. There are mornings when it feels like breathing in will crack your lungs, but the sky is usually blue and the weather is sunny. Spring (September to November) is much wetter and windier, though the very popular Floriade festival brightens things up. Summer (December to February) can get quite hot but is a fine time of year to be in the city.
Getting there and away
Flights connect Canberra with all Australian state capital cities and some of the bigger towns within NSW - some flights go via Sydney or Melbourne. Buses run to Canberra from Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, with connections to the other capitals. There are also services to the south coast, the snowfields, and a few other large towns in NSW. Trains run from Sydney, or you can do a combined bus-train trip from Melbourne. The Hume Highway, which runs between Melbourne and Sydney, passes about 50km (30mi) north of Canberra - turn off at Goulburn or Yass. The Monaro highway to the south will take you to Cooma, the snowfields and the coast.
Getting around
Public transport in Canberra means the ACTION bus service (popular tourist buses covering most sights include Nos 33, 34, 40 and 80), which runs regular routes throughout Canberra and is a relatively cheap way to get around. ACTION's Flexibus evening service will, incredibly, veer off the set route to go as close to its passenger's destination as possible. They will also come and collect you if you call (13 17 10). The airport is 7km (4mi) southeast of the city centre. A shuttle minibus runs to the Jolimont Centre in town and to various hotels. Another good way to see Canberra is by bicycle; Canberra has an excellent network of bike paths.
Weather
Canberra's a chilly little place. It basks in some good old-fashioned Aussie sun during the summer months (December to February) and Autumn is clear and cool - but the winters can bite, often with frosty mornings and bright, clear afternoons. Spring can be damp.
A smooth lake, a glamorous gallery and a whole lotta politics. Canberra is often described by Australians who haven't been there as a boring town, full of politicians, bureaucrats - and not much else. But those who go there find beautiful galleries and museums clustered around a lake and cupped in bushland.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +10
Area: 287
Coordinates: -35.3499984741 latitude and 149.042007446 longitude
Population: 329000
Area codes: 02
Getting There
Autumn (March to May) in Canberra is quite simply gorgeous. The days are sunny and crisp, the trees turn a golden-brown and everything looks lovely. Winter (June to August) is cold - really cold. There are mornings when it feels like breathing in will crack your lungs, but the sky is usually blue and the weather is sunny. Spring (September to November) is much wetter and windier, though the very popular Floriade festival brightens things up. Summer (December to February) can get quite hot but is a fine time of year to be in the city.
Getting there and away
Flights connect Canberra with all Australian state capital cities and some of the bigger towns within NSW - some flights go via Sydney or Melbourne. Buses run to Canberra from Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, with connections to the other capitals. There are also services to the south coast, the snowfields, and a few other large towns in NSW. Trains run from Sydney, or you can do a combined bus-train trip from Melbourne. The Hume Highway, which runs between Melbourne and Sydney, passes about 50km (30mi) north of Canberra - turn off at Goulburn or Yass. The Monaro highway to the south will take you to Cooma, the snowfields and the coast.
Getting around
Public transport in Canberra means the ACTION bus service (popular tourist buses covering most sights include Nos 33, 34, 40 and 80), which runs regular routes throughout Canberra and is a relatively cheap way to get around. ACTION's Flexibus evening service will, incredibly, veer off the set route to go as close to its passenger's destination as possible. They will also come and collect you if you call (13 17 10). The airport is 7km (4mi) southeast of the city centre. A shuttle minibus runs to the Jolimont Centre in town and to various hotels. Another good way to see Canberra is by bicycle; Canberra has an excellent network of bike paths.
Weather
Canberra's a chilly little place. It basks in some good old-fashioned Aussie sun during the summer months (December to February) and Autumn is clear and cool - but the winters can bite, often with frosty mornings and bright, clear afternoons. Spring can be damp.
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