Canberra, Australia Hotels and City Guide

Canberra - Attractions

Time Off

In 1908, Canberra was chosen from seven shortlisted areas to become Australia's capital city. Good, clean water, a temperate climate and gently undulating terrain allowed American architect Walter Burley Griffin to plan the garden city of his dreams. His master design has given us today's broad, symmetrical boulevards, meticulously planned housing projects and large green spaces. The commemorative, man-made Lake Burley Griffin was his reward for this dazzling example of modern city planning. Visitors can enjoy the successful fusion of innovative design and multicultural diversity. Popular as a destination for further education, the student population adds cosmopolitan verve to Canberra's nightlife. It is also a comfortable, lively stopgap for skiers heading to the Snowy Mountains.

Canberra Attractions

Parliament House
Capital Hill, Canberra, ACT 2600
Tel: +61 2 6277 7111

This impressive complex, completed in 1988, is the long-awaited replacement for the old Parliament House. The construction cost 1.1 billion Australian dollars and was designed by the American architectural firm Mitchell, Guirgola & Thorp, who were keen to ensure the building blended into the site's natural surroundings. Guided tours are available, and there is public access to debates in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, viewable from the public galleries.

Australian War Memorial
Treloar Crescent, Canberra, ACT 2612
Tel: +61 2 6243 4211 | Fax: +61 2 6243 4325

Roughly modelled on a Byzantine church, the Australian War Memorial was built to commemorate all the Australian servicemen and women who died for their country. The grave of the Unknown Australian Soldier, the Roll of Honour (containing 102,600 names of Australia's war dead) and the Pool of Reflection all serve as highly symbolic and potent reminders of the horrors and sadness of war. The building also has galleries containing exhibits from other wars involving Australia, ranging from a Lancaster bomber to examples of the giant German guns used in Amiens, France.

National Gallery of Australia
Parkes Place, Parkes, Canberra, ACT 2600
Tel: +61 2 6240 6502

The gallery was opened in 1982 and already it has proved to be a world-class exhibitor. It contains interesting paintings by contemporary international artists such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollack and Andy Warhol, but it mainly focuses on indigenous artists, including Aboriginal art.

National Library of Australia
Parkes Place, Parkes, Canberra, ACT 2600
Tel: +61 2 6262 1111 | Fax: +61 2 6257 1703

This library contains over five million books, as well as 500,000 maps, aerial photographs, drawings and records of oral histories. The building is roughly modelled on the Parthenon in Athens. There are guided tours of the library, which are available throughout the week and take about an hour, and visiting exhibitions in the Mezzanine Gallery.

Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre
Corner King Edward Terrace and Parkes Place, Parkes, Canberra, ACT 2600
Tel: +61 2 6270 2800

This fun museum is mainly aimed at a young audience but is also suitable for adults. There are many hands-on interactive exhibits, demonstrating how science and technology are relevant to our everyday lives.

National Museum of Australia
Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula, Canberra, ACT 2600
Tel: +61 2 6208 5000 | Fax +61 2 6208 5099

The National Museum holds a number of important collections relating to each of its three primary subject areas: land, nation and people. Significant elements include a collection of 80,000 stone tools and Australia's largest collection of bark paintings, comprising 1600 works by numerous artists, spanning two centuries and the width and breadth of Australia.

Australian National Botanic Gardens
Clunies Ross Road, Acton, Canberra, ACT 2601
Tel: +61 2 6250 9450

This beautiful garden focuses entirely upon the plant life of Australia, and it is the finest and most extensive collection of Australian flora anywhere in the world. Within specially controlled climatic zones you can wander amongst either the plants of the jungle, the desert, or the mountains as well as many others.

Hotels in Canberra, Australia