The nation’s capital is home to many of Australia’s most important public buildings, art works and institutions. It’s also a great place to enjoy a well-planned city with its parks, gardens and surrounds.
Canberra's art showpiece is the National Gallery of Australia. Additionally, works are displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House and the Nolan Gallery to name just a few
Blessed with some of the loveliest surroundings of any national capital, Canberra also boasts some of Australia’s finest galleries and public buildings.
More than 30 Australian artistic and cultural institutions are located in Canberra, ranging from the thought-provoking Australian War Memorial to Parliament House, surmounted by a colossal stainless-steel flagpole and set in 23 hectares of gardens. Other Canberra attractions include the Australian National University, ScreenSound Australia (the National Film and Sound Archive), All Saints Church in Ainslie (originally the railway station at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney before it was moved stone by stone and reconstructed), the Australian Institute of Sport, Australian National Library, National Science and Technology Centre, the High Court and Old Parliament House. The former parliament house now houses the National Portrait Gallery and Australian Archives Gallery.
In the middle of Lake Burley Griffin, the impressive Captain Cook Memorial Jet shoots a six-tonne column of water 147 metres into the air. On the shore, the National Gallery of Australia, youngest of the world’s great galleries, houses Australia’s premier public art collection, spanning some 5,000 years of international art and more than 30,000 years of indigenous culture. It displays works by Rodin, Picasso, Pollock and Warhol but its underlying strength lies in its superb Australian collection, including many of Sidney Nolan’s paintings of bushranger Ned Kelly. Guided tours begin at 11am and 2pm daily.
Canberra is often called the Bush Capital because of nearby Canberra Nature Park and Namadgi National Park. Almost half of the Australian Capital Territory is parkland or bushland, making Canberra a natural spot for an escape into the Great Outdoors. Sightseeing can be done through organised tours, or it is easy to hire a car and explore for yourself. Namadgi is a surprising landscape of high plateaus, thick forest and grasslands dotted often with wildflowers and roamed by hundreds of kangaroos.
Canberra’s cool climate produces some award-winning wines grown around the townships of Murrumbateman, Hall and Bungendore. Local produce and creative chefs ensure a well-matched dining experience.