CANBERRA (Australian Capital Territory)
It may come as quite a surprise to you, but Sydney is NOT the capital of Australia. That honor belongs to Canberra, a clean, safe and modern city, three hundred kilometers to the south west of the Olympic city. Canberra situated on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, the national capital, is the home of government, parliament house and a host of diplomatic residences. This stylish, modern city is also the “natural capital”, in the heart of glorious bushland and within easy reach of some of Australia’s most spectacular countryside.
Must see and do in Canberra:
Telstra Tower: Rises 195 m above the summit of Black Mountain and provides 360-degree views of Canberra and the surrounding countryside, the Telstra Tower provides stunning views of the city can be seen by day or night from the two open viewing platforms or enclosed viewing gallery.
Royal Australian Mint:Public galleries here offer excellent views of the minting process. An extensive coin exhibition traces Australia’s monetary history. The visiting public is able to make their own one-dollar coin on the Public Gallery Coinery Presses.
Australian National Botanic Gardens: More than 6,000 species of Australian native plants are grown in the gardens on the slopes of Black Mountain.
Museums and Galleries in Canberra:
Australian institute of Sport: located 6 km north west from Canberra, it is a training centre for Australia’s top athletes. The tour of the world-class training facilities and Sportex is conducted by elite athletes who provide a first and experience of life at the Institute. Sportex is an interactive, hands-on exhibition located in the Ansett Sports Visitor Centre, combining sporting memorabilia, the latest in high-tech sporting equipment and information on legends, sports science,nutrition and elite athletes.
National Gallery of Australia: Eleven galleries housing more than 70,000 works of art,including one of Australia’s largest collections of Aboriginal Art and a fine display of Australian and European art.
National Dinosaur Museum: The museum houses the largest permanent dinosaur collection in Australia. Special exhibitions of new fossils and models are a regular feature of the museum.
Wildlife in Canberra:
National Aquarium and Wildlife Park: Located 12 km from Canberra, people can wander through landscaped gardens with Australian animals such as koalas, penguins, kangaroos, emus and dingoes. The national Aquarium has both fresh and salt water tanks with a 1-million-litre,walk-through River land Tunnel, housing a spectacular collection of Australian fish.
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: It is 40 km south-west of Canberra. This vast reserve features Australian fauna in a natural bush setting. Visit the information centre, feed the birds of walk along the trails provided.
Excursions and day tours from Canberra:
Cockington Green: Located 10 km from Canberra. A fascinating collection of miniature buildings from all parts of great Britain, complete with gardens, buildings and a village green with cricketers, a soccer field and a model railway. A new section displays landmark building from around the world and Australia.
Lanyon Historical Hamestead and Nolan Gallery: It is 40 km south of Canberra. A living museum of 19th and 20th-dentuary rural life set in rambling gardens. The Nolan Gallery houses a collection of the work of Sir Sidney Nolan(1917-1992), one of Australia’s best-known artists. The gallery also exhibits contemporary Australian art in a regularly changing programme.
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