Canberra is so full of
attractions that it would take several weeks to see them all. What that means is that you should have no problem enjoyably filling the limited time allocated to sightseeing.
To gain an overview of
Walter Burley Griffin's planned city, head to the top of
Mt Ainslie, from where one finds a perfect lookout over the north-south land axis around which Canberra is based. If you can, take the time to stroll along
Lake Burley Griffin, the artificial waterway that cuts perpendicularly across the land axis, and which is right near the CBD. Then there's
Black Mountain Tower, from where one can gain a broad panorama of the city.
There's a long list of places that help make Canberra the national capital that it is. The most significant of these are
Parliament House,
Old Parliament House and the
Australian War Memorial, all of which are fascinating. Other big-ticket items include the
National Museum of Australia,
National Gallery of Australia,
National Portrait Gallery and
National Capital Exhibition.
The
National Library of Australia,
National Archives of Australia,
National Film and Sound Archive,
Royal Australian Mint and
High Court all contain interesting displays, while the
Australian Institute of Sport offers revealing behind-the-scenes tours.
Anzac Parade,
Reconciliation Place and the
Changi Chapel feature significant and sombre memorials. The
International Flag Display gives a taste of Canberra's foreign flavour; and if you want to savour more of it – and if you've got a car – take a driving tour of the embassies, many of which are spectacular. While you're at it, stop outside
The Lodge and
Government House, both of which are in the vicinity.
To get a feel for Canberra as a city, rather than a mere capital, the place to head is the
Canberra Museum and Gallery. And to get a feel for the early days – including before it was chosen as Australia's seat of government – you'll need to pop into old properties like
Blundells' Cottage,
Mugga-Mugga,
Tuggeranong Homestead,
Calthorpes' House,
Lanyon Homestead and
St John's Schoolhouse Museum.
If you prefer science to history, you may wish to include the
Deep Space Communication Complex, the
CSIRO Discovery Centre and
Questacon on your itinerary.
With so many things to see and do, it's time you discovered (or rediscovered) your capital. To plan your visit, whether travelling by bus, plane, train or automobile,
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For deals and packages,
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For tours and entry tickets,
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