Canberra is the capital of Australia- designed specifically for that reason. It is home to the Parliament House, many politicians, and a number of renowned museums and galleries.
In my honest opinion, Canberra is a pretty bizarre city. If you go outside come night fall, you could possibly be the only person wandering the streets in the middle of the CBD. It is a very quiet city, seriously lacking a nighttime vibe and food scene. That said, if you’re a fan of art galleries, museums and our nation’s political system then it is an interesting place to visit for a few days.
I had two days in the city and below is the compilation of all the enjoyable things I got up to whilst there. Plus, everything was free!
1. Parliament House
If you’re a political fan you can visit Australia’s parliament. It is open every day, except for Christmas Day, 9am-5pm. The parliament offers the opportunity to sit in on Question Time, see bills being debated and to sit in on committee inquiries if that peaks your interest.
2. The Australian War Memorial
The War Memorial is the national memorial to the members of its armed forces who have died or participated in wars involving Australia. If you are in Canberra I think it is important to visit this site in order to remember and pay your respects to those who lost their lives whilst protecting this country, and to learn about Australia’s involvement in past and present wars.
3. National Gallery of Australia
This is one of Australia’s largest art museums, holding 166,000 art works. There is a beautiful Aboriginal art section, which is a must see during a visit here. There are also special exhibits running all the time from all over the world.
4. National Arboretum Canberra
This is a specific type of botanic garden that is devoted to growing trees for conservation, scientific research and educational purposes. The National Arboretum Canberra features 94 forests of different types of rare, endangered and symbolic trees from around Australia and the world. My favourite section was the bonsai section!
5. Lake Burley Griffin
Find the lake, and you have found the centre of Canberra! There are many activities to be enjoyed on or around the lake such as a leisurely stroll or riding a bike, stopping for a picnic on the grass, or rowing, kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding.
6. Floriade
This is Australia’s biggest flower festival! It is on every year between the middle of September to the middle of October.
Your Travel Paige 