Canberra

Canberra , capital of the Australian Capital Territory, is our nations capital.

It is home to Australia's Prime Minister and the parliament.

Created within the state of New South Wales in 1908 to host the government and stop rivalry of Melbourne and Sydney to be the Australian Capital.

Canberra was selected among seven other sites after a six-year study.

Named in 1913 from an Aboriginal term believed to mean 'meeting place', Canberra was designed by the American architect Walter Burley Griffin.

Population: 313,000

Shopping: Seven (7) days a week with late night shopping being on Friday evenings until 9.00pm.

Australian National Botanic Gardens

Clunies Ross Street
Acton ACT 2601
2.4 km's from the city centre
Tel: 02 6250 9540
Fax: 02 6250 9599
Email: education@anbg.gov.au
Web site: www.anbg.gov.au

Hours: daily 9am-5pm (extended opening hours in Jan/Feb), closed Christmas Day
Guided tours: yes
Duration: 1-1½ hours
Bookings: groups only

Telstra Tower

Black Mountain Drive
Acton ACT 2601
5 km's from the city centre
Tel: 02 6219 6111 or 1800 806 718
Fax: 02 6257 6600

Hours: Daily 9am-10pm, open 365 days a year
Guided tours: no
Duration: 30-45 mins
Bookings: groups only
Cost: $3.30 adult, $1.10 child/concession

National Aquarium and Wildlife Park

Macgregor Street
Deakin ACT 2600

Tel: 02 6285 2514
Email: dhs@dynamite.com.au

Hours: Mon-Thurs 5.45am-9pm, Fri 5.45am-8pm, Sat 7am-6.30pm, Sun 8am-6.30pm
Cost: $16.50 per visit, $225 for 15 visits, $1222 for family (12 months), $849 individual (12 months)

Royal Australian Mint

Denison Street
Deakin ACT 2600
6.5 km's from the city centre
Tel: 02 6202 6891
Fax: 02 6202 6953
Email: info@ramint.gov.au
Web site: www.ramint.gov.au

Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat, Sun & public hols 10am-4pm (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday)
Guided tours: tours conducted most days, phone for times
Duration: 1 hour
Bookings: for guided tours same number as above

Parliament House

Capital Hill
Canberra ACT 2600
3.3 km's from the city centre
Tel: 02 6277 5399 (Information Desk)
Fax: 02 6277 5068 (Visitor Services)
Email: Visitor.Services@aph.gov.au
Web site: www.aph.gov.au

Hours: daily 9am-5pm, Tours every 30mins
Guided tours: complimentary public tours commence at 9am and follow every 30 minutes; adult and community programs phone 02 6277 3508
Duration: public tours take approximately 45 minutes
Bookings: advance notice is recommended for all group tours and a charge may apply, phone 02 6277 5085
Cost: public tours are free of charge, a charge may apply for special group tours

Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial commemorates the sacrifice of Australian men and women who have served in war.

Corner of Vickers & Callan Streets, Mitchell.

Phone (02) 6241 8949

Australian Institute of Sport

Leverrier Crescent
Bruce ACT 2617
2.9 km's from the city centre
Tel: 02 6214 1084 or 02 6214 1444 (groups)
Fax: 02 6214 1794
Email: aistours@ausport.gov.au
Web site: www.aisport.com.au/tours

Hours: Public tours leave at 10am, 11:30am, 1pm, and 2:30pm every day except Christmas Day
Guided tours: yes, at set times
Duration: 1½ hours
Bookings: groups only
Cost: Adult $13/ Child $7/ Family $36/Senior or Students $10

Cockington Green Gardens

Gold Creek Village, 11 Gold Creek Road
Nicholls ACT 2913
11.6 km's from the city centre
Tel: 1800 627 273 or 02 6230 2273
Fax: 02 6230 2490
Email: c_green@goldweb.com.au
Web site: www.cockington-green.com.au

Hours: daily 9.30am-4.15pm (closed Christmas & Boxing Day)
Guided tours: no
Duration: 1 hour
Bookings: groups only
Cost: $13.50 adult, $7 child (4-16yrs), $9.50 senior, $36.50 family (2 adults, 3 child), $4.00 extra child

National Dinosaur Museum

Corner of Gold Creek Road & Barton Highway
Nicholls ACT 2912
11.4 km;s from the city centre
Tel: 1800 356 000 or 02 6230 2655
Fax: 02 6230 2357
Mobile: 0412 018 426
Email: natdinom@interact.com.au
Web site: www.nationaldinosaurmuseum.com.au

Hours: daily 10am-5pm (9am in NSW and ACT school holidays), closed Christmas Day
Guided tours: yes
Duration: 75 mins-1 hour 45 mins
Bookings: groups only
Cost: $9.50 adult, $7.50 con, $6.50 child (4-16 years), $6.50 senior, $30 family (2 adults, 2 children OR 1 adult, 3 children) extra child (w/Family) $2.50 ea

Old Parliament House

King George Terrace
Parkes ACT 2600
3 km's from the city centre
Tel: 02 6270 8222
Fax: 02 6270 8107
Email: oph.info@dcita.gov.au
Web site: www.oldparliamenthouse.gov.au

Hours: Open daily 9am-5pm (closed Christmas Day)
Guided tours: yes. Tour times - 9:30am, 10:15am, 11:00am, 11:45am, 12:45pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:15pm.
Duration: minimum 1 hour
Bookings: Groups only including schools - call 02 6270 8282
Cost: $2 adult, $1 child/concession, $5 family

National Museum of Australia

Acton Peninsula
Acton ACT 2600
4.9 km's from the city centre
Tel: 02 6208 5000 or 1800 026 132
Fax: 02 6208 5148
Email: bookings@nma.gov.au
Web site: www.nma.gov.au

Hours: 9am-5pm daily (closed Christmas Day)
Bookings: Groups: 02 6208 5345
Cost: General admission is free. Fees apply to guided tours and special exhibitions.

Questacon

The national science and technology centre

King Edward Terrace
Parkes ACT 2600
2.6 km's from the city centre
Tel: 02 6270 2800, groups 02 6270 2893
Fax: 02 6270 2833
Email: info@questacon.edu.au
Web site: www.questacon.edu.au

Hours: Daily 9am-5pm (closed Christmas Day)
Guided tours: No
Duration: 2 hours minimum
Bookings: groups only
Cost: $14 adult, $8 child, $9.50 concession, $42 family (2 adults and up to 3 children). Extra child $4

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place
Parkes ACT 2600
2.6 km's from the city centre
Tel: 02 6262 1111
Fax: 02 6273 1703
Web site: www.nla.gov.au

Hours: Mon-Thurs 9am-9pm, Fri-Sun 9am-5pm (main reading room open 1.30pm-5pm Sun) (closed Easter Friday & Christmas Day). Bookplate Restaurant Open Mon-Thurs 8.30am-6pm, Fri 8.30am-4pm, Sat-Sun 11am-3pm
Guided tours: yes
Duration: as required
Bookings: groups only

National Capital Exhibition

Regatta Point, Commonwealth Park
Parkes ACT 2600
1.8 km's from the city centre
Tel: 02 6257 1068 (Exhibition and group bookings)
Fax: 02 6247 1875
Email: nce@natcap.gov.au
Web site: www.nationalcapital.gov.au

Hours: daily 9am-5pm (closed Christmas Day)
Guided tours: self-guiding, multi-lingual
Duration: 45 mins-1 hr
Bookings: groups only
Cost: Free

National Archives of Australia

Queen Victoria Terrace
Parkes ACT 2600
3.4 km's from the city centre
Tel: 02 6212 3600
Fax: 02 6212 3989
Email: archives@naa.gov.au
Web site: www.naa.gov.au

Hours: daily 9am-5pm (closed Christmas Day)
Guided tours: yes, for tours 02 6212 3691
Duration: 30 mins-2 hours
Bookings: Yes

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

Paddys River Road
Tidbinbilla ACT 2620

Tel: 02 6205 1233
Web site: www.environment.act.gov.au

Hours: Reserve: 9am - 8pm in summer (9am to 6pm Eastern Standard Time. Closed Christmas Day); Visitor Centre: Mon-Fri 9am - 4.30pm weekdays, 9am - 5.30pm weekends and public holidays.
Cost: Entry to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is free.

Canberra Railway Museum

Geijera Place, off Cunningham Street
Kingston ACT 2604
7.5 km's from the city centre
Tel: 02 6239 6707
Fax: 02 6284 2791
Email: tours@arhsact.org.au
Web site: www.arhsact.org.au

Hours: Sat, Sun & public hols 1pm-4pm (closed Christmas Day)
Guided tours: group bookings 02 6295 7909, special times available
Duration: 1½ hours
Bookings: 02 6284 2790
Cost: $5 adult, $3 child/con, $10 family

Every Australian state has yearly events that you don't want to miss and Canberra is no exception.

Floriade

Floriade, Australia's Celebration of Spring, is a 30-day floral extravaganza. The festival of flowers and fun is complemented by entertainment and events right throughout the nation's capital.

Visit: http://www.floriadeaustralia.com

Subaru Rally of Canberra

The Subaru Rally of Canberra is the most prestigious annual rally event in Eastern Australia and is staged as a round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). The APRC attracts a world class field of competitors and takes place throughout Asia and the Pacific - also visiting Japan, India, New Zealand, China, New Caledonia and Thailand.

Visit: http://www.roc.com.au

Summernats Car Festival

Australia's ultimate car show is really a festival to celebrate cars. It's about fun for all ages and includes show cars, driving competitions, bands and a stunt show.

Visit: http://www.summernats.com.au

Royal Canberra Show

The award winning Royal Canberra Show is the largest single all-ages event in Canberra featuring livestock, exhibits, fireworks and grand parades. There will be over 150 attractions, 5,000 animals, 450 trade displays and more than 15,000 competitors.

Visit: http://www.rncas.org.au

For a full comprehensive guide to all events in Canberra, please visit http://www.actco.org.au

Thanks to VisitCanberra and Discover Australia's Beauty for some images and information.