Canberra travel guide

Galleries, museums and golf in Australia's Federal Capital

Canberra, Australia's capital city, is home to museums, galleries, and an awfully large number of traffic circles. The city itself is carefully laid out in a radiating grid around the Federal Parliament Complex (itself an interesting destination) and Lake Burley Griffin. For those who like to explore on foot, Canberra has numerous green spaces, notably the Australian National Botanic Gardens, which sport an impressive collection of native flora. For 360-degree views over the central city (and, if you like, dinner), visitors are advised to head to the top of Telstra Tower. Sporting enthusiasts can enjoy a guided tour around the elite Australian Institute of Sport, and Canberra has two very central golf courses. A trip to Canberra brings you face to face with a number of important collections of Australian culture. The treasures of the Australian National Museum (noted for its aboriginal and colonial exhibitions), the National Portrait Gallery (with Australian subjects in a variety of mediums), and the National Gallery of Australia (housing collections of aboriginal, Australian, and Asian art) will easily account for several days. Although Canberra doesn't have the understated style of Melbourne or the flashy party vibe of Sydney, it is no less worth visiting.