Canberra Attractions

I plan to provide a page dedicated to each of the sites I mention here, with photos.  However it is likely to take me some time to do.

Canberra has many national monuments and establishments that are exceptionally good.  This include the Australian War Memorial which is every year Australia's most popular tourist destination. The AWM does not seek to glorify war but to try to invoke in visitors some sense of what it is actually like to be a soldier, sailor or airman in a battle. 

The Memorial has many artifacts on display and provides a context for them; boats riddled with bullet holes from the Gallipoli of WWI,  Individual soldier's gear, from both sides of the action, destroyed weapons and complete aircraft.

A visit to the AWM should probably take place over 2 days because there is a lot to see and to take in.  The Memorial also houses a research facility and there are two cafes, one inside and one outside. The latter provides excellent views toward the old and new parliament houses down ANZAC Parade.

Another major attraction of Canberra is the National Museum of Australia.  The NMA occupies a site on the shore of Lake Burleigh Griffin.  It hosts many artifacts from Australia's history, and with regard to the history of our aboriginal people.  The NMA does not have the "power" of the AWM but it is most definitely worth a visit.

The National Arboretum Canberra is a spectacular site and should be on everyone's "must see" list, like the AWM.  Unlike most arboretums the Canberra Arboretum consist of forests of trees, rather than just one or a few trees of each species.  The Arboretum also has a fairly spectacular building, the "Village Centre", which houses a cafe, a restaurant, a book shop and a large floor area with tables and chairs for diners.  The view over Canberra is quite spectacular because the building has very tall roof to floor windows and the Village Centre is high up on a ridge.

National Arboretum Entrance.

(Click to enlarge)

Regular walking tours through the forests are available (no cost) and the Arboretum also hosts a number of events each year, usually performances by singers and musicians.  There is a grassy amphitheatre for bigger performances.  Access to the Arboretum is by bus and private car and there is plenty of parking available.

One of the more spectacular places to stay in Canberra is the National Zoo and Aquarium, at Jamala Lodge.  The Lodge consists of a number of styles, all very luxurious, where you can stay and where the zoo animals can dine or bath with you, just on the other side of a glass wall.  You can book to meet a Cheetah as part of your stay at Jamala Lodge.  Or a White Lion, a Giraffe, a Red Panda, an Otter, a Tiger, a Tree Kangaroo, Sun Bear or a Red Panda.  There are a few other creatures you can meet as well.

Introduction

This blog is intended as an information resource for tourists who may be thinking of coming to Canberra or for tourists who have never thought of coming to Canberra because they never heard of it.  The blog will include information from the Canberra area, the Snowy Mountains, the Brindabellas and surrounding towns and villages.

Canberra is the capital city of Australia and is located in the Australian Capital Territory.  It hosts the Australian parliament and has its own local government.  The city has a population of approximately 357,220 people in August 2011.  Most of the area of the ACT is within the Namadgi National Park.  The park is home to kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats and many other Australian animal species.  it is only a short drive south from Canberra.

The city of Canberra is a modern, designed, community which many tourists seem to find somewhat difficult to deal with.  However once it is realised that the city is designed around the idea of different town centres it becomes easier to understand.

Canberra's original town centre is Civic, which is the biggest of the town centres and where most of Canberra's businesses are located.  After Civic came Phillip (usually called Woden by locals because it resides in the Woden Valley).  Phillip is home to Canberra's tallest building.

Belconnen town centre followed Phillip, it is to the north and west of Civic.  Tuggeranong town centre to the south followed and finally Gungahlin north of Civic.

All the town centres  house retail, government, commercial, accommodation, sporting and restaurant/club facilities.  Between the town centres are the urban forests with walking and cycling trails.  All of Canberra is connected by cycling tracks which are great for tourists but less useful for bicycle commuters, because they are designed for scenic advantage rather than short, safe, commutes to work.