OUR DESTINATIONS
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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- Australasia
- Australia
- Capital Territory
- Canberra
Canberra
Australia's capital city, Canberra, had a difficult birth,
punctuated by political infighting, wars and the Great Depression,
but it is now a thriving modern city which, together with its
surrounds, makes up Australia's Capital Territory. Canberra lies 95
miles (150km) in from the East Coast, by road 175 miles (280km)
from Sydney and 415 miles (660km) from Melbourne.
Like most capitals of the world, Canberra boasts an
architectural heritage in its civic and Government buildings, but
Canberra is also blessed with some of the loveliest surroundings of
any national capital. There are more than 30 Australian artistic
and cultural institutions located in Canberra, ranging from the
Australian War Memorial to Parliament House, surmounted by a
colossal stainless-steel flagpole and set in 23 hectares of
gardens. In the centre of Lake Burley Griffin, the impressive
Captain Cook Memorial Jet shoots a six-ton column of water 482 feet
(147m) into the air, while on the shore the National Gallery of
Australia houses the country's premier public art collection
spanning about 5,000 years of international art.
Canberra is also known for its spring festival, Floriade, when
the parks and gardens surrounding Lake Burley Griffin explode with
colourful displays of massed tulips and other blooms. The city,
with its many parklands, is especially beautiful in spring and
autumn.
Information & Facts
Climate
On average Canberra has seven hours of sunshine a day all year
round, which, together with a low rainfall average, makes this a
fine holiday destination. Summer weather in Canberra is generally
hot and dry with mild easterly and north-westerly winds prevailing.
Nights become cooler when autumn sets in, and winter is
characterised by the arrival of numerous cold fronts. Temperatures
may be lower in winter, but the sun still shines most of the time.
October is on average the wettest month, though rainfall is
minimal.
Getting Around
Public transport is limited to buses and because Canberra is
spread out, with meagre weekend services and no transport after
about 10pm, visitors are best off with a car. There is plenty of
parking at the tourist sites and the road system is excellent and
uncongested; to hire a car drivers must be 21 years of age and hold
a valid driver's license, sometimes in conjunction with an
international driver's permit. The Action bus company routes cover
most tourist attractions from four town centre bus interchanges:
City, Woden, Tuggeranong and Belconnen. A day bus pass is available
from bus drivers or the tourist information centre. Cycling is also
a popular means of transport in Canberra and there is an extensive
network of bicycle paths around the city. Taxi ranks are available
in most major areas of the city.
Language
English is the official language of Australia.
Money
The Australian Dollar (AUD) is divided into 100 cents. Banks and
bureaux de change exchange most foreign currencies. Travellers
cheques are also welcome everywhere, but banks take a small
commission and it is better to take cheques in major currencies
(e.g. US dollars or Euros) to avoid additional charges. Credit
cards are widely accepted and ATMs are freely available throughout
the country. Banking hours are generally 9.30am to 4pm Monday to
Thursday, and 9.30am to 5pm on Friday, but some banks offer
extended hours and some are open on Saturday mornings.