Australian Capital Territory (A.C.T.)

Overview
Canberra really is the bush capital - kangaroo-dotted nature reserves are scattered throughout the city and the Brindabella mountain range bounds the south-western edge... Canberra, and its surrounding suburbs are in the northeast of the territory and surrounded by the artificial Lake Burley Griffin; the parliament and other government buildings are located to the south of the lake, and in the north is Civic, where visitors will find the university, the main shopping and business district and most of the nightlife, which, contrary to reputation, is fairly lively. The Namadgi National Park occupies the whole southwestern area of the Territory.

As the national capital, Canberra claims some of the nation's most significant institutions, including a magnificent art gallery and one of the best war museums in the world. Grand public buildings and monuments complement the order and beauty of the city's original design, and the landmark flagpole of Parliament House can be seen from many parts of the city.

Many visitors are attrcted by Canberra's national collections or the experience of federal politics, but Canberra has much more to offer. As well as superb parklands and thousands of hectares of natural bushland to explore, the capital boasts cool-climate wineries, top-class restaurants, attractions for children and a full calender of cultural and sporting events. Its creation solved the debate between Sydney and Melbourne over which city should be Australia's capital, and Canberra became one of the few completely planned cities in the world.

Life in Canberra moves at a comfortable pace. The city offers all the cultural facilities and public institutions of larger cities without the traffic congestion and pollution. It is an easy city to get around and residents make the most of its many recreational opportunities. With the snow and the sea both only two hours away, the locals have the best of both worlds.

Capital Territory Climate
The Capital Territory has four separate seasons (caused by its altitude and its distance from the coast), in comparison to the climate of many Australian cities whose weather is moderated by the sea. Canberra averages more hours of sunshine per year than any other capital city in the country, making it a perfect spot for travel in Australia, and it tends to have hot, dry summers and cold winters with frosts and heavy fog. Rain occurs throughout the year, particularly on the mountains, as well as strong winds and many of the mountains in the southeast of the territory are covered in snow for a part of the winter.