Quick Answers
Why was Canberra built?
As a purpose-built capital, designed by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin after a 1911 competition.
What should I see in Canberra?
The National Gallery of Australia, the Australian War Memorial and Parliament House, which offers free tours.
Are Canberra’s attractions free?
Most of the national institutions are free to enter.
“Canberra asks you to look beyond the first impression — and rewards those who do with one of Australia’s most rewarding cities.”
Australia’s Capital — A City Built With Vision and Growing Into Greatness
Canberra was purpose-built as Australia’s capital, a planned city designed by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin after a competition in 1911. Situated in the Australian Capital Territory between Sydney and Melbourne, it is a city of wide boulevards, lakeside parks and world-class cultural institutions, set against the backdrop of the Brindabella Ranges. What it lacks in Sydney’s harbour or Melbourne’s laneways, it more than compensates for with substance, intelligence and a quality of life that consistently ranks among Australia’s best.
National Museums, Galleries and Institutions
Canberra is home to Australia’s finest national cultural institutions, and most of them are free to enter. The National Gallery of Australia holds the country’s greatest art collection, including works by Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd and Indigenous artists from across the continent, as well as international masterpieces. The National Museum of Australia tells the story of the continent and its people with great care and creativity. The Australian War Memorial is one of the world’s most moving and important war memorials, a place of quiet reflection and profound respect. Parliament House, completed in 1988, welcomes visitors for free tours and sits atop Capital Hill with views that reach to the mountains.
Lake Burley Griffin and the Natural Setting
The artificial Lake Burley Griffin lies at the heart of Canberra’s design, and today it is a place of recreation, community events and great natural beauty. Cyclists, joggers and kayakers share the 35-kilometre loop around its shores, while the iconic Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet shoots a plume of water 147 metres into the air. The Floriade festival each spring transforms the lakeside into a carpet of colour with over a million blooms, one of Australia’s most beloved annual events.
Getting to Canberra
Canberra Airport offers direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other capitals. By road, Canberra is approximately 3 hours from Sydney and 6.5 hours from Melbourne via the Hume Highway. Spring and autumn are the finest seasons, autumn in particular brings a spectacular show of colour as Canberra’s many planted elms and oaks turn gold and crimson. Winter is cold but beautiful, with occasional snowfall on the surrounding ranges.
A Hot Getaways destination. Where Care is Our Compass.
Travel Kindly
At Hot Getaways, care is our compass — and a little kindness makes every journey better. When you visit Australia, we gently ask you to:
- Care for the land and sea — tread lightly, take your rubbish with you, and help keep Australia’s wild places pristine.
- Respect the wildlife — admire our unique animals from a distance, never feed them, and give them room to be wild.
- Support local — choosing local operators, cafés and guides helps this beautiful place thrive.
- Honour Country — we travel on the traditional lands and sea Country of Australia’s First Peoples, with gratitude and respect to the Traditional Custodians past and present.
- Be kind to each other — a smile, a little patience and a helping hand make the day lovelier for everyone.
Small acts of care add up to something wonderful. Thank you for travelling kindly.
