Capital Territory General Information Area: 2400 sq km (1511 sq miles). Population: 312,400 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 130 per sq km. Capital: Canberra (also national capital). Population: 309,900 (official estimate 1999). GEOGRAPHY: Canberra is located in the Australian Capital Territory on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range, and was conceived in the early 1900s in order to create a capital city in a federal State separate from any of the uniting States. Spectacular green countryside is ringed by mountains nearly 600m (2000ft) above sea level. Lake Burley-Griffin, an artificial lake, is the main feature of this constantly expanding modern capital. Hills, trees and greenery remain prominent among the architecture of a city that is attractive, tidy, spacious and efficient as befits the national capital city. Time: GMT + 10 (GMT + 11 from last Sunday in August to last Saturday in March). Public Holidays The Australian Capital Territory observes all the public holidays observed nationwide (see the main Australia section) and, in addition, the following are observed: Mar 10 2003 Canberra Day. Jun 9 Queen’s Birthday Celebrations. Aug 4 Bank Holiday. Oct 6 Labour Day. Mar 8 2004 Canberra Day. Jun 14 Queen’s Birthday Celebrations. Aug 2 Bank Holiday. Oct 4 Labour Day. Travel - International AIR: Airlines serving Canberra include Regional Express, Virgin Blue, Qantas and Kendell Airlines. British Airways, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines offer flights to Australia with connections through to Canberra. International airports: Canberra International Airport (CBR) (website: www.canberraairport.com.au) is not an international point of entry to Australia but is linked to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane by convenient connections. Overseas visitors can book through one of the carriers listed above, changing aircraft after arrival in Australia. The city centre is 8km (5 miles) from the airport. Transport into the city is available by bus, taxi or rental car (travel time – 15 minutes). RAIL: Through trains run from Canberra to Sydney and Melbourne, with connections to other States. Economy Aussiepass tickets apply on both local and interstate systems, but must be purchased before travelling to Australia.. For further information contact Countrylink (tel: (2) 9202 62457; fax: 9224 4411; website: www.countrylink.nsw.gov.au). Other discount tickets include the East Coast Discovery Pass, which permits six months’ one-way economy-class travel between main cities in the New South Wales area with unlimited stopovers. Prices depend on the route taken: see online (website:www.railpage.org.au) for more information. ROAD: Coach: Main road links, which are used by coach services, connect Canberra to Sydney (travel time – 4 hours 15 minutes) and to Melbourne (travel time – 7 hours 30 minutes), thereby allowing access to all other parts of the country. Aussiepass and Eaglepass tickets apply. Greyhound Pioneer (website: www.greyhound.com.au) , Murray’s and McCafferty’s (website: www.mccaffertys.com.au) operate regular daily services from Canberra to Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. URBAN: Bus: An internal bus network operates for the city of Canberra. Pre-purchase day tickets and ten-journey multi-tickets are available. There is a City Sightseeing Bus (double-decker) linking major attractions in the city that visitors can board or depart from at any point. Taxi: Radio-controlled, metered taxis are available at all hours. Accommodation For detailed information on accommodation in Canberra, contact the Canberra Accommodation Industry Association (tel: (2) 6339 9411; fax: (2) 6239 9499; website: www.canberraaccommodation.com.au) or Canberra Getaways (tel: (2) 6205 0444) or Canberra Tourism & Events Corporation (see Contact Addresses section). For further coverage of the range of accommodation available in Australia, see the Accommodation section in the general Australia section. HOTEL/MOTEL: There is a wide range of accommodation in Canberra which boasts some of the most luxurious hotels in Australia, including well-known international chains. For those on a budget there are many well-located motels at reasonable prices. BED & BREAKFAST: For more details, contact Canberra Tourism & Events Corporation (see Contact Addresses section). SELF-CATERING: A wide range of apartments are available, many of which are serviced. CAMPING/CARAVANNING: A number of companies can arrange motor camper rentals, with a range of fully equipped vehicles. Full details can be obtained from Canberrra Tourism & Events Corporation (see Contact Addresses section). Canberra Canberra is an elegant city of wide streets, gardens and parkland. The Old Parliament House is impressive and complemented by its replacement, a grand modern edifice completed in 1988, Australia’s bicentennial year. There are guided tours around Old Parliament House (home to the National Portrait Gallery) and the new Parliament House, where visitors can view both the Senate and House of Representatives. Parliament House also offers free guided tours daily where visitors can learn about the role and function of the Federal Parliament. The Australian War Memorial is deservedly one of the city’s most popular attractions, and is the scene of the annual ANZAC Parade; it contains archives, galleries displaying relics, photographs and art. Lake Burley Griffin, a vast manmade waterway named after Canberra’s architect, features prominently throughout the city area. Cruises and boating are popular. Blundell’s Cottage (built 1858-60), which predates the lake, is a stone-slab construction calling to mind the location’s earlier incarnation as a sheep station. The new, architecturally radical National Museum of Australia (located on the shores of the lake) displays a vast range of exhibits, chronicling Australian life from the first indigenous peoples through to modern times. It is a further cultural addition to the present National Gallery of Australia, National Library of Australia and National Science and Technology Centre (Questacon). The Australian Institute of Sport offers guided tours by elite athletes and the interactive Sportex Centre with facilities for virtual rowing and virtual golfing. Some of Australia’s deadliest and most colourful reptiles can be seen at Canberra’s Australian Reptile Centre. The centre is open daily and, apart from the permanent displays, features special exhibitions. The National Archives of Australia hold archive material and Commonwealth records from Federation Day to the present. The Archives also feature special exhibitions and are open daily. BEYOND CANBERRA: There are several hills in the immediate area of Canberra; from the 195m (650ft) Telstra Tower, topping the 825m high (2750ft) Black Mountain, there is an excellent view of the area for those who do not get dizzy in revolving restaurants (meal optional). Hot-air ballooning trips provide other ways of taking in the view. Glenloch Sheep Station, located in Belconnen on the outskirts of Canberra, is a popular tourist attraction. Activities include sheep shearing, boomerang throwing and sheep-dog demonstrations, rounded off with a traditional Australian barbecue lunch. The Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex, 40km (25 miles) southwest of Canberra, contains a collection of space models and memorabilia (including a sizeable piece of the moon) and interactive exhibits covering 40 years of space exploration. The Snowy Mountains are to the south of Canberra, in New South Wales, and provide excellent opportunities for winter skiing and summertime pursuits such as bushwalking, horseriding and watersports. Organised trips from Canberra are available; for details, contact the Canberra Tourism & Events Corporation (see Contact Addresses section). National Parks & Nature Reserves Approximately half of Capital Territory consists of nature reserves and national parks. Just 40km (25 miles) southwest of the capital, the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in Tharwa, near the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex, features a wealth of Australian fauna and wildlife in a natural bush setting. The park is open daily and a number of bushwalking trails are provided where visitors can observe kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, platypus, bush birds and water birds in their natural habitat; visitors are able to watch native birds being fed. Further south is the Namadgi National Park, which is part of the Snowy Mountains and offers spectacular views and walking tracks. The park contains a number of prehistoric sites with Aboriginal rock paintings as well as a variety of rare sub-alpine species of flora and fauna. The Jerrabomberra Wetlands, a well-known bird and wildlife sanctuary, are situated on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin. During drought in inland Australia, the wetlands, one of the most important bird habitats in the region, become a refuge for large numbers of water birds from surrounding areas. The Murrumbidgee River flows from the mountains in the south through the ACT; the Murrumbidgee River Corridor is a designated park area, popular for picnicking, walking and horseriding. For further information contact the ACT helpline (tel: (02) 6207 9777; website: www.environment.act.gov.au) or Environment Australia, GPO Box 787, Canberra, ACT 2601 (tel: (2) 6274 1111; fax: (2) 6274 1666; website: www.ea.gov.au). Sport & Activities Outdoor activities: The parks and nature reserves offer excellent facilities for bushwalking, fishing and rock climbing; the trails provided allow visitors to observe native animals and plants. A number of companies organise whitewater rafting trips (from one to four days) to the Upper Murray, Murrumbidgee, Goodradigbee and Cottor rivers. Skiing and cross-country skiing are possible during winter in the mountainous regions, particularly in the Snowy Mountains in the neighbouring State of New South Wales; trips from Canberra can be arranged. Golf: Canberra has ten golf courses open to visitors. The Royal Canberra Golf Club, located on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, is ranked amongst the top 10 courses in Australia; visitors wishing to play must be guests of members or members of recognised golf clubs with a current handicap and a letter of introduction; booking is essential. The Federal Golf Club features views to the Brindabella mountain ranges. The 41-year-old Yowani Country Club has a tree-lined course with extensive fairways and greens. The Gold Creek Country Club, Canberra’s most popular course, designed by Bruce Devlin, hosts international championships and is Canberra’s most popular public course. Gungahlin Lakes course is in a beautiful setting. The Murrumbidgee Golf Club offers a par 72 championship course in a country setting. The Woodhaven Green Golf Course, a 27-hole public course, has been established for 20 years. Special interest holidays: There are over 20 cool-climate wineries located within ten-40 minutes’ drive of the capital. In Canberra, special balloon trips are available to visitors wishing to see the city by air; spectacular displays of balloons can also be seen at the Balloon Fiesta held during the annual Canberra Balloon Fiesta (8-17 March 2003). Guided tours to working sheep properties, with demonstrations of sheep-mustering, sheep-shearing and even boomerang-throwing, are also available. For details, contact the Canberra Tourism & Events Corporation (see Contact Addresses section). Social Profile Food & Drink: Restaurants and hotels serve trout from the streams and lakes of the Snowy Mountains. Beef and lamb come from the farmlands surrounding Canberra. The variety of cuisine available in Canberra is impressive, with over 300 restaurants offering food from all corners of the world, from Austria to Zanzibar. Nightlife: Despite the daytime orderliness, nightlife is actively promoted by the large range of pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. There are many film shows and a boutique casino. Shopping: A wide range of goods, including Australian arts and crafts, is available from department stores and specialist shops. Galleries and museums are often open outside normal trading hours. Shopping hours: Opening hours for most stores in the city are 0900-1730 Mon-Wed and Fri, 0900-2100 Thurs, 0900-1700 Sat. Special Events: For further details of special events taking place in Canberra in 2003, contact Canberra Tourism & Events Corporation (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of events and festivals taking place in the Australian Capital Territory: Jan 2-5 Summernats Car Festival. Jan 5-11 Canberra Women’s Classic (tennis tournament). Feb 7-16 National Multicultural Festival. Feb 14-15 International Hockey in the ACT. Feb 21-23 Self-Transcendence Triathlon Festival. Feb 28-Mar 2 Royal Canberra Show. Mar 8 Taste (celebrating food, wine and the arts). Mar 15-23 Canberra Balloon Fiesta. Apr 12-13 New Balance Canberra Marathon. Apr 17-21 National Folk Festival. Apr 25 Anzac Day. Apr 25-May 4 Canberra International Chamber Music Festival. May 2-4 Subaru Rally of Canberra. Jun 28-29 National Capital Dancesport Championships. July 6-13 Kanga Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament. Aug 16-24 Australian Science Festival. Sept 13-Oct 12 Floriade Australia’s Celebration of Spring. Oct 15, 19, 21 and 25 Rugby World Cup 2003. Oct 31-Nov 9 Australian Masters Games. Business Profile Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: ACT & Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 12A Thesiger Court, Deakin, Canberra, ACT 2600 (tel: (2) 6283 5200; fax: (2) 6282 5045; e-mail: chamber@actchamber.com.au; website: www.actchamber.com.au). Conferences/Conventions: The National Convention Centre in Canberra has seating facilities for 2500. Other major convention centres include Australian Institute of Sport, Rydges Capital Hill and Parkroyal Canberra. For more information on conferences and conventions in Australian Capital Territory, contact the Canberra Convention Bureau Inc, Suite 405, Level 4, Optus Centre, 10 Moore Street, Canberra, ACT 2600. Tel: ((2) 6247 500; fax: (2) 6247 8155; e-mail: enquiry@canberraconvention.com.au; website: www.canberraconvention.com.au). Climate Warm during the summer months with cool, crisp and clear winters. Rainfall occurs throughout the year. Canberra averages more hours of sunshine per year than any other capital city in Australia. Required clothing: Lightweights during summer months with warmer mediumweight clothes necessary in winter. Waterproofing advisable throughout the year, especially in winter. A top coat is necessary during winter months. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.