Discover Canberra 2026

As a compromise between the rival cities of Sydney and Melbourne, American architect Walter Burley Griffin designed the city entirely from scratch in 1913, with a symmetrical layout around the artificial Lake Burley Griffin.

The moving memorial and museum honours fallen Australian soldiers from all wars with an impressive collection of artefacts, war art and the daily Last Post ceremony at sunset.

Opened in 1988, the modern Parliament House was largely built into a hill, so visitors can walk over the grassed roof directly above the politicians, while free guided tours through the chambers are offered inside.

The country's leading art gallery holds the world's largest collection of Aboriginal art as well as international masterpieces, set among sprawling sculpture gardens on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin.

Canberra Airport is served several times daily from Sydney and Melbourne with flight times of around 40 to 50 minutes, while the drive from Sydney takes about three hours.

As a compromise between the rival cities of Sydney and Melbourne, American architect Walter Burley Griffin designed the city entirely from scratch in 1913, with a symmetrical layout around the artificial Lake Burley Griffin.

The moving memorial and museum honours fallen Australian soldiers from all wars with an impressive collection of artefacts, war art and the daily Last Post ceremony at sunset.

Opened in 1988, the modern Parliament House was largely built into a hill, so visitors can walk over the grassed roof directly above the politicians, while free guided tours through the chambers are offered inside.