Popular tour packages in Canberra- There are a quite a number of Canberra tourism packages.
There are a number of ways to get around on all the attractions in the city and in its surroundings. Some of the popular tour packages are Murray's Canberra Day Tours or the City Sightseeing Canberra Tour bus. The latter also run a shuttle service that will takes tourists to the Lake Burley Griffin for an hour's cruise. Another option is to take the Southern Cross Cruise where you can leisurely enjoy lunch or dinner on board or else you can hire your own boat.
Lastly, those who love to try something different, the wine tours, bush tours or Canberra's Top Secret Tour are some of the options. Canberra's Top Secret Tour helps one to discover revealing facts about the city's secret service.
Sightseeing in Canberra -There is absolutely no dearth of sightseeing places in Canberra. It's a good idea to take a tour of the city of Canberra and avail one of the Canberra tourism packages. The popular tourist destinations in Canberra are as follows-
- Big Splash Waterpark- Dickson Aquatic Centre
- National Dinosaur Museum
- Cockington Green
- Canberra Bicycle Museum
- Kambah Pool
- Captain Cook Memorial Globe
One can hardly get bored in Canberra as there are lots of things to see and do in Canberra. So pack your bags and have a great time in Canberra.
History of Canberra
The History of Canberra goes a long way back, though its original name was not Canberra. For more than 21,000 years, this region was home to the Ngunnawal Aboriginal people, who regularly visited the area for corroborees and feasts. However, European settlement that began in the 1820's changed the History of Canberra to a very great extent.
The History of Canberra can be traced back to the time when Australia was made a federation, and there was a conflict between Sydney and Melbourne to become the capital of the new federation. After a widespread exploration, the present site, about 300 kilometers south-west of Sydney on the slopes of the Australian Alps, was selected in 1908 as a consequence of a survey undertaken by Government Surveyor Charles Scrivener.
The development of this federal city is also an important aspect of the History of Canberra. An international competition for a city plan was launched, which drew over 137 entries, and the first prize went to American landscape architect Walter Burley Griffin from Chicago. Griffin's plan included a central artificial lake and a 'parliamentary triangle' in which the most significant national buildings were to be positioned. The nearby suburban areas were to have a geometric pattern, which would easily fit into the general topography of the area.
The Federal Capital Advisory Committee guided the construction of Canberra, which progressed slowly. The years of the Depression, World War II and post-war shortages however caused delays in the pattern of development. Gradually however Canberra rose above its scruples and went on to become one of the most successful and advanced capital cities of the world.Canberra Popular Destinations
Canberra, the capital city of Australia, is one of the most attractive places to visit down under. The place might not be as busy as Sydney or as bustling as Melbourne, but the serenity of the city is incomparable which makes it one of the favored destinations among the tourists. Canberra is located in the Southern tablelands of New South Wales. The city is situated at a distance of 660 km from Melbourne & 280 km from Sydney.
The city is not the typical representative of the busy cities of the world making it pollution less place and a more comfortable one to tour. The city has loads in store for the visitors to enjoy. The Canberra popular destinations list is a never ending one which allures thousands to visit the place. The city is home to some lovely surroundings punctuated by greenery all around along with parks, hills and bush lands. As a matter of fact the city is fondly called as the 'green city'. The city is a planned one making it more beautiful. American architect Walter Burley Griffin has the credit of planning Canberra into a modern and elegant city.
Canberra Parks & Gardens
The parks and gardens in Canberra, Australia, add to the picturesque charm of Australia's capital city. These are some of the perennial favorites among Canberra parks and gardens:
Commonwealth Park, Canberra
This park on the north side of Lake Burley Griffin contains many works of art. It also hosts the annual spring Floriade festival. View the water features, walking trails, sculptures and the outdoor stage, where you often get to listen to concerts.
Corrobree Park, Canberra
The locale of this park is considered to be linked with the earliest settlers. Built according to the design of Sir John Sulman, architect and town planner, the park has become a community center for the garden city in Canberra owing to its tennis courts and informal, free design.
Cotter Reserve, Canberra
This beautiful reserve formed by the Cotter Dam has barbecue facilities and tables which makes it the perfect place for a barbecue or a quiet picnic. The abundant plane trees and golden poplars along the Cotter River create a magnificent fall in autumn.
Ataturk Memorial garden, Canberra
This memorial garden around the Kemal Ataturk Memorial on Anzac Parade was built to honor the fallen Turkish and ANZAC soldiers of World War I. View the crescent form of the wall which reflects the Turkish flag, a bronze bust of Ataturk donated by the Turkish government and the time capsule holding soils from the battles of Gallipolli.
Canberrra Nature Park, Canberra
This nature park encloses the inner hills of Canberra and provides a scenic setting for Canberra City. Motorcycles are prohibited, so as you stroll in the parks, you get glimpses of numerous kangaroos or other forms of Australian wildlife.
Canberra parks and gardens will add that spring to your steps after a hectic tour of Australia's beautiful capital, Canberra City!
Canberra Festivals & Events
Canberra has a calendar dotted with many events and festivals held round the year. There are many such events which are held round the year. Following are the important events in Canberra:
Celebrate Canberra: The event takes place in the month of March and celebrates the founding of Canberra the city. The event culminates on the Canberra Day and there are many programs held like musical programs and theatre, dance.
Canberra District Wine Harvest Festival: The Canberra District Wine Harvest Festival is a very important festival and it gives the visitors ample opportunity to taste the wine collected from all over the world. The tourists get to taste the wine in the green environments of Canberra.
Lynehum Sports Events: Lynehum Sports events are held to encourage the promotion of the club-Lynehum Sport and Recreation Precinct as a sporting hub. Thus many events and sports are played here.
National Folk Festival: The National Folk Festival is held every Easter when the entire Canberra is adorned and decorated with the colors of autumn. All people from Australia come to be a part of the event and participate in the songs and dances of Australia. There are many events held throughout the festival and all are welcome.
Anzac Day Canberra: The day is very popular in the Australian calendar as it stands to commemorate those fallen heroes who had given up their lives in lieu of the First World War and marks the anniversary of the military action -first ever to be fought by the Australian and New Zealand forces. It is usually celebrated on 25th April.
Kanga Youth Cup International Event: This tournament is usually held as the annual youth soccer tournament in Canberra and is regarded as a very prestigious event. Players from all over the world come and participate in the event and is marked as a cultural festival of soccer.
Australian Science Festival: This festival again is very important and is responsible for providing science and innovation to the society and is actually a non profit organization supporting the National science week. It is actually a celebration of science like hosting workshops and drama recitals and debates.
Floriade Canberra: This is a beautiful event held in Canberra's Commonwealth Park and attracts tourists to come and see the event held as attribute to the world of flowers. It is a Flower festival held in spring.
Oktoberfest Canberra: The festival is very old having begun in the year 1810 in Munich but is celebrated in Canberra on a smaller scale and tourists come and experience some authentic German food and watch German dancers.
Tuggeranong Festival: This festival is a unique occasion specially organized to celebrate the community spirit of the Tuggeranong and most obviously people of the place come together to celebrate.
Summernats Car Festival: This festival is a tribute to all cars and is held in Canberra. Many cars are on display and other events like music shows and dance shows are also held in Canberra where the program is hosted.
National Multicultural Festival: This event is held to celebrate the multi diverse culture in Canberra and goes on to host a wide variety of programs. People from all over the world and Australia comes together to celebrate.
Rally of Canberra: This event is held as a two day event and takes place all over Canberra's closed roads in and around the forests. The event is a great favorite with all rally supporters.What Where to Eat
Canberra, the capital of Australia has a fantastic dining scene, which will surely amaze you. The numerous restaurants and cafes found here simply answer your question of what/where to eat in Canberra.
Canberra is filled with a large number of expensive as well as cheap restaurants where you can dine and enjoy good and delicious food. You can find a large number of restaurants serving Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Indian and other world cuisines. The eating-houses offer an elegant and comfortable setting where you can experience fine dining. The food is extremely delicious and the services rendered are simply fantastic.
If you are interested in going for Italian food then you can pay a visit to the La Piazza Café. Here you can try out the sumptuous pizzas, pastas as well as the chicken preparations. You can go for the banquets or enjoy the pasta nights on Mondays and Tuesdays. If this does not satisfy your palate for European food, then you can try out the delicacies in the French restaurants, like the Aubergine Restaurant. This restaurant serves modern European and Mediterranean cuisine. Here you can try out the milk-braised Berkshire pork or go for the sour orange soufflé for dessert. These restaurants also serve authentic French wine, which is worth trying out.
You can also find a number of restaurants serving Japanese, Chinese and Indian food. You can try out the Tandoori preparations or go for the delicious kebabs and butter chicken in the Indian restaurants like the Flavors of India Restaurant. One can also pay a visit to the Chinese restaurants like the Asian Café and savor the Chinese and Malaysian delicacies like noodles and the laksa. You can also go for the different varieties of sushi and the sashimi's in the Japanese restaurants like the Shogun Japanese Restaurant. Besides this, you can also go for the steak, barbecues and the roasts in the American restaurants like the Quatro Café.
What and where to eat in Canberra is not at all a problem. With so many different types of restaurants offering different cuisines of the world, you will surely be spoilt for choice.Hotels in Canberra
