Canberra is a fascinating 20th-century creation that has struggled to establish itself as the focus of Australia's national history, pride and identity. Canberra has long been perceived as the 'fat cat' of Australian cities, a town of politicians and bureaucrats living off the hard work of their country folk. Step outside the Parliamentary Triangle and you'll soon find it isn't true - most of the politicians go home every weekend, and a great many of the bureaucrats have lost their jobs in years of public service cutbacks. Canberra has grown from a Federation baby into an adult city with all the problems and delights that being a grown-up brings.

Many Australians knock Canberra for being a city without soul, but anyone who's bothered to spend a bit of time here is bound to have a soft spot for the place. Carefully planned, Canberra's suburbs are separated by swathes of native bush land, while its main tourist attractions - the National Gallery, Parliament House and other inhabitants of the Parliamentary Triangle - are set around a pleasant artificial lake encircled by bike tracks. If you're enamored of the bush and lungful of fresh air, but don't want to be too far from a decent café latté, you'll be in heaven in the national capital. Canberra is also a great base for visiting the nearby delights of the Snowy Mountains and the New South Wales south coast.

Local Travel Agent(s):
	Aussie Global Travel
	Address: 3 Hodel Place, Fadden, Canberra 2904 Australia Phone: +61 2 6291 9211, Fax : +61 2 6291 0230