Cheap flights to Canberra from £556

Canberra is a fitting name for the nation’s capital, as Canberra is derived from the Aboriginal word “Kamberra” meaning “meeting place”- and Canberra sure it that. Each year, millions of people travel to Canberra to experience its vibrant, cosmopolitan nature paired with national, historical and cultural attractions. This city has show-stopping monuments such as the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia and the beautifully laid out garden city.

The Bush Capital has, within its city limits, Black Mountain, Red Hill, Mount Ainslie, Majura, Taylor and Pleasant – all wonderful places to roam around. Within a 45-minute drive of Canberra is Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve where native animals, including kangaroos and emus, roam free.

Canberra climate

The summers are hot and dry with temperatures up to 27 C (80 F). Winters are cold with occasional fog and frost and temperatures that range between 1 and 12 C (30 and 50 F).

Getting around Canberra

Car-hire companies and taxi services are available at the airport. The Airport Express Bus runs multiple times daily.

Most of the tourist attractions are clustered around the lake – the “Parliamentary Triangle” and are easy walking distance of each other. There’s also a fantastic network of walking paths and trails.

Biking around Canberra is a great way to experience the city. There’s a good network of shared paths and on-road cycling lanes.

ACTION operates Canberra’s buses and the buses run daily.

Taxis and rental cars are readily available.

The Canberra City Explorer runs daily, servicing multiple stops within the city. Enjoy this 90 minute tour with commentary or hop on and off to explore the city on your own schedule.

What is good to know if travelling to Canberra?

• Canberrians enjoy several festivals during the year including Summernats Car Festival (January), Canberra Multicultural Festival (February), the National Folk Festival (Easter), Stonefest (October) at the University of Canberra, a popular music festival. 
• The National Carillon stands on Aspen Island in Lake Burley Griffin. It was a gift from the British Government on the 50th anniversary of the National Capital. Its 53 bells chime every 15 minutes. 
• The Australian War Memorial is one of the most-visited museums in Australia. It’s not only a memorial to those who died in past wars, but also shines a light on soldiers today.
• Floriade is held in September and October each year. It is Australia’s largest spring floral festival and takes a different theme each year. More than one million bulbs are used in the displays.
• To get an overview of Canberra in all its glory, visit Black Mountain Tower or Mount Ainslie. The Black Mountain Tower stands 195 metres (640 feet) above the summit of Black Mountain, from where there are 360-degree views of the city and its surrounds. Mount Ainslie in Canberra Nature Park has a lookout area at 842 metres (2,762 feet) above sea level. The views from there are pretty majestic.