Why do people go to canberra

Nearly all the museums have free admission. However, another place I particularly enjoyed was the Australian Institute of Sport.

It celebrates anything and everything with exciting festivals and events throughout the year. In September the city hosts Floriade, the prettiest introduction to spring there is. The festival takes over Commonwealth Park with tens of thousands of flowers in full bloom. March is also a busy month in Canberra's event calendar. At this time every year, the skies around the city and surrounding countryside fill with colour for the annual Canberra Balloon Spectacular. Held over nine days, it's considered one of the biggest and best hot air ballooning events in the world.

Expect blockbuster exhibitions, live music, stand-up comedy, thrilling behind-the-scenes tours, pop-up food stalls and more. In spring, the park is the venue for the famous Floriade festival, a celebration of spring, when more than a million flowers are in bloom. The cubic concrete structure was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in October and consists of 11 main galleries on three levels, as well as a large Sculpture Garden laid out according to the four seasons and a Fern Garden.

The purchase of the extensive collection began in and includes works from Australia, Asia, Europe, America, and the Pacific, as well as the largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in the world.

Among the museum's collection is Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles , purchased in and now one of the gallery's most famous paintings.

Mediums range from oil paintings and watercolors, to sculpture, decorative art, drawings, book illustrations, sketchbooks, photographs, films, ceramics, costumes, and textiles. Locals and tourists alike will also enjoy the many special exhibitions.

After exploring the gallery, you can visit the adjoining High Court of Australia , with graceful fountains, Carrara marble-paved floors, and murals.

Traveling with kids? Questacon is one of the top Canberra attractions for families. Between the High Court and the National Library on Lake Burley Griffin, it's an interactive National Science and Technology Centre with all kinds of hands-on science displays and do-it-yourself experiments designed to delight and inspire.

The exhibits seek to promote understanding of the importance of science and technology in everyday life. Science shows, special events, and guest lectures complement the hands-on exhibits. In the Technology Learning Centre, budding innovators can participate in workshops and build and play with technology.

No wonder this is one of the top things to do in Canberra for families. Near the High Court of Australia and the National Gallery , the National Portrait Gallery of Australia displays some portraits of the nation's most influential people.

You can easily spend an hour or two coming face to face with Australia's movers and shakers, brought to life through paintings, photography, and sculpture. Multimedia presentations divulge fascinating details about the lives of the people who helped shape the nation, and special exhibitions provide new things to see.

National Library of Australia. Opened in , the National Library of Australia is a treasure trove of Australian books, manuscripts, newspapers, historic documents, oral history, music, and pictures. Its most valuable possessions are Captain Cook's journal and Wills' diary of his expedition with Burke in Architecturally, the building is a dramatic contrast from the National Gallery and High Court.

Built in the style of a Greek temple, its classical effect is underscored by the lavish use of marble and travertine on the columns and walls. Marble from Greece, Italy, and Australia was also used in the decoration of the interior. In the foyer are superb stained-glass windows by Leonard French and three Aubusson tapestries woven from Australian wool. On the lower floor, the Treasures Gallery displays highlights from the library's collection, and the Exhibitions Gallery hosts special visiting displays, which often require advance booking.

To really appreciate the layout of this carefully planned capital, head to the lookout of meter Mount Ainslie. It's one of the city's most popular vantage points. Along the way, you can pause at the commemorative plaques to learn about historic Australian battles, and you might even see some kangaroos, as well as an array of beautiful birds. It's also possible to drive up to the lookout. On breezy days, be sure to bring a jacket. Other popular lookout points include Red Hill , to the south of here, and Black Hill , to the west.

About a kilometer west of the city center, the hectare National Botanic Gardens are a must-visit for green thumbs. Spread across the slopes of Black Mountain, these carefully tended collections display a range of different habitats and present all the important species of Australian flora. Kids will also love to run wild here. The Rain Forest Gully is particularly impressive. Look for water dragons among the lush foliage.

Other highlights include the Red Centre garden, with deep red earth and a spinifex grassland, as well as the Children's Discovery Walk. The gardens are also a haven for birds and butterflies.

From the gardens, you can access Black Mountain Nature Park and hike to the summit for glorious city views. Wondering about other Canberra gardens to visit? You'll also enjoy exploring the National Arboretum Canberra , about a six-minute drive away. This hectare nature area encompasses forests of rare native and exotic trees, the National Bonsai and Penjing collection, a Gallery of Gardens, picnic areas with panoramic viewpoints, and a fantastic children's playground.

If you're looking for cheap things to do in Canberra, this is an excellent option. Entry to the gardens is free, but you'll pay a small fee to park at the on-site parking lot. Australia's only combined zoo and aquarium, this privately owned venture is a hit with families and anyone who loves animals. It's only five minutes from the city center. The National Aquarium displays a wide range of marine life, from the tiny denizens of the reefs to huge sharks.

In the neighboring zoo, you can view all the important species of Australian fauna, as well as exotic species as such as lions, tigers, cheetahs, bears, and more. The animal encounters are extremely popular and allow visitors to go behind the scenes and interact with a range of exotic creatures. You can meet a meerkat and get up close with cheetahs, giraffes, sun bears, and rhinos, among other animals at this popular Canberra zoo.

National Museum of Australia. On a peninsular jutting into Lake Burley Griffin, the National Museum of Australia spotlights the nation's social history. ACT residents can travel for any reason to an expanded list of approved border postcodes in the surrounding NSW region and NSW residents from these approved postcodes can also travel to the ACT freely.

People with an exemption request for travel from the expanded list of approved postcodes will no longer need an exemption. Individuals that have an exemption application currently in the system will be notified via email that their exemption has now been withdrawn. Individuals do not need to wait for a notification from ACT Health to travel in the approved postcodes.

For example, in NSW people are required to show proof that they are fully vaccinated. Make sure that you have the proof of vaccination documentation that is required before you travel.

ACT residents will not need to quarantine when returning from an approved border postcode unless they are identified as a close contact from an ACT or NSW exposure location, or if they are coming from a COVID affected area outside of the approved border postcodes. For more information, including a list of approved postcodes, visit covid Anyone who has been in a geographical area of risk should not visit or work in a high-risk setting for 14 days after leaving the affected area.

There are additional restrictions on entering high-risk facilities in the ACT including hospitals, correctional and detention facilities, residential aged care facilities, and some other residential facilities. These restrictions still apply to anyone who has been overseas in the previous 14 days.

Should these restrictions apply to you, you will need to request an exemption directly from the facility. Canberra has an international airport that you can fly into directly. Canberra has one of the best-educated workforces and the lowest unemployment rates in Australia. There are many employment opportunities that are well suited to students.

There are many housing options for international students in Canberra. Our campus is located very close to the light rail tram, providing easy access to more affordable housing in the northern suburbs, where many students live. Average weekly living costs are approximately.

Lots of housing options including city, mountain or lakeside apartments. Canberra has great shopping, an incredible array of dining choices to cater to every taste and budget. We have been voted 1 Best Place to Live in Australia and are regarded as one of the safest cities in the world.