A beautifully laid-out city with a modern outlook
Being the capital city does have its advantages – some of the best galleries and museums in the country call Canberra home. Anything preceded by the word 'national' is worth having a look into. The National Gallery of Australia is home to over 120,000 artworks, including those by Pollock and Picasso, the National Library offers unparalleled access to print materials and quite often has a guest author around, while the National Museum is home to some fascinating stories about Australia's social, cultural and political history. If you want to embrace the political culture, a visit to the High Court of Australia and Parliament House is a must.
Parliament House
At the end of a long day of sightseeing, Canberra offers some excellent cuisine to feast upon – some 300 restaurants offer everything from modern Australian to European-inspired dishes. And for every restaurant Canberra offers there's bound to be a bar close by – believe it or not, Canberra has one of the most happening night spots in the country, largely due to the young population that call the city home. So unwind and let go of any expectations you have – Canberra is bound to surprise you.
Captain Cook Memorial Globe