Australian Capital Territory Information

Covering a total area of 2400 square kilometres and stretching 88 kilometres from north to south and just 30 kilometres from east to west, the Australian Capital Territory is surrounded, in whole, by New South Wales.

Australia’s Capital Region, the capital city Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory were established in 1911, with Australia newly federated, to create a capital for the country.  While over half of the territory is comprised of beautiful nature parks and reserves, Canberra is the territory’s prestigious capital.

Canberra, believed to mean, “meeting place” in the local Aboriginal language, is surrounded by Lake Burley Griffin, a man made lake. Home to the House Of Parliament and national museums, as well as chic restaurants and bars, and elegant boutiques for shopping, this Australian capital city is a fantastic combination of culture, history and modern buzz.

Located just South of Canberra is the Namadgi National Park, which lies on the northern end of the Australian Alps. During the winter months, the Alps are great for ski touring or even just playing in the snow. Namadgi also offers great areas for rock climbing and abseiling, as well as wonderful walking trails, which allow you to take in all the surrounding beauty and, perhaps, even catch sight of kangaroos, wallabies and even wombats.  For those interested in camping, there are camping grounds, with toilets, located at Orroral and Mt Clear. Aboriginal paintings, some possibly thousands of years old, can be seen Yankee Hat Rock.

The area’s climate is perfect for wine making and some of the wines from the region are getting worldwide recognition. There are 140 wineries, which are located within the peaceful rural area’s surrounding Canberra. The wineries are small and offer a friendly atmosphere where you are likely to even meet the winemaker. With most only a 30-minute drive from Canberra, a visit to a local winery to enjoy the wine and enjoy a picnic or, perhaps tapas, is a perfect activity for everyone.

A trip to Australia’s nation capital is definitely well worth the visit!