Canberra, Australia Capital Territory, Australia

My one month journey around Australia is nearing it's completion as I am almost back to Melbourne. Currently I am residing in Canberra which is the not-well-known capital city of Australia. The reason the city is not well known is because there isn't much of a reason to come here other than it is the capital. The only attractions are those that are tied to this city being the capital. Canberra boasts being a purpose-built capital city, which cannot be argued. There has definitely been substantial planning in the way the city has been laid out. The problem is that this planning was completed in the middle of the 20^th century and therefore was focused primarily on vehicular traffic. The boulevards are exceptionally wide and the landmarks very well spaced out. For most people living here it is no problem, but for me it has caused me to walk much more than I've become accustomed to. Here are some of the highlights from my time in Canberra.


Going back in time prior to making it to Canberra, I spent 3 more days in the city that I can confidently say is the most beautiful in the country; Sydney. My first day in Sydney was a bit of a struggle because I took an overnight flight from Darwin (departed at 2am, arrived at 7am). I did some significant napping and then wandered out to MacQuarie Point to watch the sunset before retiring for the evening to my hostel in Kings Cross.

The next day I picked up an all-day, all-means transit pass. I took a train/bus to Bondi Beach where I proceeded to complete a portion of the coastal walk. Along the way, I saw numerous beaches and even a cemetery before reaching my destination of Coogee. From there I took bus/train to the City and then caught a ferry out to Manly. To get back I took the ferry and then another train. It's always fun to be in a place with good public transit that allows you to visit many spectacular spots without needing a car. Especially when you don't have a car.


My last full day in Sydney also happened to be a national holiday; ANZAC Day. This is a celebration of Australia and a chance to remember fallen people at way. I spent the morning watching the ANZAC Day march to the Memorial in Hyde Park before making my way to the Museum.

My last partial day in Sydney was a bit of a challenge as I had to check out of my hostel at 10am but my train to Canberra did not depart until 6pm. Luckily for me the train company was willing to hold my bag until later so I was free to wander the city for a few more hours. I discovered Chinatown before making my way down to the harbor for one last visit.