It is testament to Australia’s overwhelming array of great cities that Canberra should be so often overlooked as a city break destination. The nation’s capital is famed for its bureaucratic might, but not so much is spoken of its position as a cultural heavyweight. Nevertheless, anyone who has given Canberra a chance for a city break will know that its museums, parks and parliamentary buildings are all well worth visiting.
One of Canberra’s best-loved attractions is the Captain Cook Memorial Jet. This water jet can reach heights of almost 150 metres, and was constructed to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Captain Cook’s landing on the east coast of Australia. Given that Canberra lies just 150 kilometres inland from this coast, it seems a fitting tribute to such a momentous discovery.
Perhaps one of the most spectacular buildings in the whole of Australia is Parliament House, and this makes it an unmissable treat on a Canberra city break. Built at a cost of A$1.1 billion, it was the most expensive construction in the Southern Hemisphere when it was opened in 1988 by Queen Elizabeth II. Located on Capital Hill, much of Parliament House is open to the public, and its Senate building replicates the colour scheme in the House of Lords. An interesting bit of trivia about the shape of Parliament House is that its design is in the shape of two boomerangs, a fact best appreciated from an aerial viewpoint.
Another fascinating building, albeit one designed in a much less traditional style, is the National Museum of Australia. The museum’s architecture may at first seem a little eclectic, but this is an accurate visual representation of the cosmopolitan nature of Australia. There are also some fantastic works of art to be seen here, such as Jackson Pollock’s “Blue Poles”, which sits alongside some intriguing aboriginal artefacts. Due to the vast scope of works contained within the National Museum of Australia, it is an essential part of any art lover’s trip to Canberra.
It may seem a little sombre to visit a war memorial during a city break, but it is worth making an exception for Canberra’s Australian War Memorial. The Australian War Memorial is visible from Parliament House, and vice versa, thus reflecting its importance in the country’s collective history. In a ‘planned city’ such as Canberra, such attention to detail is rarely coincidental. The memorial itself is incredibly beautiful and moving, particularly the memorial garden, and there is also a list of all the fallen servicemen and women in the two World Wars.
There can be little doubt that, in spite of its relatively small size, Canberra is one of Australia’s premier city break locations. Furthermore, while you are in the nation’s capital, you can make purchases on a charge card to collect rewards points. Holders of charge cards can then use these points towards their next city break flights, so you could be back in Canberra even sooner than you thought.