1Canberra Insider brought to you by Rydges Hotels & Resorts

Our online guide to the best that the National Capital has to offer.

Canberra�s occasional �bad press� isn�t of its own making. It�s long been an easy target for lazy comic writers and satirists, who�ve wrongly maligned the city as dour, conservative and strangely quiet. In truth it�s a city of hidden charms, soul and real character. Although it must be said that finding a petrol station does seem to take about as long as Peter Costello�s wait to become Prime Minister.

Canberra has an enviable position nestled amongst the Brindabella Ranges and really benefits from its planned and sustainable layout, courtesy of esteemed American architect Walter Burly Griffin from his 1912 masterplan. Old Parliament House was opened in 1927 and the seat of ultimate political power within this country is home to some 320,000 people.

As a true �bush� capital, Canberra has some of this country�s most important buildings, its significant monuments as well its leading galleries and museums. To help you best enjoy the attractions of the city we are happy to share our insight and tips to make your visit both memorable and fun.

Dining out in Canberra has undergone a transformation over the last fifteen years. The Capital�s restaurants have long been witness to strident political lobbying and intrigue, but normal souls who look beyond the Machiavellian posturing will find a selection of restaurants to suit any style, budget or taste and further investigation reveals a few gems amongst their ranks.

With 4 distinct seasons, access to the freshest ingredients and a steady stream of customers seeking good service and quality cuisine, the local dining scene has matured and evolved and is more than capable of exceeding even the highest expectations.

Drinking and Canberra when used in the same sentence was once synonymous with politicians behaving badly and the comic relief provided to the wider Australian public with their stories of �misplaced trousers� and �smudged whiteboards�. Times have mercifully changed and Canberra�s nightlife is now much more sophisticated than some of the nocturnal activities of our duly elected representatives of yore.

Discerning locals and visitors alike now have a great selection of wine bars, cocktail lounges and historic public houses to choose from. Far from being a sleepy provincial backwater, the choice of hostelries in Canberra makes it the envy of many larger cities.

The nation�s Capital certainly contains some real treasures and most visitors are only too happy to spend either a few hours or sometimes several days exploring Canberra�s myriad of attractions. These range from solemn and heartrending memorials dedicated to Australian sacrifice and mateship set against 90 years of global conflict to subtle evocations of this country�s unique character and psyche contained within a fun and interactive museum.

Being a planned and well laid-out city, it�s a breeze to cruise around and the lack of traffic is a most pleasant change from most major cities. Strangely, �peak hour� in Canberra never seems to last more thirty minutes, much less than the 3 hours endured in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Above is a list of our favourite places, designed to give you a taste of why Canberra has so much to offer any visitor.

Although not generally seen as a major shopping destination (not surprisingly given the size of its population) Canberra certainly has some fine retail outlets and specialist stores. If you are in the mood to spend a couple of hours browsing and perusing, you�ll not be disappointed.

The best shopping tends to be concentrated within defined areas with suburbs like Manuka offering a number of upmarket fashion and designer homewares outlets whilst Lonsdale Street in Braddon also has some quirky and stylish stores.

Listed above are a few tips that may assist you in reducing your bank balance.

Dining:

Drinking:

Sights & Real Canberra:

Shopping: