Situated in a mountain range, the Canberra region boasts a range of natural reserves, historic sites, winegrowing areas and world-class cultural facilities. Thanks to the city's relatively high altitude, Canberra enjoys four distinct seasons similar to those in Europe. Canberra is an attractive planned city initially designed by Walter Burley-Griffin. It boasts landscaped parks and a number of European and American trees planted throughout the cityscape.
Summers are dry.
Autumn and spring in Canberra are the most beautiful times of the year. As the national capital, Canberra is home to Federal Parliament and to the central offices for all departments of the Australian Public Service. Three hours by car or twenty minutes by plane to Sydney, and forty minutes by plane to Melbourne, Canberra has a population of aboout 300,000. It combines the ease of living in a friendly country town with a strong cosmopolitan flavour and proximity to Australia's two largest cities. This page last modified on November 13, 2000.