Canberra (Australia) > Reviews

Advantages: 'Interesting', note the inverted commas
Disadvantages: Long way from anywhere civilised

...and Washington DC. Hands down, Canberra is the least capital-like Capital city I have ever seen. Canberra is in its own little world, the Australian Capital Territory, much like Washington's home in the District of Columbia. Rumour has it that when they realised they could do with a capital, the good people of Australia were torn between the two obvious choices, Sydney and Melbourne, and decided to give it to neither, lumping it instead in the ... Read review

Advantages: No "congestedness" of a capital city, relaxed, parks and bushland
Disadvantages: One of only two Australian cities withought a beach!

...Sydney, was decided on. Canberra today is located about 200 miles from Sydney (about 3.5 hours drive) and 400 miles from Melbourne (about 7 hours drive). After an international competition to design the city, Walter Burley Griffin's design came out on top and Canberra started being built in 1913, making it less than 100 years old! The name of Canberra was decided upon as it is an aboriginal word meaning 'meeting place.' It has been referred to as ... Read review

Advantages: Interesting for a day trip
Disadvantages: No atmosphere or character

...drive around the suburbs of Canberra you can see over 60 embassies, ranging from the massive and imposing American and Chinese embassies to those from Thailand and Fiji which were much more imaginative and beautiful. The Thai embassy is built in Thai style with the typical elevated roof design, upswept roof corners and roof tiles in gold colour - very impressive. There is even an Aboriginal embassy opposite the Parliament Building consisting of ... Read review

Advantages: Parlimant Building
Disadvantages: Not enough for a long trip

Camberra is a very strange place to visit, as everything feels too corect!! As a purpose built Capital city, all the spectacular monuments are built in straight lines, and in circles! From everyone of the grand buildings you can look in one direction and see several more! Easily the best building in Camberra in the Parlimant. Personally I found it to be more spectacular than Sydney's Opera House. Also worth a visit is the War memorial, and Telecom ... Read review