Canberra, Australia’s capital, often surprises visitors who expect the country’s coastal cities to be the main draw. Set inland a bit northeast of Melbourne and wrapped around Lake Burley Griffin, it’s an excellent destination for outdoor adventures and active travel.
Canberra is a planned city, with major roads laid out in a hub-and-spoke pattern that radiates from the lakefront—right where you’ll find the modern Parliament House and leading cultural attractions, including the National Gallery of Australia, well known for its Indigenous art collections.
Often called the “Bush Capital,” Canberra sits at the edge of farmland and forest, so nature never feels far away.