【personal experience】 The most boring place in Australia? I’ve been to Canberra to find out!

Hello everyone. I’m @olivertomolife and I’ve studied abroad in Sydney!





I’d like to introduce a place to those of you who thought Sydney was the capital of Australia when you heard about it.





The actual capital of Australia is a city called Canberra, which may not be so well known.





However, it is secretly popular as a travel and study destination because of its many facilities that represent the country.





In this article, I’m going to introduce you to some of the advantages and disadvantages of visiting Canberra, as well as some of the best places to visit!

I experienced studying in Sydney for a year starting in 2018. Now I am writing a blog about that experience.





By reading this post, you’ll get to know about Canberra, Australia!

Advantages and Disadvantages of Canberra Tourism

First of all, I would like to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of Canberra because some people can recommend it and some can’t.

Advantages

Canberra is a planned city surrounded by nature, so it is recommended for those who like outdoor activities such as outdoor activities.





It also has many libraries and artistic facilities, making it ideal for those who like artistic activities.





The city is also home to many famous professional institutions, so there will be many serious students working on their studies.





If you want to improve your English quickly, Canberra could be the perfect place for you.

Disadvantages

As the national capital of Australia, Canberra is a place where entertainment is extremely limited.





There are only a handful of shopping malls, and those who want to go all out may find it boring.





Activities are limited because you can’t do as many different activities as you can in Sydney or Melbourne.





In terms of sightseeing, you may be able to enjoy yourself for a few days, but if you are studying abroad, you may get bored.





So, I recommend that you think about it according to your own personality.

Canberra’s Interesting History

Do you know why this city became the capital of Australia?





Back in 1901, upon Australia’s independence, the two largest cities in the country, Sydney and Melbourne, were battling to attract a capital city.





Neither side would give an inch, and as a compromise, Canberra, located in the center of both cities, was suddenly chosen to be the capital.





Thus, Canberra was chosen as the capital of Australia in 1908.





As a result, Canberra, unlike other cities, has undergone thorough urban planning and is a well-organized city.

Distance from Sydney and access to the city

Canberra is about 280 kilometers southwest of Sydney, and it only takes an hour to get there by plane!





It is a very close distance, so a day trip is possible.





Since it is so close, it is possible to make a day trip. I stayed for three days to give myself enough time, but I think one day is enough.





Since the distance is so close, airplane tickets are cheap, so I think it’s the best place for a casual trip.





Depending on the time of year and other factors, you can get there and back for $400 Australian dollars per person.





I used Virgin Air Australia, which I highly recommend because of their great service and reasonable prices!





When you arrive at the airport, buy a Canberra-specific IC card called My way card!





You can buy this IC card at convenience stores at the airport.

Four places in Canberra that you must visit

1 Parliament of Australia

This modern building, with its distinctive shape, is the national parliament of Australia, located on a hill.





This is where the day-to-day politics function.





The inside is spacious and a great place to learn about Australian politics.





There is a biometric screening at the entrance and photography is not allowed inside either, so be careful.

2 Australian Museum of Democracy

This is the former Parliament of the Commonwealth, which is now a museum.





It’s located near the new parliament I mentioned earlier, so I think it’s a good idea to visit them together!





It’s a great place to learn about the origins of Australia for free.





I would recommend this place if you want to know about the history of Australia, and it made me think a lot.

3 National Library of Australia

This library is free to enter and has a very large number of books.





It is a great place if you like books because it has a variety of different types of books.





The interior design is also very modern, and I think it is well worth a visit.





There is also a cafe and a theater where you can learn about the history of the place.

4 Australian War Memorial

With free admission, this is a place where you can learn about the history of Australia since World War I.





The memorial was built by the government for the Australian soldiers who died around the world, and it displays actual tanks and weapons.





Some of the exhibits are cruel, but I felt the need to know the facts.





There are also places where the names of the victims are written, and I think it is a very important place to learn about history.

Summary

This is an introduction to Canberra.





The whole city is well maintained and beautiful, so go for it!





I will be posting more information about Australia in the future, so please stay tuned.





Thank you for reading to the end!