The Australian capitals

Canberra, ACT

Canberra is Australia's political capital and is part of the Australia Capital Territory. Like Washington D.C., it is not a state but a seperate political center. It is home to a variety of national monuments and museums. Although Canberra is the seat of the government, and home to more than 300,000 people, the city has a laid back feel that can be a little too slow-paced for Sydneysiders. Canberra is located in the ACT, which is surrounded by New South Wales, and is approximatly a four hour drive south of Sydney.

Top Canberra Attractions:
National Gallery of Australia
Parliament House
Australian War Memorial
Screensound Australia
Telstra Tower

Hobart, Tasmania

Only 3% of visitors to Australia make it to the country's southern island state, of which Hobart is the capital. Those who do take the trip (either by ferry or plane, usually from Melbourne) are rewarded with beautiful nature and some of Australia's most lucious scenery. A third of the island is part of a world heritage preservation area. Because Tasmania is an island, those who are from the state are often teased by other Australians and accused of being backwater or inbred. However, Australia's second-oldest city has a earthy draw all of its own.

Top Hobart Attractions:
Cadbury Chocolate Factory
Cascade Brewery
Salamanca Place
Mount Wellington
Penetentiary Chapel and Courts

Adelaide, South Australia

Travelers who make it to Adelaide are generally those who:
a) Have an obsession with wine
b) Kept going after the Great Ocean Road turned into the Prince's Highway
c) Decided it was a good watering hole on the way to Alice Springs OR
c) Went to all the other capitals in Australia and didn't have any other large cities to visit
Because Adelaide's population growth rate is less than 50 per cent of the national average, it is considered a "slow growth area", and that's all part of this city's charm. A little over one million people call Adelaide home, and those that do relish the slow pace of this city. There are more restaurants per capita in Adelaide than anywhere else in Australia, and the nearby world-famous Barossa and Clare valley wine regions provide the libations. As Australia's first planned city, the streets, gardens and buildings are arranged beautifully in a one-mile square grid, and those who take the time to spend a few days here are pleasantly surprised by its easy navigation. Adelaide is located on Australia's southern coast, in the eastern half of the country.

Top Adelaide Attractions:
Barossa and Clare Valley Wine Regions
South Australian Museum
Art Gallery of South Australia
WOMADelaide Arts Festival

Melbourne, Victoria

Australia's second largest city is only an 8 hour drive from its first, but it has a very different feel. The baret-wearing artist's answer to Sydney, Melburnians are fiercely protective of their cultured city of 3.4 million. Often ranked one of the most livable cities in the world, Melbourne has an array of activities from the fast-paced nightlife to cultured exhibitions of art and theatre to frenzied sport events, with the spotlight on November's Melbourne Cup. Melbourne is located on Australia's southern coast, in the eastern third of the country.

Top Melbourne Attractions:
Melbourne Cup
St. Kilda
Queen Victoria Market
Carlton-Little Italy
Old Melbourne Gaol

Darwin, Northern Territory

The hardest hit Australian city during WWII, Darwin spent decades rebuilding before a cyclone punished the city on Christmas Eve, 1974. As a result, the city is well planned and neatly laid out. The city thrives on mining and tourists who come to play in the hot sun. Australia's answer to Lagos, Portugal and Ios, Greece, sun, sand and sex rule this city of 80,000. Although it has been called a black hole, those who come to the Top End don't regret it. Darwin is located on Australia's northern coast, in the middle third of the country.

Top Darwin Attractions:
Mindil Beach Sunset Market
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Bar Scene

Brisbane, Queensland

Brissie is a capital that enjoys its location. Directly above the rockin Gold Coast, and below the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, the city is a popular host for in-transit tourists, both foreign and Australian. However, those who visit the city for more than a few days can come to appreciate Brisbane's wide range of activities and laid back pace. Unlike Sydney, downtown Brisbane is not located directly on open water, instead offering expensive river-front views.

Top Brisbane Attractions:
Citycat ride on the Brisbane River
Castlemaine Brewery
Swim on the beach at SouthBank
Check out the live music scene in the Valley
Twice monthly markets and a picnic afterwards at the Powerhouse
Check out a show at the Powerhouse
Drive to the top of Mt Coot-tha at night to see the city lights
Catch a Brisbane Lions (Aussie Rules) game at the 'Gabba, or a Brisbane
Broncos (R. League) game at Suncorp Stadium, or a QLD Reds (R. Union)
game at Ballymore
Weekend camp on Stradbroke Island
Visit the "Crocodile Hunter's" Australia Zoo
Pump the adrenaline at any of the 4 theme parks about 50 mins south of
BrisVegas
Grab a coffee and big breakfast at West End
Shop for bargains at Stone's Corner
Get a view of the city from the top of Town Hall's clock tower ($2)

Perth, Western Australia

Perth holds the distinction of being the world's most remote capital. And remote it is- Adelaide is more than 2 days away by car. Despite its isolation, Perth is a vibrant city- almost 90% of the Western Australia's population lives in or around it. Perth is unlike any city on the East Coast- it is free of both the throngs of tourists and the humidity. The 4 o'clock winter westerly wind draws windsurfers and kitesurfers out to the waters each afternoon, and with them, hundreds of spectators along the beaches.

Perth is located almost directly across the country from Sydney. It is in the lower fourth of the country, on the Indian Ocean.

Top Perth Attractions:
Rottnest Island
Freo
Swan River
Subiaco
Northbridge

Sydney, New South Wales

Sydney is home to approximatly 4 million people, or 20% of Australia's total population. The city is the land down under's historical, cultural and social epicenter. It is, understandably, the most heavily touristed city, and it boasts the nation's largest airport.

Sydney is located in New South Wales, Australia's most heavily populated state. It sits on the East Coast, and is almost directly across the country from Western Australia's capital, Perth. It lies in the lower fourth of the country.

Top Sydney Attractions:
Harbour Bridge
Sydney Opera House
Royal Botanic Gardens
Paddy's Market/Chinatown
Circle Quay/The Rocks
Kings Cross