Canberra-----Australia’scapitalcityandatreasuretroveofnationalattractionsLearnaboutAustralia’sculture,historyandwayoflife.ExplorethepoliticalpastandmoderndemocracyattheMuseumofAustralianDemocracyandParliamentHouse.FindoutmoreaboutAustralia’ssportingheroesattheNationalInstituteofSportandScienceandexperienceanearthquakeatQuestacon.Onceyou’veexhaustedthemonumentsandgalleries,getintothegreatoutdoors.Thisculturally-richcapitalisfamousforitslake,parklandsandnativebushlandsurrounds.Beneaththefoliage,Canberraoffersstylishrestaurants,hipbars,boutiqueshoppingandanon-stopcalendaroffestivalsandevents.InCanberra,youcanFivethingstoenjoyinCanberraDelveintoAustralia’spoliticalpastattheMuseumofAustralianDemocracyandwatchAustralianpoliticiansdebatecurrentissuesatParliamentHouse.DiscoverAustraliathroughtheeyesofourartistsattheNationalGalleryofAustralia.Forinteractive,family-friendlyfun,don’tmisstheNationalMuseumofAustraliaandQuestacon-TheNationalScienceandTechnologyCentre.YoucanlearnaboutourmilitaryhistoryattheAustralianWarMemorialorthesecretsofgreen-and-goldsportingsuccessattheAustralianInstituteofSport.Poreoverrecords,photosandstoriesattheNationalLibraryandcheckoutAustralia’sfirstconstitutionattheNationalArchives.1.Capitalattractions:visitnationalattractionstomodernAustralia2.Fantasticfestivals:fromhot-airballoonstohotted-upcarsStartyouryearwiththesmellofburningrubberatJanuary’sSummernatscarshow.OrcelebrateAustraliaDaywithtwonon-stopdaysofentertainment,includingacricketmatchandlivemusicinthegroundsofParliamentHouse.JointheAustralianPrimeMinisterandGovernorGeneralfortheAnzacDaydawnserviceattheAustralianWarMemorial.Inautumn,Canberra’sskiesfillwithhotairballoonsfortheCanberraBalloonFiesta.InwinteryoucanwarmyurheartandfillyourstomachattheFiresideFestivalintheCanberracountryside.Inspring,Canberra’sparkscomealivewiththecolourandscentsofFloriade,Australia’slargestfloralfestival.3.Sportsgalore:towatchorplayTestouttheworld-classmountainbikingtrailsatMountStromloorinBrindabellNaturePark,nestledintheAustralianAlps.NearbyNamadgiNationalParkisgreatforrockclimbing,hikingandhorseriding,asistheinner-citybushlandofCanberraNaturePark.Meeteliteathletesandtestyourskillsatvirtualrowing,wheelchairbasketballandfootballattheAustralianInstituteofSport.WatchrugbyleagueandrugbyunionatCanberraStadiumorcatchacricketorAussierulesgameatthehistoricManukaOval.Forrevheadsthere’stheRallyofCanberraandtheSummernatsCarFestival,whichcombinesracingeventswithashowcaseofcustomisedstreetmachines.4.Namadgi:anationalparkofrichesFollowtheYerrabiWalkingTrackintotheruggedBimberiwilderness,hometosomeoftheleastdisturbedeco-systemsintheAustralianAlps.OrexploreforestsofsnowgumandalpineashontheSquareRockwalkingtrack.FourwheeltothetopofMtCoree,fishfromtrout-filledstreamsandcross-countryskithewinterslopes.Seekangaroos,wallabiesandnortherncorroboreefrogsandexploresnow-gumwoodlands,wetlandsandwildflower-cloakedplains.Seethecampsites,ceremonialstonearrangementsandrockartsitesleftbytheNgunawalpeoplethousandsofyearsago.ThentracethetrailofpastoralistsandgoldhuntersandseethememorialtotheApollospacetrackingstationatHoneysuckleCreek.5.Foodandwine:onthePoachersTrailFollowthePoachersWaytosomeofthe140vineyardsand33wineriesdottingthetranquilcountrysidearoundCanberra.Takeagumboottourthroughthevineyardsandlearnaboutthefactorsthatshapetheregion’sdiversestyles-fromsangiovesetoriesling,chardonnay,pinotnoirandshiraz.Stopinatafarmforcheeses,oils,chutneys,jams,woodsmokedmeatsandhomemadewine.Orteamabottleoflastyear’svintagewithawood-firedpizzaatawinery.Visitlocalstudiosandgalleriesshowcasinghandmadeart,glasswareandpottery.Attheendoftheday,stayinaboutiquebedandbreakfast,historichomesteadoraluxuriouscountryretreat.----theheartofAustralia’sRedCentreAliceSpringsConnecttorichAboriginaltraditions,awe-inspiringlandscapesandpioneerhistoryinAliceSprings,whichsitsjustsouthofAustralia’sgeographiccentre.Learnaboutthearea’sfirstinhabitants-theWesternArrernteAboriginalpeople-intheAraluenCulturalPrecinctandinthevibrantartliningToddMall.FindouthowpluckypioneersshapedthemoderntownintheTelegraphStationHistoricalReserve,RoyalFlyingDoctorServiceandSchooloftheAir.Experienceanoutbackadventureonacameltrekorhotairballoonride.TravelthroughtheprehistoricterrainofFinkeGorgeNationalPark,visitahugecometcraterandseewhereacclaimedAboriginalpainterAlbertNamatjiragrewup.YoucanAliceattractionsClimbtothetopofAnzacHillforsweepingviewsoverAliceSpringsandthedistantMacDonnellRanges.BreakfastinoneofthebustlingcafesalongToddMall,thenjoinahoponandoffbustothetown’smainattractions.SeewhereAlicebeganattheTelegraphStationHistoricalReserve,partoftherevolutionarytelegraphsystemthatconnectedEnglandwithAustraliain1872.SitinonavirtuallessonwithchildreninremotepartsofAustralia’scentreattheSchooloftheAir.WanderthroughtheAraluenCulturalPrecinct,learningaboutCentralAustralianmythology,artandculture.Theprecinct’sattractionsincludetheAlbertNamatjiraGallery,MuseumofCentralAustraliaandthesevensacredsitesoftheTwoWomenDreamingTrack.Afterwards,browsetherichAbo