Canberra with a population of nearly 300 000 is Australia's capital and only major inland city. It is unique in having every detail of its construction planned from the beginning, then being built halfway between Sydney and Melbourne after a dispute over which would become the nations capital.

Canberra is just a three hour drive or a 45-minute flight south-west of Sydney. Set in a broad valley in the southern tablelands of New South Wales. Like most capitals of the world, Canberra boasts an architectural heritage in its civic and Government buildings, but Canberra is also blessed with some of the loveliest surroundings of any national capital. There are more than 30 Australian artistic and cultural institutions located in Canberra, ranging from the Australian War Memorial to Parliament House, surmounted by a colossal stainless-steel flagpole and set in 23 hectares of gardens.

In the centre of Lake Burley Griffin, the impressive Captain Cook Memorial Jet shoots a six-ton column of water 482ft (147m) into the air, while on the shore the National Gallery of Australia houses the country's premier public art collection spanning about 5,000 years of international art.