If you’re planning to visit Australia on your travels, it’s a sure thing that you’ll visit at least a few of Australia’s capital cities! Here is a guide of the top things to see and do in each of Australia’s capital cities.
Canberra
Canberra is the capital of the country and can be found in Australian Capital Territory, around 280 km south-west of Sydney.
Its role as the capital of Australia means it’s packed with plenty of grand buildings, including Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Australia, and Questacon, Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre.
In the centre of the city, there is a large artificial lake that’s known as Lake Burley Griffin. Although initially designed in the early 20th century, it wasn’t constructed until the 1960s. Today, it’s a popular place for a walk or bike ride.
Some great options for accommodation in the city include the Hyatt Hotel Canberra and Midnight Hotel. Both are located centrally, though the Hyatt gives you great views over the river.
Sydney
Probably Australia’s most famous city and largest by population, Sydney is the capital of New South Wales. Sydney is also the closest of Australia’s capital cities to where we live, so we frequent it quite often! It contains some of the country’s most famous landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
For those wanting to relax by the coast, the legendary Bondi Beach is a popular choice, while the Royal Botanic Garden is another great option if you want to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
If you’re an animal lover, check out Taonga Zoo which is located on the shores of the harbour. This large zoo spans 28-hectares and is split into eight regions, giving you plenty to explore and a wide range of animals to admire.
Perth
Perth is the capital of Western Australia, the country’s biggest and most-westerly state.
The city is packed with beautiful scenery and nature, as well as plenty of great sights and attractions. It has 19 beaches lining its coast, which are a great place to watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean.
For lovers of the arts, there is the Perth Culture Centre which includes the Art Gallery of WA, the Western Australian Museum, the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, and The Blue Room Theatre.
A great place to stay is the Crown Perth, a giant casino resort and hotel complex that is like a small city in its own right. While you’ll definitely want to get out and explore the city, you could quite easily stay within the resort itself thanks to its wide range of restaurants that cater to every taste and budget, along with a live theatre, sports bar, and several other places to get drinks with friends.
If you enjoy having a flutter, you can sample one of the biggest gaming venues in the country. With over 240 tables at hand, you can try all of the world’s most popular casino games, including keno, baccarat, blackjack, casino war, and pai gow. If that’s not enough, there are also thousands of slot machines and 12 poker tables.
Darwin
Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory and it is the smallest capital city with just 149,000 residents.
Despite having a tropical climate, there are plenty of beaches for you to relax on here. One of these is Mindil Beach which hosts a sunset market during the dry season, packed with local food, arts, crafts, and great entertainment all available while you watch the beautiful sunset.
Located nearby is the Mindil Beach Casino Resort, another great place to play popular casino games, as well as enjoy great food, swim, and soak up some quality entertainment.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, and is the third biggest city in the country.
As well as great sights and attractions including Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, the Queen Street Mall, Story Bridge, and Roma Street Parkland, it is home to one of the most famous koala sanctuaries in the country.
This 18-hectare site was founded in 1927, making it the oldest of its kind in the world. You have the opportunity to meet and feed the koala bears here, as well as other native animals like the kangaroo.
Adelaide
The capital of South Australia, Adelaide is a beautiful city with a mix of different architectural styles and plenty of beautiful scenery.
Popular things to do include a visit to the Adelaide Botanic Garden, the South Australian Museum, Victoria Square Tarntanyangga, and the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Sports fans will love the Adelaide Oval, which hosts regular Aussie rules football games and cricket matches. It was redeveloped in 2014, creating a beautiful venue and grounds that are worth a visit even if you’re not going to watch a game.
If you want to get away from the busy streets, Mount Lofty is a popular choice. It can be found 15 km east of the city and is the highest point of the mountain ranges that share the same name.
It gives you great views of the surrounding area, including all of Adelaide. If you’re lucky, you may also spot a few kangaroos on your way to the summit.
Hobart
Hobart is the capital of Tasmania and is the second smallest capital city in the country. Here, you’ll find Mount Wellington, a great place to look down on the city and the ocean from.
There isn’t as much to do in Hobart as in some of the other cities, but you can enjoy the beauty of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and admire unique works of art in MONA (The Museum of Old and New Art).
Salamanca Market is a popular tourist attraction. This open-air market sees more than 300 stallholders cram into Salamanca Place each Saturday, each selling local produce, art, skincare products, clothing, and local crafts and trinkets.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and is often considered to be the country’s sporting capital. This shouldn’t be surprising since it’s home to several major facilities, including Melbourne Cricket Ground, the National Sports Museum, AAMI Park, and the Olympic Park Oval.
The city hosts the grand final of the AFL, the Super Bowl of Australian rules football, and the Melbourne Cup, the biggest horse race in the country.
Like other cities, it has a beautiful Botanic Gardens and plenty of cultural centres, including the National Gallery of Victoria. Other popular sights include Flinders Street Railway Station, Fed Square and the Queen Victoria Market.
