How to Get Around Australian Capital Territory

A car or a bike is close to essential. Canberra was planned around driving, and its institutions are spread far enough apart that walking between them is impractical.

The cycle network is the best of any Australian city — separated paths, gentle gradients, and a 28 km circuit of the lake that reaches most of the major institutions.

Light rail runs one line from the north into the centre, and buses cover the rest; neither is quick for sightseeing.

Canberra Airport is unusually close to the centre, about ten minutes. The drive from Sydney is around three hours, from Melbourne about seven.

Kangaroos are abundant on the city fringe and are a genuine collision risk at dawn and dusk, including on suburban roads.