Canberra, Australia Travel Guide

Canberra was purpose-built as the capital city of Australia and is a three-hour drive from both the beautiful beaches and snowy mountains of New South Wales. It is a city which shapes Australia’s future and honors its past. With colorful events, relaxed attitude, and an expansive bush beauty, Canberra is more than the political capital. This city was designed for a young nation just finding its feet and is home to many of the most important stories of the country.

Lake Burley Griffin is at the heart of the creation story of Canberra. A long-standing rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney meant neither one could be the capital of the nation. Instead, the government in 1911 launched an international design competition seeking a master plan for a new city. The victor was Walter Burley, a Chicago architect. His design focused on a man-made lake which perfectly fits within the landscape. Head to the lookout at Mount Ainslie to understand the genius of the design.

Lake Burley Grifin shores are home to the Parliamentary Triangle, a precint filled with some of the most significant buildings in Australia. This national icon is instantly recognizable to all Australians. Its design was the winner of an international competition just like the city itself.

Although the center of Australia’s political power, it has a relaxed approach to welcoming its visitors. Take a tour to see how history happened before heading up to the roof for breathtaking views of the city.

The Old Parliament House is just a short stroll away. This beloved building’s corridors are a time capsule of some of the most pivotal moments in Australia. Work into the Office of the Prime Minister which still looks as it did in 1988 when the government moved.

The building housing Australia’s National Museum was designed around the theme of a jigsaw puzzle intertwining the many tales of Australia. See Australia’s first locally made car, a prototype of the Holden and the huge heart of Phar Lap, a racehorse which captured the entire country’s imagination.

Throughout Australia’s history, only a few characters have captured its imaginations like Ned Kelly, its most infamous outlaw. To enjoy a stunning collection of portraits of prominent Australians, visit the National Portrait Gallery. From Andy Thomas, the country’s most famous astronaut, to the talented duo behind the international powerhouse Sass and Bide, these pictures tell thousands of stories.

At the National Library, more incredible stories await. See the original diary of Captain Cook which accompanied him on his first voyage to Australia. Cook claimed this southern land for England in 1770, opening a European chapter in the history of the country. Australia was established about 100 years later.

Getting around in St. Barts

If you are new to St. Bart’s, You might need ideas on how to get around. Below are some of the best ways to get around in St. Barts.

On arrival

If you had pre-booked a ferry service, Upon arrival at St. Bart’s Gustavia Ferry Terminal,  Car-rental companies can meet you at the island’s ferry terminal.

Gustaf III Also known as Aéroport de St-Barthélemy is St. Barth’s only airport, it has car rental desk for the major car rental companies. The airport also has a taxi rank. Also, some accommodations offer shuttle services.

Taxis

Taxi fares in Gustavia range from pricey to very pricey. There are no set taxi fares, so prices are charged based on the driver’s discretion which is often times overboard. The least fare charged for a taxi ride between Gustavia and the airport at minimum is between €15 and €45 and a ride from Gustavia to Petit Cul-de-Sac could cost between €30 to €60.

Between 8 pm and 6 am daily, and all day on Sundays, taxi fares are increased by about 50%. Booking a taxi in Gustavia is easy, you can book at the taxi stand in Gustavia or contact the drivers directly. To contact a taxi driver directly, you can check the tourist office for a list of drivers and their phone numbers.

Driving

Traffic is quite a problem on St-Barth and public parking spaces are thin on the ground.

The roads are quite narrow and not well paved, visitors driving on the island need to be mindful of cars coming in the opposite direction. Visitors also need to be careful when driving through driveways of hotels and villas as many of them can be extraordinarily steep.

Driver’s License

Your home country’s driver’s license is valid in St-Barth.

Fuel

St. Barth Island has only two gas stations. The one in St-Jean opens from 7.30am to noon and from 2 pm to 7 pm on Mondays to Saturdays. The second one is in Lorient, it opens from 7.30am to 5 pm on Sundays to Wednesdays and Fridays. On Thursdays and Saturdays, it opens at 7.30am to 2 pm

Rental

All major car-rental companies have desks at the airport. Prices vary according to the season. Car rental rates start from about €70 per day for compact cars between December and April. While during low-season, prices per day can start from €40.

Car-rental companies on the island include:

  • Budget
  • Chez Beranger
  • Europcar
  • Gumbs Rental
  • Soleil Caraibes
  • Scooter rental outlets are Barth’Loc and Meca Moto. Barth’Loc also rents ATV quad bikes, while  Meca Moto rents Harley-Davidson motorbikes as well.

Road Rules

Driving in St. Barth’s is on the right-hand side, the speed limit is 45km/h, unless otherwise by the authorities. Also, when driving, visitors have to watch out for Land tortoises as the creatures have right of way on the roads.