Although many often mistakenly believe that Sydney is the capital of Australia, it is actually the much smaller city of Canberra which is the nation’s capital. The location was actually chosen as a half-way point between Sydney and Melbourne to ease contention between the two in the early 1900s as to which should be awarded capital status.

Although Canberra is much less lively than many of Australia’s other major cities, the different attractions Canberra has to offer make it an ideal stop off for history buffs or culture vultures. Canberra is the seat of the Australian Government, so there are plenty of locations around the city of historical and cultural significance, including Parliament House and the High Court of Australia. Other attractions Canberra has to offer include various national museums and galleries, including the National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Australia, the National Library of Australia and plenty more.