Canberra
Private Tours
Uncover the Hidden Gems of Canberra with Be Out There Tours
No trip to Australia would be complete without a visit to Australia’s most progressive and uniquely planned city - Canberra.
Located in picturesque Southern NSW, and 3 hours drive from Sydney, Canberra offers the visitor a number of world class tourist experiences.
Canberra's History
Canberra would have remained a small country town but for the decision in 1913 to make the Molonglo valley on the Limestone Plains, next to the Murrumbidgee River, the capital city of the newly created nation of Australia.
After a world-wide competition, the city of Canberra was developed to a unique plan by famous American architects Walter Burley Griffin and his wife Marian. No expense has been spared on its public buildings and iconic features.
No matter where you are in Canberra you can see the beautiful mountain ranges that surround the national capital. It is a city where nature, not buildings, is pre-eminent.
This is Ngunnawal Country, settled for at least 20,000 years before its European occupation in the early 1800s as pastoral leases.
Popular Destinations in Canberra
Popular destinations include The Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, The National Museum, Yarralumla and the foreign embassies, the historic property of Lanyon (continuously farmed for 180 years) at the foothills of the Brindabella mountains, and the breathtaking views of the limestone plains from Mount Ainslie.
Superimposed on this beautiful city of trees, lakes and parks, is the festival called Floriade, which celebrates the coming of spring by displaying the blooms of a million bulbs on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin.
A more recent highlight is the Wollemi Pine display at the National Arboretum, providing visitors with an opportunity to be photographed next to one of the oldest species of tree in the world. No wonder they call it the Dinosaur tree.
These are just some of the reasons why Canberra attracts 6 million visitors a year.
Canberra Private Tour Options
1 and 2 Day Options
1 Day Canberra Tour
Depart Sydney 7:30am and head to historic Berrima for morning tea in one of Australia’s best-preserved historic 1830s villages on the banks of the Wingecarribee River.
9am depart Berrima for Mt Ainslie Lookout to take in panoramic views of the Canberra landscape.
11:15 depart Mt Ainslie for the Australian War Memorial.
12:45 after lunch at the Poppy Café at the Australian War Memorial, head to New Parliament House for a tour.
1pm arrive Parliament House and commence tour.
2:15pm depart Parliament House for a drive through the Embassy Precinct before heading to either the National Gallery or the National Arboretum.
3:30pm depart Canberra for the village of Collector and refreshments at the Bushranger Hotel.
5pm depart Collector Hotel for Sydney.
7:30pm arrive Central Railway Station (Country trains).
2 Day Canberra Tour
DAY 1
Depart Sydney 7:30am and head to historic Berrima for morning tea in one of Australia’s best-preserved historic 1830s villages on the banks of the Wingecarribee River.
9am depart Berrima for Mt Ainslie Lookout to take in panoramic views of the Canberra landscape.
11:15 depart Mt Ainslie for the Australian War Memorial.
12:45 after lunch at the Poppy Café at the Australian War Memorial, head to New Parliament House for a tour.
1pm arrive Parliament House and commence tour.
2:15pm depart Parliament House for tour and afternoon tea at historic Lanyon Homestead.
4pm depart Lanyon for Murrumbateman for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 2
9am depart Murrumbateman for National Gallery or National Arboretum.
11am visit Questacon
12pm drive past High Court of Australia, Old Parliament House and the National Library of Australia.
1pm lunch at Cockington Green, Gold Creek.
2pm depart Gold Creek for Sydney with brief stop at Goulburn or Pheasant’s Nest.
7pm arrive Central Railway Station (Country trains).
Canberra hosts a multitude of festivals, including Floriade (September – October), the Canberra Balloon Spectacular (March), and for motor car enthusiasts, SummerNats in January.
Children love Canberra because it offers 6 major centres of discovery, play and enjoyment, including the National Dinosaur Museum, Questacon, Cockington Green, and more.
After a day’s touring there are many fine restaurants to enjoy an evening meal before heading up to the lookouts on Mt Ainsley or Mount Pleasant to enjoy the lights of Canberra.
Surrounded by beautiful mountains and clear skies, with thousands of beautiful trees to adorn its streets and parks, visitors quickly realise that this is a unique experience and one that they are glad they didn’t miss.
There is more to Canberra than politics.
