Sydney- day 2 (Canberra)

On the second day of my trip to Sydney I took a bus that went from New South Wales to the ACT or Australian Capital Territory which is where Canberra is. Its about a 4 hour drive to Canberra from Sydney. Its further south and it was fun to see the Australian countryside as we drove through. We stopped in a very small town called Berrima where everyone could get their morning tea. We went through the Southern Highlands and Goulburn Sheep district and the mysterious Lake George, which is nonexistent because of the draught. There is no lake and there are just cows in fields where the lake existed 10 years ago.

driving through New South Wales

waiting for morning tea to end in Goulburn

Then we entered the ACT and its quite odd. The location was chosen because Melbourne and Sydney each wanted the capital in their city, so finally they decided to put it somewhere else. They ended up putting it in Canberra. It is closer to Sydney but Melbourne agreed because its still far enough away. It is not located by the Pacific Ocean because they wanted it to be protected and further away from foreign ships and etc. We entered Canberra and went to the National Museum. Then we went to the billion dollar New Parliament House where we saw the Senate, House of Representative chambers and the Great Hall. Its a very different looking parliament house, because it is so new and it has a very interesting design.

Canberra

The lake winds through the city

the city from Mount Ainslie

Inside the National Museum. These are used by Aboriginals they are like a totem pole but for those that are dead.

New Parliament House

Inside one of the chambers

We went on to look at the views of Canberra from Mount Ainslie and then we drove past the embassies. Americas is the largest and its brick sitting on a hill with a big white fence around it. I like the way it looked, it said America. After this we drove to the Australian War Memorial. It was a pretty memorial and it had the most amazing war museum underneath it. I could have spent three days in that museum. Its main focus was ANZAC in the first world war. It was the best museum I have ever seen relating to war. It didn't glorify it, but I don't even know how to describe it. It was a neat experience.

the Memorial

Part of the war memorial, the soldiers names that have died

Canberra is a small town. Everyone that lives there are public servants. When Parliament is not in session, the town loses half its population. I wouldn't want to live there. You could tour the town in one day no joke. It was an interesting capital though, especially since I have been to Sydney and Melbourne. Its more like Hobart than the other two cities.

Not to shabby of a picture for using the self timer

Then on the drive home we stopped in Goulburn for dinner. I got a meat pie and some mashed potatos. The Australians absolutely love meat pies. I haven't been converted yet. I just don't understand. I ended up getting back to my hostel 13 hours after I left. It was a long but good day. I'm glad I got to see the capital of Australia.