The Australian Capital Territory is a federal territory in southeastern Australia, set aside to house the national government and its institutions. It surrounds Canberra, the country's capital city, and was established in 1911 for that purpose.
What a visit is like
Because the territory exists to host the national government, a visit tends to centre on the capital and the institutions that make it up. Much of the territory's identity comes from this role, so the atmosphere is shaped by public life, planning and the work of the nation's capital rather than by a single landmark or attraction.
What to expect around the capital
Canberra and its surrounding countryside form the setting for a trip. Visitors can plan a stay around:
- The capital city, the centre of the territory and the seat of the national government.
- The national institutions that the territory was created to house.
- The surrounding territory, which gives the capital its wider landscape and context.
The territory suits travellers interested in how a nation organises its government and its capital. It is well suited to a visit built around the institutions and the city itself, with the surrounding area as a natural extension of the trip.
