It’s sometimes said that Canberra is ‘a big country town’ – and in some ways that’s true.

There’s comfort in seeing the same faces at your local café, in a wave from your neighbour. But as Australia’s fastest-growing state or territory, the ACT has a cultural landscape that spans indie music to international exhibitions. It’s the best of city living without the crowds.

The best thing? Life is easy here.

10 REASONS CANBERRA IS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU 

The people

Canberrans are not one thing, and neither are you. We are students testing ideas by day and local gin by night; IT specialists who wander through the arboretum on Sundays; baristas turned cheese connoisseurs; public servants who were once Uber drivers; and members of the early-morning cycling crew eating next to the all-night dancing crew.

More time to do the things you love

Forget peak hour – in Canberra, it’s more like peak 20 minutes. In fact, you can reach pretty much any destination in the ACT in less than half an hour. And because you don’t spend hours in traffic, you have more time to do the things you choose.

We welcome new ideas and creativity

From thought leaders and academics pushing boundaries; to artists, designers, writers and musicians creating works that move us, Canberra’s creative core is deep and rich. New ideas underpin our continued evolution, and we can’t wait to welcome yours.

Great food for any taste

We’re serious about our food and wine. From friendly family-owned cafes to international eateries, cosy pubs and fine dining destinations, there’s something to suit every taste. Not to mention 140 vineyards and more than 40 wineries within 35 minutes’ drive of the city, and some of the world’s best coffee. A trip to one of our farmers’ markets to gather the best of the region’s produce is a must.

We’re a family-friendly city

Canberrans will be the first to tell you this is a great place to raise a family. Big enough to provide access to excellent educational and extra-curricular opportunities but small enough that it’s still possible to walk your kids to school without needing to cross a single road.

We’re good sports

We’re the most physically active community in Australia, with 86% of Canberrans playing sport or engaging in physical activity at least once a week. We love our sport [link to sport page] – whether we’re playing or watching it – and the city’s many parks, cycleways and footpaths make getting outdoors easy, enjoyable and safe.

Our lakes and rivers are made for exploring

Lake Burley Griffin is the centrepiece to Canberran activity. Experience the 11-kilometre body of water from a kayak or sailboat, or hop aboard a cruise or self-drive boat. Prefer to stay on dry land? Join other Canberrans each weekend to walk the “bridge-to-bridge” trail around the central parts of the lake. Our many river swimming spots, Lake Ginninderra in Belconnen, and Lake Tuggeranong in (you guessed it) Tuggeranong are also wonderful spots to explore.

Anything you need on our doorstep

While there’s more than enough in Canberra to meet your needs and keep you busy, when the sand, slopes, or big city bustle call we are also just a short drive from the beach, ski fields, or big city escapes. We’re in between the snow and the coast (a bit over two hours’ drive away in either direction) and there are plenty of charming towns to discover on the way.

We have your back

In 2023, nearly 75% of the ACT population aged over 15 years volunteered their time and skills with sporting clubs, at community events, in schools and for charities. That’s more than 63 million hours per year. Our generosity is evident in world-leading ways and in everyday acts of kindness.

Proudly inclusive

Canberra is known for its embassies and high commissions, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our multicultural make-up. More than a quarter of Canberrans are from overseas and one in four speaks a language other than English.

LGBTIQA+ people, their families and communities feel a sense of belonging and are visible, valued, celebrated and respected.

We welcome people of all faiths. While around 38% of Canberrans are Christian, followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and other religions also call the city home. Around 44% have no religion.