Author name: eyesimple

Australia’s only tropical capital city, Darwin, gazes out confidently across the Timor Sea. It’s closer to Bali than Bondi and can certainly feel removed from the rest.   Darwin has plenty to offer the travelers. Chairs and tables spill out of the street-side restaurants and bars, innovative museums celebrate the city’s past, and galleries showcase the region’s rich indigenous art. Darwin’s cosmopolitan mix more than 50 nationalities are seamlessly represented here – is typified by the wonderful markets held throughout the dry season.       Nature is well and truly part of Darwin’s backyard – the famous national park of Kakadu and Litchfield are only a few hours drive away, and the unique Tiwi Islands are a boat-ride away. For locals, the perfect weekend is going fishing for barramundi in a tinny (small boat) with an esky full of cold beer.

The capital city of Australia, Canberra, is a planned metropolis that architect Walter Burley Griffin envisioned, as a garden city for some 25,000 people. The design was completed in 1912, and construction began in 1913. Canberra is currently home to about 300,000 people. However, due to the unique de-centralized design, the city never feels crowded.   Canberra features expansive open spaces, aesthetics influenced by the 19th- century arts and crafts movement and a seamless alignment of built and natural elements. Unfortunately, the city is totally geared towards the car – it’s difficult to explore by public transport and almost impossible to do so on foot. You really need wheels (two or four) to do it justice, and the city’s scenic hinterland also warrants exploration.       When in Canberra, take a crash course in Australian history and culture, as Canberra is very well-known as Australia’s political and administrative centre. The national monuments and galleries of this planned, spacious city are all within easy walking distance of each other, radiating out from the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. Peer into Australia’s political past and creative culture as you circle the lake, then get up close to its native vegetation in the gardens and bushland. Discuss your Australian discoveries over dinner in Dickson, Civic, Manuka or Kensington . Then nurture your love of nature in Namadgi National park , where you can hike, bike, horse ride, rock-climb and follow.