The capital city of Australia and the heart of the government, Canberra has plenty to do other than watching politicians argue. Minimal traffic, a good climate and plenty of opportunities for work make Canberra a great option for Kiwis.
Canberra, the meeting place
The indigenous people of Canberra, the Ngunnawal, called this area Kambera/ Canberry which means ‘meeting place’ in their local dialect. The word ‘Canberra’ comes from this word, and even today, it’s a central hub and meeting place for many. The first Europeans arrived in 1820 and during the 19th Century, the settlement of Canberra grew.
In 1908, the Government decided to build a capital city, and launched a competition to design their new capital city. An American architect, Walter Burley Griffin, won the competition with his garden city design with concentric circle roads. It’s grown in spurts since then, and now has a population of 356,000 people.
Things to do in Canberra
There’s a few things to do in town, and some cool stuff to check out.
The National Gallery of Australia was opened in 1982 and has a range of local and national history to explore. For star-gazers, Stromlo Observatory was rebuilt in 2003 after a bushfire, but it is operational again.
There is a National Zoo and Aquarium which is great for kids and families. The National Botanic Garden has more than 5000 plant species, while the National Library of Australia has more than 5 million books.
The Walter Burley Griffin lake was created in 1963 when the Molonglo River was dammed. In 1970, the Captain Cook Memorial was added- it sprays water 147 metres into the air. Find out more about what you can do in Canberra. If you are a foodie, there are also lots of excellent places to eat and if shopping is your thing, Canberra has great places to shop.
Weather in Canberra
The weather can vary greatly in Canberra. In summer, the average high is around 28oC, and in winter, the low is about 1oC with a temperature during the day about 6oC. It has about 100 days of sunshine a year, and gets a light skiff of snow once or twice a year. You can find out more about Canberras climate.
Suburbs in Canberra
The layout of Canberra is simple, designed around nature reserves and the city centre. There is a great major road network, making commuting easy, and ensuring everything is accessible from wherever you choose to live. It has a number of satellite cities, so you can live close by but not in Canberra.
- Inner Canberra
- Forrest – Prestigious area with many families, close to Canberra Grammar School and Telopa Park School.
- Kingston – Trendy area with waterfront apartments and loads of dining options.
- Civic – Refers to the city centre.
- Braddon – in the inner north area, this has the ‘foodie’ area of Lonsdale Street, with beer gardens, cafes and restaurants galore.
Satellite cities
- Belconnen – the centre of Belconnen is on the banks of Lake Ginninderra, with Canberra University and the Australian Institute of Sport close by.
- Tuggeranong – This area is on the edge of the Brindabella range. It’s a great town for the kids and also has the Kambah Pools.
Transport around Canberra
Canberra central has great bike paths that take you everywhere you need to go. There’s a public transport system, with buses locally and light rail under construction. Learn more about finding your way around Canberra.
Ausmove makes your move to Canberra easy
When you’re moving to Canberra, you might be wondering about the process- what’s the best way to get you, and all your belongings there, with no fuss and stress? The answer is not blowing in the wind, the answer is AusMove.
Car shipping
Do you need to have your classic car, your pride and joy moved to Canberra with you? Or maybe it’s just going to work out to be more economical to take your car with you than buy a new one when you get there. Whatever it is, we can help you navigate the process, and help you weigh up the options. There are duties and taxes that may be applicable, so give us a call and we can work out what the best option for you is.
Moving your pets
Life in Canberra just won’t be the same without your fur-kids. Over the past few years, the legalities for getting your pets to Aussie have relaxed a bit. While there are still hurdles to jump, it’s a process which can easily be navigated. Don’t leave your pets behind when you move to Canberra- they want to move too.
Insurance
While we pack your household goods carefully and then look after them every step of the way, the unforeseen can happen. You need insurance to make sure you’re covered financially if something bad does happen- and also for peace of mind while your possessions make their way over to you. Give us a call to discuss the options we have for you.
Shipping
At AusMove, we have three shipping options for you to choose from.
For those super urgent things that just can’t wait, we have air freight. You can’t fit it in your luggage but you need it when you arrive? No problem.
A common option is a full container load. All your house contents, packed into one container, and shipped as soon as possible.
The cheapest option is a partial container load. You’ll have to wait for the container to be filled with other’s possessions too, so it might take longer than the full container option.
Packing
At times when you’re moving, life can feel like it’s eat, sleep, pack, repeat. If you would rather be out with friends (or just not knee-deep in bubble wrap trying to find the Sellotape every 20 seconds), we can help. Our professional team of packers will package up your possessions with care and ready them for transport. As well as making sure everything gets to Aussie in pristine condition, we also make sure the items comply with Australia’s strict customs requirements.
Items that require cleaning when they arrive can incur penalties and extra cleaning charges, so make sure you do everything properly the first time- and get us to do it for you.
Storage
When everything is packed (bar the kitchen sink, that’s chattels, leave it where it is), and you’re ready to go, AusMove come pick it up and will keep it in our state of the art storage facilities until you’re ready for it to be sent.
You don’t want to be worrying about logistics, or timing, or if your household goods are safe- you just want to be on your way. AusMove take away the stress and do all the hard work for you.
Once you’re ready for your goods to be shipped, sometimes things happen and you might not be ready when it arrives- maybe the house you purchased fell through, or you still haven’t found the perfect rental. It’s no problem, we have storage facilities in Australia too, so we can store your goods there until you’re ready for them.
Contact us today to see how we can help make your move to Australia easier.
With 25+ years of experience and total control over the process from door-to-door, we are the best choice for moves over the Tasman to Canberra.
