Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 13 . CANBERRA
The Canberra Airport is about 10 minutes from the city center. Car-rental
desks can be found there, as well as a currency exchange, a bar, and a bistro.
Stamps are sold at the newsagent (newsstand), and a mailbox is provided for
cards and letters. The airport lacks lockers, showers, and a post office.
The Airliner Bus (& 02/6299 3722) operates a 20-minute shuttle between
the Central Business District and the airport Monday to Friday, leaving hourly.
They charge A$5 (US$3.25) per person one-way.
BY TRAIN A nice way to see the countryside while you’re in Australia is to take
the train. Countrylink (& 13 22 32 in Australia; www.countrylink.nsw.gov.au)
runs three Canberra Xplorer trains daily between Sydney and Canberra. The 4-
hour trip costs around A$70 (US$46) in first class and A$50 (US$33) in economy;
children are charged half price, and a return trip costs double. Many people
make use of Countrylink transport/hotel packages (call Countrylink Holidays at
& 13 28 29), which can save you quite a bit. There’s a range of hotels to choose
from in Canberra for between A$90 and A$190 (US$59–US$124) a night for a
couple, and if you book in advance (they recommend 2 weeks), you can save up
to 40% on the fare (through a Rail Escape package), too. Find the Countrylink
office at Wynyard CityRail station in Sydney.
From Melbourne, the Canberra Link, run by V/Line (& 13 61 96 in Australia),
involves a 5-hour bus trip and a 3 1 ⁄2-hour train trip. It costs A$55 (US$36)
for adults and A$34 (US$22) for children and students.
Canberra Railway Station (& 02/6239 6707) is on Wentworth Avenue,
Kingston, about 5km (3 miles) southeast of the city center. Coaches connect the
railway station to the center.
BY BUS Greyhound Pioneer (& 13 20 30 in Australia; www.greyhound.com.
au) does six runs a day from Sydney to Canberra. Tickets cost A$35 (US$23) for
adults, A$32 (US$21) for students with ISAC (International Student Activity
Card), and A$28 (US$18) for children 3 to 14; the trip takes 4 to 4 1 ⁄2 hours.
From Melbourne, tickets to Canberra cost A$56 (US$36) for adults, A$50
(US$33) for students, and A$45 (US$29) for children. (Advanced purchase
fares can save you up to 35%.)
Murrays Australia (& 13 22 51 in Australia) runs three services a day from
Sydney to Canberra for A$35 (US$23) for adults and A$19 (US$12) for children.
Ask for YHA member discounts. Several sightseeing companies in Sydney, including
AAT King’s, Murrays, and Australia Pacific Tours, offer day trips to Canberra
as well.
Interstate buses arrive at Jolimont Tourist Centre, at the corner of Northbourne
Avenue and Alinga Street, in Canberra City.
BY CAR The ACT (Australian Capital Territory) is surrounded by New South
Wales. Sydney is 306km (190 miles) northeast, and Melbourne is 651km (404
miles) southwest of Canberra. In late 2001 the traveling time to Canberra was
cut significantly following the opening of an extension to the M5 motorway that
linked with the Eastern Distributor near Sydney Airport. (Turn right before you
reach the airport and follow the signs to Wollongong, then the M5.) Now the
drive takes between 3 and 3 1 ⁄2 hours. From Melbourne, take the Hume Highway
to Yass, switch to the Barton Highway; the trip will take about 8 hours.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The Canberra Visitors’ Centre, 330 Northbourne Ave., Dickson, ACT 2600
(& 02/6205 0044, or 1300/554 114 in Australia), dispenses information and