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

592
CHAPTER 13 . CANBERRA
Single tickets cost A$2.40 (US$1.55) for adults and A$1.30 (US85¢) for children
5 to 15.
Weekly tickets cost A$23.50 (US$15), and 10 ride tickets cost A$21 (US$14).
Children travel for around half price. Purchase all tickets on the bus or from most
newsagents and ACTION interchanges.
For timetable information, call ACTION from Monday through Saturday
7am to 9pm, and Sunday from 8am to 6pm. Pick up bus route maps at bus
interchanges, newsagents, and the Canberra Visitors’ Centre.
Canberra City Sightseeing Tours (& 02/6257 3423) has double-decker
buses, which pull in at 11 attractions around the city. Visitors can get off and on
when they like. An all-day ticket costs A$25 (US$16) for adults and A$13
(US$8) for children.
BY BICYCLE Canberra is unique in Australia for its extensive system of cycle
tracks—some 120km (74 miles) of them—which makes sightseeing on two
wheels a very pleasurable experience. See “Outdoor Pursuits,” later in this chapter,
for details on bike rental.
FAST FACTS: Canberra
American Express The office at Centerpoint, Shop 1, 185 City Walk (at the
corner of Petrie Plaza), Civic (& 02/6247 2333), is open Monday through
Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturday from 9am to noon.
Business Hours Banks are generally open Monday through Thursday from
9:30am to 4pm and Friday from 9:30am to 5pm. Stores and offices are
open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5:30pm. Many shops, particularly
in the large malls, stay open weekends and until 9pm Fridays.
Climate The best time to visit Canberra is in spring (Sept–Nov) or autumn
(Mar–May). Summers are hot, and winters are cool and crisp.
Currency Exchange Cash traveler’s checks at banks, at American Express
(above), or at Thomas Cook, at the Petrie Plaza entrance of the Canberra
Centre (& 02/6257 2222), open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm
and Saturday from 9:30am to 12:30pm.
Dentist Canberra lacks a dental emergency referral service. A reputable
dentist in town is Lachland B. Lewis, Level 3, 40 Allara St., Civic (& 02/6257
2777, and for emergency calls only 02/6295 9495 on weekends).
Doctor The Capital Medical Centre, 2 Mort St., Civic (& 02/6257 3766), is
open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. A standard consultation
costs A$30 (US$20). The Travellers’ Medical & Vaccination Centre,
Level 5, 8–10 Hobart Place, Civic (& 02/6257 7154), offers vaccinations and
travel medicines. Standard consultations cost from A$40 (US$26).
E-mail The National Library, Parkes Place, Parkes (& 02/6262 1111), has
e-mail facilities available Monday through Thursday 9am to 5pm. Internet
accessibility is largely available in Canberra, from Internet cafes to Web
points to local libraries. A full listing can be obtained from the Canberra
Visitors’ Centre.
Embassies/Consulates The British High Commission (consular section) is
on the 10th floor of SAP Building, corner of Bunda and Akuna streets,
Canberra City. (& 02/6270 6666). The Canadian High Commission is at