Canberra Lifestyle
Canberra is a beautiful city set against a backdrop of stunning mountain ranges and Australian countryside.
With local transport networks and an exceptionally clean and safe environment it has become a mecca for young families and singles alike. Canberra's proximity to the snow in winter, and beaches in summer, each just a couple of hours away by car, make for weekend breaks where sporting and leisure activities can be enjoyed.
Weeknights can be indulged too whether it's the café society of Manuka or the delights of choosing from the cosmopolitan restaurants of Dickson, a night at the movies or partying into the small hours. There are entertainment facilities spread right across the capital. Whatever your preferences, Canberra has a great deal to offer.
To find out more about Canberra see: http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/ [
] .
Before you get to Canberra
The following websites may be useful for gathering background information before you arrive in Canberra and for assisting you in finding your way around when you get here.
- The Canberra Times: canberra.yourguide.com.au []
- Real Estate: canberra.propertyguide.com.au []
- Places, Events and Activities: www.canberratourism.com.au []
- ACT Government Services: www.canberraconnect.act.gov.au []
- Canberra Street Maps: http://www.actmapi.act.gov.au/ []
- Programs for Youth: www.youth.act.gov.au []
- Canberra City Information: www.canberra.citysearch.com.au [] or www.nationalcapital.gov.au []
Finding somewhere to live
There are a number of websites that advertise properties for sale or to rent that you may like to check out before arriving in Canberra. These sites will give you an idea of the price of buying or renting and will give you a head start in looking for a place to live.
- Canberra property for sale, rent and share: www.allhomes.com.au []
- University share accommodation: accom.anu.edu.au []
- Canberra Real Estate Agents: www.reiact.com.au []
Meeting other graduates
Graduates from previous years have formed their own internal social network amongst one another, and there is also the Social Network of Graduates (SNoG) which is external to Finance that organises various activities and events.
For further information see: http://www.snog.orac.net.au/social.htm [].
Getting into sport
There are many local sporting clubs in Canberra that welcome new members. If you ask around once you start at Finance you may find that your colleagues are more than happy to introduce you to their sporting club or introduce you to someone they know who plays your sport. In previous years some Finance graduates have even formed their own netball, football and rugby teams and entered local competitions.
Once you get here
Canberra has many attractions and places to explore from the Australian War Memorial to great bush walking tracks, so expect your first couple of weekends to be filled with sightseeing. In fact having so much to do is one of the best things about the capital.
Local Attractions
The following attractions are free to the public and make sure you allow at least a couple of hours, as there is so much to see.
- The National Gallery of Australia: www.nga.gov.au []
- Australian Institute of Sport: www.ais.org.au []
- Parliament House: www.aph.gov.au []
- National Library of Australia: www.nla.gov.au []
- The National War Memorial: www.awm.gov.au []
Cool places to eat in Canberra
Canberra has a huge range of restaurants catering to all tastes. A good starting point is the Canberra City Search website located at http://canberra.citysearch.com.au/section/food_wine/ [].
The Snowy Mountains
The Snowy Mountains are only a short drive from Canberra and offer excellent skiing and bush walking. There are many organised day or weekend trips down to the snow from Canberra for quite reasonable prices.
Check out the following websites for further detail:
- The Snowy Mountains: www.snowymountains.com.au []
- South Coast Snowy Mountains: www.southcoast.com.au/snowy []
- Holidays at the Snow: www.snowholidays.com.au []
- Australian Travel: www.oztravel.com.au []
The South Coast
The South Coast offers a plentitude of beaches that are only an hour and a half away. In the past, groups of Finance graduates have organised weekends away at beach houses down the coast.
Check out the following websites for further detail:
- South Coast (beach): www.southcoast.com.au []
- South Coast Information: www.southcoastleisuretimes.com.au []
- The Sapphire Coast: www.sapphirecoast.com.au []
Canberra Sporting Events
As Canberra is home not only to the Australia Institute of Sport but also to many national sporting teams, there is always some sporting event to watch. Check these websites out for further information:
- Canberra Capitals Women's NBL: www.canberracapitals.com []
- Canberra Raiders - Canberra's Rugby League Team: www.raiders.com.au []
- ACT Brumbies - Canberra's Rugby Union Team: www.brumbies.com.au []
Other Useful Links
Please see below further links that may be of assistance:
- Action Buses: www.action.act.gov.au []
- Canberra Connect: www.canberraconnect.act.gov.au []
- Travelmate: www.travelmate.com.au []
There is also a lot of information offered by the Department to ensure you have all the information you need. Each graduate will receive a graduate information pack prior to you commencing employment that contains some useful information to make you feel more at ease.
Contact for information on this page: Recruitment and Retention Team