Canberra offers a fresh start in more ways than one. It is a beautiful city of wide open spaces, fresh air, community living and a more relaxed way of life.

Although the ACT is approximately 80km from North to South and is only 30km wide, you will still enjoy the best in cosmopolitan living. Canberra offers all the city services and lifestyle amenities of a world-class capital - an excellent transport network, great shopping, an exciting nightlife and a stylish café/restaurant culture.

ACT at a glance

• Population: Over 320,000

• Capital city: Canberra

• Main language: English

• Average climate: Summer 10 – 38 degrees Celsius and Winter 0 – 14 degrees Celsius

Thousands of jobs

Imagine living in a city where you can get to work – even during 'rush hour' – in an average of 20 minutes. A city with no toll roads, no pollution and no stressful traffic snarls - where you spend less time in traffic and more time doing the things you love.

The city is at the centre of the dynamic capital region, and is home to a booming and increasingly diverse economy. Canberra's unemployment rate is at a near-record low, at under 3.0%, and is always significantly below the national average. That means skilled and qualified workers are in demand, and there is no shortage of opportunities in the workplace.

Live it up, or play it down

If outdoor pursuits are your thing, look no further than the picturesque bushland that surrounds the city. Some of the activities available include mountain biking, bushwalking or sailing. The ski slopes are just two hours drive away and the beaches at the South Coast are less than a two-hour drive. There are 10 golf courses and great facilities for other sports, from tennis to touch football, from cricket to croquet.

With numerous lakes and rivers in and around the city, there are plenty of places to enjoy a nice picnic and during summer, enjoy a cool and refreshing swim. There are also quiet places to enjoy a spot of fishing not more than an hours drive from the city.

As well as being home to many of Australia's sporting heroes (and their training ground, the Australian Institute of Sport), Canberra fields top teams in rugby league and rugby union, basketball, netball and hockey.

Canberra, Australia's Capital City

Designed by the American architect Walter Burley Griffin, the Australian capital of Canberra is a city of circles and rectangles, wide streets and boulevards. Set amidst snowy mountains and native bush, it is a veritable showcase of architectural styles, from the 1800s to the present.

This planned city – one of the few in the world - is famous for its lake, parklands and native bushland surrounds. Beneath the foliage, Canberra offers stylish restaurants, hip bars, boutique shopping and a non-stop calendar of festivals and events.

For more information about buying property in Australia, speak to one of the property specialists at Intellichoice today on +61 7 3624 1900. Intellichoice can also assist you with all your finance needs, including sourcing a home loan or investment loan to suit your needs and circumstances, insurance, foreign currency exchange, tax planning and more.