Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territory is the smallest self-governing territory in Australia , and is situated within New South Wales . The territory was established to provide neutral grounds for the national government, thus preventing more influence for one state. The actual transfer of land from New South Wales happened in 1911, while the construction of Canberra , the current capital of Australia , began in 1913. Although Canberra is the most-well known city in the ACT, the city is by no means everything ACT has to offer. The state/territory has vast agricultural lands and a large part of the Namadgi National Park is located in ACT. Furthermore, several small towns such as Williamsdale and Tharwa may be well worth a visit if you are looking to see a different side of Australia .

The climate in ACT differs from what you have come to expect in Australia , predominately because of the elevation and distance from the coast. ACT is situated on 650 m above sea level and the region experiences 4 distinct and different seasons. This may impact on your rental car experience as rainfall and thunderstorms may lead to slippery roads. It is also worth nothing that some of the mountain areas of ACT will have snow for part of the winters. Furthermore, even in Canberra you may, in winter-time, experience frost on the roads and slippery conditions so it is important to prepare before driving.