What are the Australian state capitals?
The best known Australian state capitals are Sydney, New South Wales, and Melbourne, Victoria. Elsewhere, the Australian state capitals are Brisbane in Queensland, Adelaide in South Australia, Perth in Western Australia and Hobart in Tasmania. The national Australian capital city is Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, while Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory.
State capital city of New South Wales
Australia’s largest city, Sydney, is the best known of the Australian state capitals. The state capital of New South Wales gets attention for its beaches. Tourists love to tackle Bondi to Coogee coastal walk from Bondi Beach and stop for a swim at Bronte Beach.
But there are also delightful swimming beaches on Sydney Harbour, which also boasts several harbour islands, the world class Taronga Zoo and the highly moochable Rocks Market. The best way to take it in is up to you. Expensive options include the Bridgeclimb and a scenic seaplane flight. Somewhat cheaper are climbing the Pylon Lookout of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and kayak rentals.
But Sydney has other sides to it, as you’ll discover while admiring Frank Gehry architecture in Ultimo. Or maybe checking out the Inner West murals on a Newtown street art tour then browsing the Glebe Markets
Western Sydney feels like another city altogether. But it’s where you can try a gantry tour at the 2020 Olympic Stadium, the Featherdale Wildlife Park in Doonside and jetpack flying in Penrith. It’s also possible to stay in a caravan park in the middle of a national park and cruise along the Nepean River in the Nepean Belle paddlewheeler.
Australian state capitals: Victoria
The state capital of Victoria is Melbourne, internationally known for its buzzy city centre laneways. These are crammed with hip bars, restaurants and some of the best street art in the southern hemisphere. They’re also interspersed with shopping arcades and heritage buildings on the main streets.
Cricket fans will want to visit the MCG, but others might like to try an Aboriginal tour of the Botanic Gardens. For hip Melbourne, go hopping between vegan restaurants in Fitzroy, drinking in a bar under the Southbank Pedestrian Bridge or hanging out at St Kilda beach. You can also try barefoot bowling, an educational visit to the Immigration Museum and dropping into the bizarre Cooks’ Cottage.
South Australia‘s main city
A drive along the Great Ocean Road and Limestone Coast brings you to Adelaide, state capital of South Australia. It’s surrounded by the wine regions of the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills. But Adelaide is more than a hub. You’ll find grand heritage buildings and lovingly-curated museums. It’s also a nature-blessed city. Discover this side on a Glenelg dolphin cruise, an Adelaide bike tour or bushwalking with koalas at Morialta. The more adventurous might like to take on the Adelaide Oval Roofclimb or TreeClimb Adelaide.
State capital city of Queensland
Australia’s third largest city is public art-filled Brisbane, state capital of Queensland. It is a laid-back, outdoorsy place, huddling around the Brisbane River and City Botanic Gardens. Brisbane’s history isn’t up to much, but you can hang out in a shipping container food hall, hold koalas at the Lone Pine sanctuary and go rock-climbing at Kangaroo Point. It’s not known as a beach city – the Streets Beach on Southbank is a big artificial pool – but the coastal Manly to Wynnum walk will teach you a lot about mangroves.
State capital of Western Australia
Bright, sunny Perth is the state capital of Western Australia. Meet at Yagan Square, Elizabeth Quay or London Court, then go bushwalking and admire the views from Kings Park or take a Swan River cruise past Heirisson Island. Perth envelopes Fremantle, the departure point for Rottnest Island ferries. Freo is also home to bazillions of cafés, fascinating museums and convict-era buildings such as the Fremantle Prison. Close to Perth International Airport is the Swan Valley wine region, which also has plenty of distillers and food producers.
Australian state capitals: State capital of Tasmania
The smallest of Australia’s state capitals is Hobart in Tasmania, which is best visited in the summer. Hobart offers plenty of convict history, an engaging waterfront and Australia’s most audacious art museum, MONA. You can even stay at the hotel where Roald Amundsen stayed on his return from the Antarctic and go surfing at nearby Clifton Beach.
Capital of the Australian Capital Territory
Canberra, a four hour train journey from Sydney or seven hour drive from Melbourne, is both the capital of Australia and capital of the relatively tiny Australian Capital Territory. Based around Lake Burley-Griffin, Canberra hosts Australia’s Parliament House, the National Carillon and several important museums, including the National Capital Exhibition. It is also surrounded by bushland such as the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, making it a fabulous spot for hot air ballooning.
Capital of the Northern Territory
Last but not least, Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory. Usually seen as a gateway to Kakadu National Park’s birdwatching, crocodile cruises, lookouts and rock art, Darwin is more than a mere functional hub town. Experience a cyclone simulator at Darwin’s best museum and swim in the Wave Lagoon. Then enjoy sunset at the Mindil Beach Market and explore the World War II Oil Storage Tunnels. Or maybe get in the water with a crocodile at the Cage of Death.
