Canberra and the surrounding area of the ACT has several distinct areas offering various facilities sightseeing, attractions, events, gigs, entertainment venues, shopping centres, arts and crafts, accommodation, cafes, dining and recreation opportunities. Each area or precinct is within 30 minutes drive from the Central Business District (CIVIC), so it is simple and convenient to get around. In fact one of the best features of Canberra is that it is ‘very easy to get out of’. Canberra is a planned city and its development has been organised around four major centres – Belconnen, Civic (in the heart of Canberra), Woden, Tuggeranong, Gungahlin and the nearby NSW centres of Queanbeyan, Braidwood Yass and Bungendore. The major areas are: # Acton - Located in Civic on the northern side of
Lake Burley Griffin. Features include: National Film and Sound Archive and the National Museum of Australia. # Braddon lies just to the north of the CBD and includes: Paintbox Fine Art, The Hive, Helen Maxwell Gallery and the Gorman House Arts Centre. # Civic is Canberra's city centre and has a wonderful array of cafes, restaurants, shopping centres, cinemas, and the Canberra Theatre and Playhouse. # Dickson - to the north of Civic has a fabulous array of restaurants.# Yarralumla is home to nearly 80 embassies and high commissions and the Canberra Yacht Club. # Fyshwick is the industrial centre of Canberra, along with Hume and Mitchell. # Gungahlin is Canberra's newest satellite centres and has experienced a dramatic population increase over the last six years, and its facilities are expanding
rapidly. # Gold Creek Village at Nicholls, to the north west of Civic has a fabulous collection of art galleries, specialty stores and gift shops as well as the tourist attractions of the National Dinosaur Museum, Cockington Green Gardens, the Australian Reptile Centre, and the Bird Walk. Kingston lies on the southern shores of the lake and has fine shopping, fabulous cafes, great restaurants, a buzzing nightlife, the Old Bus Depot Markets and Canberra Glassworks. # Manuka is one of the oldest and most fashionable suburbs in Canberra and features fine shopping, a great nightlife, dining out venues and sports facilities. # Woden Valley lies to the south of Canberra and has a major shopping centre, offices clubs and pubs. Tuggeranong lies in the far south of Canberra and has been developed as
a satellite centre with offices and a shopping centre. It is home to the Tuggeranong Arts Centre. Belconnen lies to the north west of Civic nad has a major office and shopping centre complex and lots of entertainment venues such as clubs and pubs.