Having grown up in Sydney for my entire childhood, I have always felt a certain affinity to the pristine harbour and busy life. But my move to Canberra for university three years ago has made me realise I love Canberra with all its ups and downs. There clearly are a multitude of perks to living in the Nation’s Capital. Here’s the first 10…

1. Peak hour traffic.
Peak hour in Canberra feels almost like a 15 to 20 minute clog of cars, compared to the 2.5 hours of break lights you face on Sydney roads.

2. Coffee.
I say this all the time to my friends. I can walk or drive anywhere in Canberra to my local breakfast spot or that café by the lake and be guaranteed a good cup of coffee. In Sydney it’s much more hit-and-miss.

3. Bikes
Although some of you may not ride them and some might find them pesky, being a cyclist in Canberra is a dream compared to Sydney. There are proper bike lanes around for us, the city is relatively flat (so it means less hard yards), and most Canberran drivers don’t get road rage at the sight of a bike!

4. Nights out
A fun night out with friends in Canberra is significantly cheaper than for our Sydney counterparts. Drinks are more reasonably priced, it’s easier and cheaper (generally) to get home by cab, and there’s no lock-out law ruining your fun too.

5. Lake Burley Griffin
Sydney may have the iconic harbour and Opera House as its main backdrop but I actually think the view of Lake Burley Griffin is better in different ways. With the National Carillion, the High Court and art galleries visible, it makes for a stunning walk or ride around the lake Canberra on a beautiful day. And hey, there’s definitely less crowding and tourists too…!

6. Convenience
Everything in Canberra that seems ‘far away’ is only like a 20-minute drive at most. The small distances we actually have to travel between suburbs is a surprising perk. Driving from one side of Sydney to another can take roughly two hours in itself!

7. Roads and parking
The roads are wider in Canberra and there are less cars, making for more pleasant driving. Plus, there’s less extreme paid parking and its only really limited to the city areas. $8.50 to go to Balmoral Beach in Sydney? I think no….

8. Breakfast
See Number 2 again! Basically, Canberra has become a foodie capital in the past few years. I’m in heaven.

9. Brodburger
Brod trumps any visits to Grill’d, Macca’s or your fancy local burger shop. Sydney cannot beat that – which is probably why Brodburger is opening there later this year!

10. Weather
Although some may rag on our cold winter days, Canberra really is one of the few Australian cities that experiences all four seasons. In summer it is hot, with blue skies and soaring temperatures. In autumn the leaves turn hues of red and orange and beautifully line the streets. In winter we wake up to frost on our grassy lawns and can see our breath outside. In spring, the flowers are in full bloom, the weather warms up and Floriade comes to town. Sydney has a mix between extreme heat, wind and unexpected rain that is not as visually stunning as Canberra.

Stay tuned for Part 2!

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