Australian Capital Territory
Practical Information for visiting Australian Capital Territory
Connectivity & Internet
Coverage and broadband are excellent throughout the built-up area.
Signal drops in Namadgi and the Brindabellas — assume none on the walking tracks.
Free Wi-Fi is standard in cafés and across the national institutions.
Stay Safe (2026 security update)
The ACT is among the safest places in Australia. Ordinary precautions are more than sufficient.
Bushfire is the serious risk. The 2003 fires reached the suburbs; on a declared Catastrophic day, plans change rather than continue.
Kangaroos cause a genuine number of collisions on the city fringe at dawn and dusk. Slow down on the parkway roads.
Winter frost makes roads slippery early in the morning, and the Brindabella roads can be icy. Summer UV is extreme despite the cool reputation.
Health Considerations
No vaccinations are required and tap water is safe.
Extreme temperature range is the thing to prepare for: 40°C summer afternoons and sub-zero winter mornings in the same city.
Hay fever is severe here in spring — grass pollen counts are among the highest in the country, and the city publishes daily readings.
Snakes are present around the nature reserves in summer.
Canberra Hospital is the major centre. Ambulance is not free for visitors; insurance is the practical answer.
Local Laws & Etiquette
Tipping is not expected. Wages are legally set and service is included.
Alcohol comes from licensed bottle shops; the drinking age is 18 and identification is checked routinely.
Total fire bans are legally binding and cover barbecues and camp stoves.
Security screening applies at Parliament House and several national institutions. Photography is generally permitted but restricted in specific galleries, and the War Memorial asks for quiet rather than enforcing it.
Drink-driving limits are low with random breath testing, and the Territory enforces speed limits strictly.
Emergency Information
000 reaches police, fire and ambulance; 112 also works from mobiles.
Canberra Hospital is the main emergency department, with a second at Calvary. Everything is close — the Territory is small.
Ambulance is not free for visitors.
For bushfire, the ACT Emergency Services Agency and the state broadcaster carry live warnings. In Namadgi expect no phone coverage, and log walks at the visitor centre.