Homestay Canberra

Welcome to Australian Homestay Network Canberra!

Canberra is the nation’s capital, selected in 1908 as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne. It is unusual among Australian cities, being an entirely planned city. The city’s design was influenced by the garden city movement and incorporates significant areas of natural vegetation that have earned Canberra the title of the “bush capital”. As the city has a high proportion of public servants, the federal government contributes the largest percentage of Gross State Product and is the largest single employer in Canberra.

Studying in Canberra

• The Australian National University
• Australian National University College
• Australian Catholic University
• University of Canberra
• Canberra Institute of Technology
• The University of New South Wales (UNSW)

We’re here to make sure you have the best homestay experience possible. Our team has been operating in Canberra for over 10 years, so we know the city well, and can provide you with advice about the local areas, community events and public transport options.

Places to Visit

• Australian Parliament House The home of Australia’s Parliament and the meeting place of a nation, Australian Parliament House offers visitors to Canberra a unique experience.
• Australian War Memorial The Australian War Memorial combines a shrine, a world-class museum, and an extensive archive. The Memorial’s purpose is to commemorate the sacrifice of those Australians who have died in war. Its mission is to assist Australians to remember, interpret and understand the Australian experience of war and its enduring impact on Australian society.
• National Gallery of Australia The collection of over 100,000 pieces contains Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, as well as Australian, Asian and international works.

Annual Events

• Enlighten (March 2 – 18.)
• Balloon Spectacular (March 10 – 18)

Weather

Canberra has a mostly dry climate with warm to hot summers and cool winters. Canberra has around nine hours a day of sunshine in summer, dropping to around five hours in winter. January is the hottest month with average maximum temperatures of 28°C. The average annual rainfall is 629 mm with October being the wettest month. During winter snow falls in the nearby Australian Alps. Average daily temperatures in the city during winter are around 11°C; dropping below 0°C at night.

More details can be found here – Canberra Weather

Cost of Living

Rent per month – city centre
(1 bedroom apartment)
$1640.58

Rent per month – outside city centre
(1 bedroom apartment)
$1215.20

One-way ticket on public transport
$4.00

McMeal/combo meal at McDonald’s
$10.00

330ml bottle of Coca-Cola
$3.11

Movie ticket
$15.00

Regular cup of coffee
$4.21

You can also use the Insider Guides Cost of Living Calculator to estimate living expenses in cities around Australia.