Major Cities

Capital Cities and Major Towns


Sydney is Australia’s largest city with a population of 4.5 million. It was established in 1788 and is the capital city of the state of New South Wales. It is famous for Sydney Harbor and the Sydney Harbor Bridge along with the Opera House. The central business district has many tall buildings and is often congested with heavy traffic. Outside of the city centre Sydney has many sprawling suburbs. Sydney has the largest suburban area of any city in the world including Beijing. There are many beautiful beaches and attractive bush land settings. Winter temperatures average between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius and in summer average temperatures range between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius.

Melbourne built along the Yarra River, is the second largest of Australia’s major cities. It is a clean well organized city with many beautiful parks and other attractions. Melbourne is the capital city of the state of Victoria where many migrants have settled over the past 140 years. As such it is Australia’s most multi-cultural city which is clearly reflected in the wide range of food, festivals and even architecture on display. Average winter temperatures range between 8 and 12 degrees Celsius and summer temperatures between 26 and 30 degrees. Melbourne is often described as Australia’s ‘rainy’ city.

Perth is the capital city of Western Australia. The city is smaller than Sydney and Melbourne but the population has grown significantly over the past two decades. The city skyline continues to grow taller and taller. It is a spacious city built along the Swan and Canning rivers and features many parks and gardens. There are beautiful beaches and attractive tree lined streets. Perth is a relaxed and friendly city. Average winter temperatures range between 10 and 14 degrees Celsius and summer temperatures between 25 and 32 degrees.

Adelaide like Melbourne has a very multi cultural feel. With a population of just over 1 million it is a small but attractive city. The city is dissected by the River Torrens and is surrounded by parklands. It is the capital of South Australia and has become a center for festivals and the arts which attract visitors from all over the world. Adelaide also has many beautiful beaches and is recognized for its acclaimed wines and diverse range of food. Average winter temperatures range between 10 and 14 degrees and summer temperatures between 26 and 32 degrees. Adelaide is a quiet city, easy to move around in and attractive to many students who do not want the distractions of ‘big city’ life.

Brisbane is the capital of the state of Queensland. It has a fast growing population which is currently around 2 million. The city has been built on the Brisbane River and has many leafy parks and gardens. It is not fast paced like Sydney and Melbourne and its spacious layout makes traffic movement less congested. Close to Brisbane are the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. The beaches along this stretch of coastline are world famous and attract thousands of holiday makers every year. Brisbane has a tropical climate and can experience heavy rainfall during the summer months. Winter temperatures average between 12 and 25 degrees Celsius and summer temperatures between 28 and 30 degrees.

Hobart is the smallest and coldest of Australia’s major cities. It is the capital city of the state of Tasmania and has a population of around 150 thousand. Tasmania is an island which is separated from the Australian mainland by Bass Straight. Hobart has a strong sense of history and was established before both Perth and Brisbane. It is a very green and attractive city set at the mouth of the Derwent River. Average winter temperatures range between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius and summer temperatures between 28 and 22 degrees.

Canberra is the capital city of Australia. It was established in 1911 and is the seat of the Australian government. It is a small city with a population of around 250 thousand. It has been well planned and has been described as the bush capital because of the large areas of natural bush land that have been incorporated into the city precincts and that also surround the external perimeters. Because of its inland location Canberra can experience extremely cold winter temperatures. Average winter temperatures range between 4 and 8 degrees Celsius and summer temperatures between 25 and 28 degrees.

Recommend this page