If you are planning a visit, move or longer stay, distinguish Canberra from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The ACT includes Canberra and nearby rural districts. It had an estimated 475,600 residents on 30 September 2024, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. That figure covers the whole territory, not Canberra alone.
For families, the ACT guarantees children and young people from kindergarten to Year 12 a place at their local public school. Your home address determines the priority enrolment area: the local school area where your child is entitled to a place. Check the ACT Education Directorate’s school information before choosing a suburb or signing a lease.
Preschool has separate enrolment rules. The ACT provides up to 300 hours of free preschool each year for eligible three-year-olds through participating early childhood education and care services. Places, eligibility and enrolment arrangements vary by provider. Confirm vacancies, session times and eligibility with the ACT Government and the service you are considering.
Where you live affects your daily travel, access to services, school options and exposure to Canberra’s seasonal weather. Consider these factors together when planning a stay or choosing a suburb.
Renting a home in Canberra
Choose suburbs based on the trips you expect to make each week. Check travel times to work or study, public transport at the times you expect to travel, and access to shops, health care and childcare. The Transport Canberra journey planner helps compare routes. Check peak-period travel times as well as scheduled services.
If you have school-age children, check the address against the ACT’s public-school priority enrolment area maps before signing a lease. Enrolment outside your priority area depends on vacancies.
Compare current listings for the suburbs and property types that suit your household, whether you need a unit, townhouse or house. Budget for each property’s advertised weekly rent rather than an undated Canberra-wide average. Alongside rent, budget for utility bills and internet, plus parking, transport and moving costs. Check what the advertised rent includes.
Read the tenancy agreement before signing. ACT tenancy agreements have no cooling-off period. For a unit title property, such as an apartment or townhouse in a shared ownership scheme, the landlord must provide a unit title rental certificate before you enter the agreement. The certificate sets out the owners corporation rules that apply to tenants. The ACT Government’s guidance on starting a tenancy lists the required documents and checks.
The ACT’s rental laws guide explains how the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 applies to private, government and community housing rentals. Before the tenancy starts, the landlord must give you the Renting Book or tell you how to access it. The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) hears rental disputes, including some disputes between co-tenants.
If you share a lease, record how you will divide rent, bills and bond contributions. Moving out does not end your responsibilities under the lease unless the other parties agree or ACAT makes an order. ACAT’s co-tenancy guidance explains how to leave a shared tenancy.
After moving, update the details linked to your new address. The ACT Government’s new-resident guidance says interstate movers have three months to update relevant details with Access Canberra. If you drive, obtain an ACT driver licence within that period. Check your suburb’s bin collection calendar for collection days and the correct bins to put out.
Getting around Canberra
Transport Canberra runs buses and light rail through the MyWay+ ticketing system. Tap on and off with a MyWay+ card or a contactless Mastercard or Visa. You can also use that contactless card through a phone or watch. The MyWay+ app provides journey planning and real-time service information.
From 10 January 2026, adult fares were $3.41 at peak times and $2.70 off-peak. Daily caps were $10.16 on weekdays and $6.22 on weekends and public holidays. After the first tap, the same ticket includes a free transfer between bus and light rail within 90 minutes. For current prices, concession eligibility and fare conditions, see Transport Canberra’s fares page.
Public transport works best when regular trips follow direct routes and service times. A car is more useful when work, school, study, shopping or family travel requires indirect routes, several transfers or travel outside frequent service hours. Before choosing a suburb, compare door-to-door times for the trips your household will make most often.
Canberra weather by season
Canberra has warm to hot summers and cold winters. Long-term averages at Canberra Airport put the average January maximum at about 29°C and the average July maximum at about 12°C. Winter overnight minimums average close to 0°C. These figures describe climate: weather measured over many years at one location. Conditions vary between suburbs and from day to day, so check that accommodation has effective heating and cooling and pack layers for outdoor plans.
A single month’s readings show the range of daily temperatures. At Canberra Airport in October 2025, the lowest recorded temperature was −1.8°C and the highest was 32.0°C. Those readings describe that month, not typical October conditions. The BOM’s long-term climate averages show seasonal patterns, historical observations show past daily weather, and the Canberra forecast gives current conditions.
Summer calls for light clothing, sun protection and earlier outdoor activities on hot days. In winter, wear warm layers and make sure your home has reliable heating. Spring and autumn bring cool mornings and warmer afternoons, so take an extra layer when you will be out all day.
Rain falls in every season. At Canberra Airport, average rainfall is about 170 mm in summer and 140 mm in autumn. Winter averages 130 mm, while spring averages 185 mm, making it the wettest season on average. Check the forecast before events, walks and travel when rain, frost or heat will affect your plans.