Canberra is a young capital. After the federation of Australia in 1901, Melbourne and Sydney tried to claim national capital status. In 1908, a solution was found by selecting a location somewhere in between. A planned city, like many other capitals in the world, Canberra was designed by American architect Walter Burley Griffin after he won an international architectural competition in 1912. The spirit of his original design, which celebrates Canberra's natural environment, is still evident as the city grows.

While Canberra is famous for politicians, parks, art galleries, museums, monuments and wineries, it is also a place where you can purchase fireworks and X-rated pornography legally. A loophole in federal law makes the ACT and the Northern Territory the only places in Australia where you can happily add these to your basket without fear of being tapped on the shoulder and arrested. To find these outlets just drive around the industrial suburbs Fyshwick and Mitchell.

The gay scene is almost non-existent in Canberra except for one club and one sauna. But what this civic-minded city lacks in clubs and bars, it makes up for in parks. As you drive around Canberra taking in all the beautiful parks, you just never know who might be beating around the bushes.

The nation's capital is home to many of Australia's most important public buildings, artworks and institutions. It is sometimes referred to as the bush capital because pockets of bushland reserve extend almost to the city centre and more than half of the Australian Capital Territory, within which Canberra lies, is classified as national park or nature reserve.

With a population of more than 313,000 people, Canberra is the city that Federation created. Australia's national government sits here, as does the top court of the land, the High Court. Many of the most important monuments in the country are located in Canberra and visited by millions of people each year. These attractions include the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia and Canberra's newest attraction, the National Museum of Australia.

Canberra has hot and very dry summers with temperatures reaching in the high 30C (86F). Winters are cold thanks to Canberra’s 600 meters altitude, its geographic position, and the proximity to the Snowy Mountains. You will, however, experience clear blue skies almost all year round.  Spring brings out the best in Canberra with flowers and colour. The Canberra Floriade Show (www.floriadeaustralia.com) is in October and the whole town comes alive transformed celebrating spring and natures beauty, flowers.

SpringOut, Canberra's queer pride festival celebrating the diversity of local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex communities, runs for almost three weeks every November. Enjoy a fun filled, empowering and fabulous time during the SpringOut festival. Choose to get involved with as many events as possible.

All of the events in the SpringOut Festival are undertaken by individual groups within the Canberra gay community, putting in lots of volunteer effort so we can have fun.

For more info and programs log on to www.springout.interact.com.au