Canberra, the heart of Australia and the nation’s capital is a planned city famous for its unique blend of natural beauty and urban sophistication. In a 2023 study by Oxford Economics Canberra was ranked as the second-best city in the world for quality of life, thanks to its tree-lined streets, arresting architecture, diverse job prospects, lively culture, and world-class cultural institutions. If you’ve decided to move interstate to Canberra, there’s a lot waiting for you – but you need to get there first. Relocating long-distance is notoriously stressful, and can be unnecessarily ex pensive if not planned and researched properly. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive Canberra moving guide so that you can get your new life – whether for work, family, or work reasons – off to the best start possible.Contents1 Key Takeaways2 Getting To Know Canberra2.1 Neighbourhoods And Suburbs In Canberra2.1.0.1 North Canberra:2.1.0.2 South Canberra:2.1.0.3 Weston Creek and Molonglo Valley:2.2 Choosing Where To Live In Canberra3 Planning Your Interstate Move To Canberra3.1 Creating A Moving Checklist3.1.1 In the weeks and months before moving3.1.2 In the days before moving:3.1.3 Moving day:3.1.4 After moving:3.2 Setting A Timeline For Your Move3.3 Finding Your New Home3.3.1 Renting:3.3.2 Buying:4 Tips For Home Hunting in Canberra5 Choosing Your Interstate Removalists For Canberra5.1 Researching And Choosing Your Moving Partner6 Understanding Moving Costs And Quotes7 Packing For Your Long-Distance Move To Canberra7.1 Streamline Your Packing And Unpacking7.2 Get To Decluttering8 Getting Through Moving Day9 Navigating The Unexpected10 Settling In To Your New Home In Canberra10.1 Unpacking Tips10.2 Exploring Your New Neighbourhood11 Practicalities And Transport In Canberra 11.1 Transport In Canberra11.2 Updating Your Details And Local Service Registration12 Summary And Further Reading 13 Experienced Interstate Removalists For Canberra13.1 Other Interstate Removalist ServicesKey TakeawaysResearch: Before choosing to move interstate to Canberra, understand the city itself, the neighbourhoods, amenities, job market, housing situation, and culture.Plan carefully: Create a detailed plan that includes budgets, timelines, logistics, and contingencies.Find your home: Decide whether you want to rent or buy, then research neighbourhoods that align with your needs and budget.Pick the right removalists: Research interstate removalists, compare quotes, check reviews, and ask the right questions.Pack efficiently: Start early, use quality materials, go room by room, create a detailed inventory, and don’t forget to label.Master moving day: Confirm arrangements, engage with your team, pack essentials separately.Settling in: Unpack systematically, prioritise essentials, and personalise your new home.Explore Canberra: Get to know local transport options, check out nearby and citywide events and attractions, and engage with your new community. Getting To Know CanberraCanberra is highly distinctive thanks to its planned city design featuring defined town centres, purpose-built residential suburbs and green spaces, and geometric street patterns. Here’s a quick rundown of the different areas.Neighbourhoods And Suburbs In CanberraNorth Canberra:Inner North: Includes Braddon, Ainslie, and Dickson, known for their trendy cafes, restaurants, and proximity to the city centre.Gungahlin: An expanding mix of new developments, vibrant communities, and family-friendly suburbs.South Canberra:Inner South: Quiet and leafy areas including Manuka, Kingston, and Griffith, featuring fine dining, boutique shopping, and heritage charm.Woden Valley: A well-established area made up of residential suburbs, the Westfield Woden shopping centre, and government offices.Tuggeranong: The southernmost region, known nature reserves, family-oriented suburbs, and the Tuggeranong Hyperdome shopping centre.Weston Creek and Molonglo Valley:Weston Creek: Well-developed with long-established suburbs, parklands, and Cooleman Court shopping centre.Molonglo Valley: A relatively recent area with modern housing and a focus on sustainability. Choosing Where To Live In CanberraEveryone has different priorities for when it comes to their neighbourhood. If you’re not sure and are open to choice, the following points will help you narrow down where you might want to make your new home.Distance to work: If you’re moving interstate for work , find out exactly where your new workplace will be, and take it from there. You don’t want to spend too much money and time on public transportation.Schools: If you’re moving interstate to Canberra with kids, then the kind of school you want for them should affect your choice. Canberra has a mix of private and public schools, so do what you can to research their respective educational philosophies and costs.Services and conveniences: Think about what will be around you, including grocery shops, medical centres, post offices, banks, transport links, and other essential services.Lifestyle: You’ve got your pick in Canberra for your particular lifestyle. Think about if you want to be near the action of a buzzing high street, in a quiet suburb surrounded by parks, or something in between. Budget: Housing prices vary across Canberra, with inner-city suburbs costing more than those on the periphery. If you have a budget in mind, this will help to guide your search. Inner-city suburbs tend to be more expensive than outer suburbs. Transport: If public transportation is important, choose a location with frequent bus or light rail service. For those who will primarily drive, consider areas with easy access to major roads and minimal traffic congestion.For more information on Canberra’s suburbs, take a look at the official page on Visit Canberra. Planning Your Interstate Move To CanberraMoving interstate is a daunting prospect, and it can be difficult to know where to start, and how to keep track of it all. This section is all about the steps you can take to keep everything manageable, and on time.Creating A Moving ChecklistDon’t underestimate the power of a checklist – it’ll help you prioritize tasks, track your progress, and ensures that nothing gets overlooked. Here’s what one might look like, and when things should happen.In the weeks and months before movingResearch and book your interstate moving company.Gather packing supplies.Start decluttering and organizing your belongings.Notify relevant parties, such as services, utilities, subscriptions etc. about your change of address.Research pet transport requirements if moving interstate with pets.If you’re taking a car but not driving it there, look into how much it costs to move a car interstate.In the days before moving:Confirm times, places and any special instructions with your removalists.Pack essentials for moving day.If needed, arrange for cleaning and repairs of the old property.Moving day:Supervise loading of belongings.Conduct a final walkthrough.Lock up and return the keys.After moving:Unpack the essentials.Update identification documents.Explore your new neighbourhood.Now, the above is just an overview to give you an idea of what’s involved. For a detailed specification that you can download and follow, grab our handy interstate moving checklist.Setting A Timeline For Your MoveA detailed timeline for your moving task will give you a much better chance of hitting the milestones in an organized way. Start by working backward from your moving date and assigning deadlines everything on your checklist. Be realistic about the time required for each task and leave some buffer for unexpected delays.Here’s a sample timeline to give you an idea:8 Weeks: Start researching interstate removalists and decluttering.6 Weeks: Book your chosen removalists.4 Weeks: Pack non-essential items.2 Weeks: Pack your main cargo and notify relevant parties of your change of address.1 Week: Pack essentials and confirm moving arrangements.Moving Day: Supervise loading and do a final check of the property for anything left behind.Finding Your New HomeMoving interstate means that you’re going to have to make some serious choices about where you’re going to live, and the nature of the accommodation. Your individual budget, needs, and preferences will inform the choice, but to help you narrow things down in your mind, here’s some information on the differences between buying and renting.Renting:Pros: Gives you more flexibility, with lower upfront costs and fewer responsibilities for aspects such as property repair. It’s a good choice for newcomers who have a limited budget, and aren’t fully confident in their choice of neighbourhood.Cons: As you won’t own the home, you’ll have limited control over the property itself, and rental prices. Rental prices often fluctuate and don’t necessarily offer the best value for your money.Average cost: As of June 2024, the median weekly rent for a house in Canberra was around $650, while a unit cost around $500.Buying:Pros: Makes for a great investment, value will go up, more control over your living space. Suitable for those who are sure of the area and want to live in Canberra long-term.Cons: Needs huge capital up front for purchase including costs for legal proceedings. You’ll also be responsible for maintenance and repair, with less flexibility to move.Average cost: As of June 2024, the median house price is around $1.1 million, with a unit price going for around $600,000.For more insights into prices and trends, here is a fantastic look at prices per suburb in Canberra, and a useful property report by Allhomes. Tips For Home Hunting in CanberraGet pre-approved: If you’re buying, getting yourself pre-approved for a loan will give you a better understanding of your budget, and the offers you can make.Talk to a local estate agent: A local agent will know better than a nationwide one, and can provide more targeted advice and insights on specific areas and values.Be realistic: You’ll likely find that things cost more than, and nowhere will be perfect. You’ll have to make compromises to suit your budget.Act fast: The property market moves fast. If you find somewhere you like, you’ll have to make your choice quickly, or you’ll probably lose it.Go to open houses: Open houses and auctions are regularly scheduled events, and will give you valuable insights into current market conditions, and a better understanding of how a property’s features and condition correlate with the asking price.Know the area: As above, you need to be well acquainted with the local services, conveniences, and proximity to the workplace and schools before making your choice.Check online listings: Take a look at Allhomes, Domain, and Realestate.au to see what’s out there. Choosing Your Interstate Removalists For CanberraNo Canberra interstate moving guide would be compete without understanding how to pick your moving team. Interstate removalists come in all shapes and sizes, and going with the wrong one can make the difference between a smooth move, and a nightmare.Researching And Choosing Your Moving PartnerCheck their credentials: One of the first things to look for is whether or not the company is part of the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA). This means that they are accredited and guarantee a professional service with insurance coverage.Get personal recommendations: Ask friends, family, and colleagues about their experiences with moving companies, or know someone that has moved recently. There’s no better evidence than a personal experience.Compare different companies: Get quotes from at least three different interstate removals companies to see how their prices compare, and what is included in the service.Check their services: See if your potential moving partner can offer extra services you may need, such as storage, cleaning, packing, and unpacking.Visit their website and check reviews: Take a look at the company website to find out more about how they work, and check review platforms such as TrustPilot and Google Reviews to see what people have to say about them. Understanding Moving Costs And QuotesMoving service quotes aren’t complicated, but there are certain things you’ll need to look out for – both to notice red flags, and also to understand what you’re getting for your money.Get detailed quotes: Make sure that your quotes outline all costs involved, and are fully transparent about any admin costs or hidden fees.Compare carefully: Don’t go for the cheapest option – instead, look at the overall value that’s on offer, including the reputation of the company, the quality of their equipment, and levels of insurance coverage.Don’t forget the additional services: Account for extra expenses if you go for added services such as packing, unpacking, cleaning, furniture disassembly, and specialist cargo handling.Understand the payment terms: It’s important to know when payment is due, what payment methods are accepted, and what kind of cancellation fees there are.Insurance: Find out what level of insurance is on offer for your cargo, and what kind of options you have for additional cover for expensive and specialty cargo. Packing For Your Long-Distance Move To CanberraNext up in our Canberra moving guide: Packing. There’s no getting away from it, and is easily one of the most-hated aspects of moving. One thing we suggest is to remember that it can be an ongoing process, so as long as you start early enough, you’ll be just fine.Streamline Your Packing And UnpackingHave a timeline: start super early to avoid last-minute rushes, with a schedule for each room, or type of cargo.Gather quality supplies: Don’t get cheap boxes and materials, as this could result in your cargo getting damaged. Talk to your removalist company, who may be able to supply you with boxes, padding, bubble wrap, tape, and anything else needed.Room by room: Start with less-used rooms and cargo, such as guest rooms or storage areas. Then pack items in groups, such as books (here’s a guide on that), clothing, kitchenware, bedroom, and so onLabel properly: Make sure that each box has a number, a note about the contents, which way up it goes, and whether or not the contents are fragile.Consider colour coding: One way to quickly identify the contents of a box is to use a color-coded sticker system. For example, you could use red stickers for kitchen items, blue for bedroom items, and green for living room items.Prepare a ‘first night’ box: You won’t want to go digging in your main boxes on your first night home. Have a special box packed with bedsheets, toiletries, medication, basic kitchenware, and other things you’ll need quickly and easily.Use suitcases and bags: Save on boxes by using backpacks, suitcases, and gym bags for soft cargo such as clothing and shoes.Protect breakables: Give fragile items extra bubble wrap and protection, making sure that the boxes are full, and that the contents won’t shift around and break when moved.Create an inventory: Use a spreadsheet or word processor to document which boxes have which code or number, so that you can make sure that when everything is unloading, nothing is left behind. Get To DeclutteringAll of us have a bunch of clothing, shoes, DVDs, books, and old utensils that we haven’t touched for months if not years – and instead of sorting through it all, we just put them away. Well, moving is a great time to donate, sell, or dispose of these items. Not only will you lighten the load to unpack, but you can save on moving costs as well. The best way to go about this is to start as early as possible, so that you don’t feel pressured to get rid of everything. Next, sort into categories based on whether you’re donating, selling or throwing away. And, if you can: be ruthless. Getting Through Moving DayEverything you’ve done so far has led up to this day – but there’s still more to do. Despite all that planning, moving day can still be stressful, so here’s how you can go about keeping things calm and efficient.Do a final walkthrough – Check all rooms, closets, draws, and other storage areas for anything you may have forgotten to pack or dispose of.Disconnect utilities – Turn off power and water at the source if instructed to do so by your landlord, and confirm with utility suppliers.Handover the keys – If you’re renting, arrange a time and place with your landlord to give back the keys.Supervise your removalists – Without micromanaging, stay close to your removalists so that you can communicate any special requests for them, or to point out fragile items.Check the inventory – Confirm the inventory with your movers to make sure that everything lines up for when it comes to unloading.Keep your essentials – Pack a separate bag with essential items like toiletries, medication, a change of clothes, phone chargers, and snacks for the journey.Upon arrival – When you get to your new home, make sure that any obvious damage is recorded and communicated to the owners. Do what you can to have your utilities set up upon arrival, and start planning your unpacking. Navigating The UnexpectedDelays: Moving will always take longer than you think. Be ready for any delays, and allow yourself plenty of time around loading, transit, and unloading.Damaged cargo: Your removalists will do everything they can to safeguard your cargo, but if you do notice any damage, let them know as soon as possible, with photo and inventory evidence at hand.Missing cargo – If something has completely disappeared, double check everything that’s been unloaded, and then get in touch with your removalists.Expenses – Ensure that your budget has some wiggle room for unexpected expenses, such as extra packing materials, storage, and accommodation during your journey to Canberra. Settling In To Your New Home In CanberraCongratulations on getting the hard part done! Moving long-distance to Canberra is no small job, so after your interstate removalists have unloaded your cargo, give yourself a quick break…and get back to work! There’s still plenty to do.Unpacking TipsYou might feel that unpacking is easier than packing – but once you get started you’ll see it still takes a lot of time. Start with the essentials first, such as bedding, medication, toiletries, kitchen supplies, and clothing.Go room by room so that you don’t have to bounce around too much, starting with the most important spaces, and working your way through to lower priorities.This is a good chance for even more decluttering, so see what else you can ditch.Have binbags in every room, as all that packing material needs to go somewhere. This will make it easier to collect and recycle all that tape, paper, and plastic.After unpacking, personalize your space with a few simple touches. Full decoration can wait, but displaying photos, artwork, or even posters will make it feel more like home. Exploring Your New NeighbourhoodAfter spending hours indoors unpacking and organizing, you’ll be itching to explore the outdoors. This is a great time to find out more about your suburb, and wider Canberra. Get on a bike, or put on your walking shoes and just get out there. Discover the local shops, facilities, parks, and transport links. Say hi to the neighbours and ask them about connecting with the local area. You can also look for local community groups or clubs that align with your interests, such as sports or music. You can also look at:Visit Canberra – the official website for the city has everything you need to know about local attractions, events, and things to do.Your local community council – Each suburb in Canberra will have a community council that organises events, and has other information about the local area. Give your suburb a Google, with ‘community council’ afterwards to find one specific to your new area.ACT Government Community Services – Provides information on community services such as recreation centres, libraries, and support groups.Canberra Weekly – Covers news, events, and lifestyle topics relevant for anyone living in Canberra, and is a great way to keep your finger on the pulse of the city.Local Facebook groups – Facebook is a fantastic resource for anyone new to a particular area. Seach for your suburb on the platform and you’ll find a group where you can ask questions, and find out about local events. Practicalities And Transport In Canberra The key to living in a city like Canberra is to understand the transport network, and where you need to look for other essential services and organisations.Transport In CanberraPublic transport: As a planned city, Canberra has a highly developed public transport network that includes buses and light rail. The MyWay card is the main way to pay for these services, which can be bought and topped up in various places. Cycling: Canberra is very cycle friendly, with many bike paths to get people around the city with dedicated lanes. Head over to Bikemap to see hundreds of bike trails you can take, and take a look at the official cycle network map. Driving: If you’re going to drive, ensure that you know all the local road rules, and that you have an ACT driver’s license if necessary.Walking: Canberra is a walker’s paradise, with many of its attractions and interesting neighborhoods easily explored on foot. Just plug your destination into Google Maps and see where your feet take you.If you’re going to be using public transport, we recommend you use that Transport Canberra Journey Planner, which will point you in the right direction from place to place, with different options. Updating Your Details And Local Service RegistrationWhile it might seem like a hassle, registering yourself in the appropriate places is crucial. Failing to do so could mean missing out on essential services and benefits.Change of address: Let your banks, insurance companies, utility companies, and subscription services know about your new address.Medicare: If eligible, enrol with Medicare to access the public healthcare system. You should also register with a local GP, either through online research, or by talking to neighbours and people in your community.Kids and school: If you have moved interstate with the kids, research and enrol them in a local school. Here is a guide to all schools in Canberra.Register to vote: If you’re an Aussie citizen, register to vote in federal and local elections. Summary And Further Reading It’s been a long road, but if you’ve followed the above advice, your interstate move to Canberra has every chance to be smooth and hassle-free. If we had to say the three most important Canberra moving tips we want you to takeaway from this guide, it’s 1.) To start early, 2.) Do your research, and 3.) Work with experienced interstate removalists.For more reading on moving interstate, why not take a look at our articles on moving interstate on a budget, the cost of moving a car interstate, and the dos and don’ts of moving interstate.Good luck, and we hope you love your new life in Canberra! Experienced Interstate Removalists For CanberraZOOM Removals is a leading interstate removalist service provider for homes and offices. Our five-star rated relocation services are renowned across Australia not only for its quality but also for the best prices when compared to other interstate moving companies. Our attentive furniture removalists can move your belongings from Canberra to all major Australian cities for added peace of mind and a worry-free relocation, including:Interstate Removalists SydneyInterstate Removalists MelbourneInterstate Removalists BrisbaneInterstate Removalists Gold CoastInterstate Removalists CanberraInterstate Removalists AdelaideInterstate Removalists PerthOther Interstate Removalist ServicesRemovalists Sydney to CanberraRemovalists Canberra to SydneyRemovalists Melbourne to CanberraRemovalists Canberra to MelbourneRemovalists Canberra to BrisbaneRemovalists Brisbane to Canberra