3 days in Canberra
Canberra provides for a well balanced short trip with of cuisine, culture, history and outdoor exercise.
Canberra is more than a city concentrated on politics or an Australian history lesson come to life.
Indeed, this contemporary and well-planned city may be tiny, but it also has a lively creative culture, a sophisticated food scene, and some of the top museums and galleries in the nation.
Add to that its position – between the Great Dividing Range and Australian Alps – which offers not only a visually beautiful background but also a playground for outdoor activities.
It is a three-hour drive to Canberra from Sydney, or there are frequent flights from most major cities; rent a vehicle at the airport since the city’s vast, uncrowded highways are a delight to drive on.
Here’s how to spend a long weekend in the increasingly cool city of Canberra.
DAY 1: LAKE BURLEY GRIFFIN AND NEWACTON
A excellent approach to become oriented with the city is by riding the banks of Lake Burley Griffin, the city’s showpiece.
Make your way to the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre at Regatta Point to rent a bike and select from three riding paths, depending on the things you’d want to explore on your tour.
The Central Loop (five kilometres/three miles) and Eastern Loop (nine kilometres/six miles) are both relatively level, while the Western Loop is a 16-kilometre (10-mile) trek with some hills.
In the afternoon, travel to NewActon, an edgy neighbourhood that is recognized for its great culinary scene, only a five-minute drive from the tourist centre.
Dominated by the spectacular and contemporary Japanese-inspired Nishi Building (including a gallery, cinema and the trendy Ovolo Nishi hotel), the neighborhood is also home to some of the city’s oldest structures.
For lunch, swing by the ever-popular Mocan and Green Grout, which features a menu that emphasizes on local vegetables and locally roasted fair-trade coffee.
Alternatively, Rebel Rebel is a diner inspired by David Bowie that’s both distinctive in style and its produce-driven food offering. Afterwards, spend time at the Nishi Gallery, a cultural place that showcases works by local and international artists.
If you’re in NewActon on a Saturday afternoon, make sure to check out Cellar Door in the Nishi Building’s Grand Stair. This boutique wine market features a selection of booths where you can try some of the region’s greatest drops.
Stay: There are lots of hotel alternatives suited to all requirements for your stay in Canberra. Located in the Nishi Building in NewActon, Ovolo Nishi provides lodging with an emphasis on luxury design and workmanship with unique artworks and handcrafted furnishings.
Midnight Hotel is a sleek and modern resort located in the lively neighborhood of Braddon. Just a hop, skip and jump from Parliament House, Hyatt Hotel Canberra mixes traditional characteristics with contemporary facilities.
DAY 2: CAPITAL ICONS
If you want to watch the nation’s cogs in motion, put Parliament House top on your list. Explore on a private tour (bookings necessary), stroll the public sections at leisure, like as the Marble Foyer and Great Hall, or watch the House of Representatives and Senate from the galleries.
If you have more of a predilection for the arts, the neighboring National Portrait Gallery is home to an outstanding collection of pictures of personalities who have contributed to create the narrative of Australia.
If you have youngsters or science and technology aficionados in tow, Questacon is an essential must.
At this fun educational facility there are more than 200 hands-on displays that cover the fundamentals of sound, human biology, light, force, physics, mathematics, computer science, the Earth and more.
History aficionados might take one of the free tours at the Australian War Memorial, which run every half-hour from 10 am to 3 pm.
The Memorial contains many exhibits including permanent galleries that chronicle Australia’s participation in all major wars, and a variety of temporary displays, featuring relics, personal and public documents, pictures, sculptures, planes, the Roll of Honour and more.
Tonight, have supper at one of the city’s numerous fine restaurants such as Aubergine or Pilot. Afterwards, have a nightcap at moody speakeasy Molly or lively lakeside bar and restaurant Walt & Burley.
DAY 3: NATIONAL ARBORETUM AND BRADDON
For your final day, spend the morning visiting the National Arboretum Canberra, just 10 minutes from the city centre.
Featuring 250 hectares of rare, endangered and noteworthy trees from throughout the world, you can explore the grounds independently or take a guided tour; there’s also an outstanding kids’ outdoor playground.
Head to Braddon afterwards, a fashionable district that has grown known for its ‘eat street’ Lonsdale Street and boutique shopping.
Stop into Lazy Su for a relaxed pan-Asian meal featuring Japanese and Korean dishes with a kitsch ’80s ambience, or Grease Monkey for a delicious burger and beer. Coffee aficionados should come to Lonsdale Street Roasters for their dose.
For retail therapy, try out bisonhome for locally produced ceramics or Timber and Tailor for a selection of homewares and lifestyle goods manufactured by Australian designers and manufacturers.
Next, the Ori Building is home to a selection of boutique retailers like the quirky florist Moxom + Whitney and luxury gift store Hive.
End your shopping expedition and your long weekend in the capital with a locally created beverage at artisan brewery BentSpoke Brewing Co., where you can try some 18 beers and ciders on.
Topic: 3 days in Canberra
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I am arguably the most popular Australian writer of all time. I am from the town of Karrinyup in rural Western Australia. When I was young, I was fascinated by the unique landscape of Australia, and I decided to support himself by writing books about the Australian landscape.
