Bungendore, Australia + Add a trip
- Not far from: Canberra, Batemans Bay, Ulladulla, Cooma, Queanbeyan, Goulburn, Moss Vale, Tumut
Q&A for Canberra
-
Dopplr asks “Where's good to eat in Canberra?”
Stephen: Cream Cafe in Civic… -
Dopplr asks “What's the best thing for visitors to do at the weekend?”
-
Dopplr asks “What is the best local market or shopping?”
-
Dopplr asks “What's a good place to eat on your first night there?”
-
Dopplr asks “What's good to explore in Canberra?”
Dwight: Breakfast @ Gus' Cafe…
-
+
Getting There
Automobiles
Canberra is about 300 kilometres south west of Sydney, and an easy three-and-a-half-hour drive. Major car hire companies can be found in both cities. Smith members get a discount with Hertz (www.hertz.com).
Planes
You can fly direct to Canberra Airport (www.canberraairport.com.au) from any of Australia's state capitals, except Darwin, as well as from Newcastle, Townsville and the Gold Coast. Qantas (www.qantas.com.au), Virgin Blue (www.virginblue.com.au) and Tiger Airways (www.tigerairways.com) all cover the route. A taxi to the city centre costs about AU$20. The Airliner bus (www.airliner.com.au) runs between the airport and the city bus interchange half-hourly during the week and hourly on the weekend.
Trains
Arrive in Canberra at Kingston station, about six kilometres from the city centre. Direct services on CountryLink (132 232; www.countrylink.info) arrive from Sydney daily, although from Melbourne there's a train/bus connection.
-
+
Local Knowledge
Dialing
The international code for Australia is 61; the state code for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is (0)2.
Reads
Local author Marion Halligan's novels include The Fog Garden, named after a sculpture at the city's National Gallery, and The Point, set in a fine-dining restaurant on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin. Christopher Koch's The Memory Room, partially set in Canberra, examines the futility of a spy's job in a country that operates on the fringes of world politics. For a compelling story of how both Melbourne and Sydney were overlooked as Australia's seat of power, read Roger Pegrum's The Bush Capital: How Australia Chose Canberra As Its Federal City.
Do go / Don't Go
Canberra experiences extremes in temperature, ranging from 40°C in summer to zero in winter. Winter days generally start with frosty mornings followed by clear blue skies and plenty of sunshine. If you are a fan of flora, spring sees the city alive with blooms and so is a vibrant time to visit.
Cuisine
Blessed with fertile countryside in all directions, Canberra restaurateurs and diners have access to an array of fresh produce, from Snowy Mountains trout to organic vegetables grown on the South Coast. Many of the local producers are represented at the Capital Region Farmers Market (www.capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au) held at Exhibition Park on Saturday from 8am-11am. Some excellent vineyards, including Clonakilla Winery (www.clonakilla.com.au), Brindabella Hills Winery (www.brindabellahills.com.au) and Pialligo Estate (www.pialligoestate.com.au), also dot the region.
Taxis
Canberra Cabs (132 227; www.canberracabs.com.au) and Cabxpress (+61 (0) 2 6260 6011; www.cabxpress.com.au) are a good bet. Cars can be hailed in the street, booked or picked up at numerous ranks.
Tipping
While it's not expected, adding 10 per cent for good service is appreciated. Round taxi fares up to the nearest dollar.
Currency
Australian dollar (AU$).
Packing
City chic for shopping, gallery-hopping and nights on the town, but casual and comfortable for cycling and walking around Canberra's gorgeous parklands and lake.
-
+
Worth Doing
Arts
While the National Gallery of Australia (www.nga.gov.au) attracts a lot of the cultural attention in the capital - well, it does have more than 100,000 works, an extensive indigenous collection, an enviable schedule of international exhibitions, and a particularly enticing sculpture garden - the National Portrait Gallery (www.portrait.gov.au) is an excellent way to delve into the country's cast of colourful, historical characters. Plus, the gallery's new home is an impressive sight and, in 2009, was awarded the Sir Zelman Cowan Award for Public Architecture.
And...
One of the city's most significant political sites was also one that wasn't in the original plan. The Aboriginal Tent Embassy, in front of Old Parliament House, started as a single beach umbrella erected on Australia Day 1972 as a protest against the government of the day's refusal to recognise land rights. Now, the collection of tents is an information centre and, in 1995, was entered on the Australian Register of the National Estate as the only Aboriginal site in the country representing indigenous people's political struggle.
Shopping
The city is well served by craftspeople whose work can be viewed and purchased at any number of outlets. The Old Bus Depot Markets (www.obdm.com.au) are a Sunday institution and sell everything from handcrafted jewellery, art, clothing and furniture to gourmet goodies from the region. Brian Tunks' handmade porcelain vessels have featured in magazines around the world, but you can visit his Bison Home shop and workshop (8 Beltana Road, Pialligo, +61 (0) 2 6257 7255; www.bisonhome.com.au) just outside of Canberra. After checking out the exhibitions at Craft ACT (180 London Circuit, +61 (0) 2 6262 9333; www.craftact.org.au), hunt for unique treasures in its shop.
Viewpoint
Day or night, the 360° vistas from one of the three viewing areas - two outside, one enclosed in glass - at Black Mountain Tower (www.blackmountaintower.com.au) are spectacular. Rising 195m from the mountaintop, the tower has a café, Alto Restaurant and a theatrette, plus supplies Canberra with most of its telecommunications needs.
Something
For pure atmospherics, it's hard to go past the Australian War Memorial (www.awm.gov.au), where you'll learn as much about how Australians see themselves in the world as you will about the country's battle history. Impressive are the World War I dioramas constructed in the 1920s, but it's the less obvious moments that stick with you: the letters sent home from soldiers in Gallipoli, Simpson and his donkey in the sculpture garden, and the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier.
-
+
Diary
January While Australia Day might be 26 January, it's the night before that the Federation Mall, at the front of Parliament House, is crowded with people for Australia Day Live, which has homegrown music and the announcement of the Australian of the Year awards. If street machines and burn-outs get your motor running, Summernats (www.summernats.com.au) is four days of petrol-burning competitions, racing, rock music and Miss Summernats. March For a week the city comes alive with a variety of events, from sports matches to the Balloon Festival, to celebrate the Canberra Festival, a feast of arts, culture, film and music. April The Easter weekend sees folk musicians flood into the city to play to huge audiences at the National Folk Festival (www.folkfestival.asn.au). As well as bands, there's storytelling, poetry, crafts stalls, workshops and a kids' program. Services take place at dawn across the country to commemorate ANZAC Day on 25 April, but by far the biggest takes place at the Australian War Memorial. July Writers and readers get together for three days of talking about publishing and how writing can change the world at the Literary Long Weekend (www.actwriters.org.au). September Spring blooms by the thousands attract visitors from all the country to the month-long Floriade (www.floriadeaustralia.com) in Commonwealth Park. The NightFest happens at the same time, with concerts and entertainment among the garden beds.