EXPERIENCE GUIDE

VISITCANBERRA.COM.AU INTRODUCTION DID YOU KNOW…? • The name Canberra is believed to mean Ensure your clients experience “meeting place” in the Ngunnawal language, one good thing after another one of several Indigenous languages spoken in Canberra thanks to the in the district by Aboriginal people before European settlement. Canberra Experience Guide. Canberra’s red-hot food and wine • Nestled conveniently between and scene combines with world-class attractions, , ’s vibrant, multicultural award-winning hotels and breathtaking natural capital city is home to about 390,000 people. beauty to offer an abundance of unexpected wonders just waiting to be discovered. • Canberra is only a short 3-hour drive (or 40-minute flight) from Sydney and Within this guide you will find a snap shot of an hour flight from Melbourne. must-do experiences, events and places to stay in Australia’s capital. However, if you require any • Singapore Airlines offers direct flights assistance in customising the perfect itinerary, from Singapore to Canberra and Canberra please reach out and our passionate team will to Wellington on its ‘Capital Express’ route. help to create an unforgettable experience. • Most of Canberra’s attractions are within a 10-minute drive of the city. With no tolls, minimal traffic and plenty of parking, Canberra is a perfect self drive destination.

• More than half of the Australian Capital Territory is made up of nature reserves, national parkland or state forest making Canberra a nature lover’s paradise. INTRODUCTION DID YOU KNOW…? • The name Canberra is believed to mean Ensure your clients experience “meeting place” in the Ngunnawal language, one good thing after another one of several Indigenous languages spoken in Canberra thanks to the in the district by Aboriginal people before European settlement. Canberra Experience Guide. Canberra’s red-hot food and wine • Nestled conveniently between Sydney and scene combines with world-class attractions, Melbourne, Australia’s vibrant, multicultural award-winning hotels and breathtaking natural capital city is home to about 390,000 people. beauty to offer an abundance of unexpected wonders just waiting to be discovered. • Canberra is only a short 3-hour drive (or 40-minute flight) from Sydney and Within this guide you will find a snap shot of an hour flight from Melbourne. must-do experiences, events and places to stay in Australia’s capital. However, if you require any • Singapore Airlines offers direct flights assistance in customising the perfect itinerary, from Singapore to Canberra and Canberra please reach out and our passionate team will to Wellington on its ‘Capital Express’ route. help to create an unforgettable experience. • Most of Canberra’s attractions are within a 10-minute drive of the city. With no tolls, minimal traffic and plenty of parking, Canberra is a perfect self drive destination.

• More than half of the Australian Capital Territory is made up of nature reserves, national parkland or state forest making Canberra a nature lover’s paradise. HOTELS

HOTEL HOTEL QT CANBERRA ARIA HOTEL Rating: 5 Star Rating: 4 Star Rating: 4.5 Star Total Rooms: 68 guest rooms Total Rooms: 205 guest rooms Total Rooms: 128 guest rooms Location: NewActon Location: NewActon & apartments Close to: Bars, Restaurants, Close to: Bars, Restaurants, Location: Dickson City Centre, , City Centre, Lake Burley Griffin, Close to: Chinatown, National Museum of Australia National Museum of Australia Exhibition Park, Braddon dining precinct

ABODE NOVOTEL CANBERRA DIPLOMAT HOTEL NARRABUNDAH Rating: 4 Star Rating: 4 Star Rating: 4 Star Total Rooms: 286 guest rooms Total Rooms: 130 Guest rooms Total Rooms: 86 guest rooms Location: Canberra CBD Location: Griffith Location: Narrabundah Close to: Bars, Restaurants, Close to: Manuka, Cafes, Close to: Manuka, Cafes, Lake Burley Griffin, , Kingston Foreshore, , Parliament House Old Bus Depot markets VIBE HOTEL EAST REX HOTEL CBR AIRPORT Rating: 4.5 Star Rating: 4.5 Star Rating: 4.5 Star Total Rooms: 140 guest rooms Total Rooms: 123 guest rooms Total Rooms: 191 guest rooms & apartments & 23 apartments Location: Location: Kingston Location: Braddon Close to: Pialligo Estate, Close to: Kingston Foreshore, Close to: Bars, Restaurants, Mount Majura Winery, Manuka, Cafes, Restaurants, Shopping, Chinatown, The Truffle Farm, City Centre Parliament House, City Centre, Canberra Theatre National Gallery of Australia

HYATT HOTEL CANBERRA PACIFIC SUITES CROWNE PLAZA Rating: 5 Star CANBERRA CANBERRA Total Rooms: 252 guest rooms Rating: 4 Star Rating: 4.5 Star & suites Total Rooms: 153 guest rooms Total Rooms: 240 guest rooms Location: Yarralumla Location: Braddon Location: Canberra CBD Close to: Parliament House, Close to: Bars, Restaurants, Close to: Bars, Restaurants, Lake Burley Griffin, National Shopping, Chinatown, Casino, Shopping, Gallery of Australia, Questacon, City Centre, Canberra Theatre Lake Burley Griffin, Old Parliament House National Museum of Australia TOURS AND EXPERIENCES

MULGA BIKE TOURS BLUE SKIES BLACK GLASS Explore the historical, ADVENTURE TOURS WINE TOURS political, artistic and cultural Offering a range of Canberra Visit four of the region’s finest sites of Canberra on a guided City half-day tours, nature cellar doors with a stop for bike tour (4 to 6 hours). walks and camping and lunch at one of the delicious Tours Operate: hiking adventures. local restaurants. Sun, Mon, Thur, Fri Tours operate: Daily Tours operate: Fri–Sun only

THE TRUFFLE FARM PIALLIGO ESTATE COCKINGTON GREEN TRUFFLE HUNTS CANBERRA GARDENS Join Jayson and Australia’s Sit back, relax and take in Venture into this delightful best truffle dog team on the picturesque Pialligo and fascinating display an exhilarating truffle Estate Farmhouse, of meticulously crafted hunt experience. a sensational food, wine miniature buildings set within Tours operate: and lifestyle destination. beautifully-landscaped gardens. Daily from Jun–Aug Farm tours operate: Daily Open Daily SUNRISE HOT AIR AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL GALLERY BALLOONING WAR MEMORIAL OF AUSTRALIA With 30 years’ experience Bringing together a world-class Delight in the art and conducting balloon flights museum, a shrine and an world-class exhibitions on over Canberra, Balloon Aloft extensive archive, the Australian show at the National Gallery are among the leaders in War Memorial is a moving of Australia, on the shores of commercial hot air ballooning. and insightful experience Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin. for both young and old. Flights operate: Daily Open Daily with free admission Open Daily with free admission

DAVE’S CANBERRA SECRETS DHAWRA BREWERY TOURS Canberra Secrets are INDIGENOUS TOURS Canberra’s only specialist personalised tours that Join Dharwra Aboriginal Craft Beer and Micro Brewery provide you with a true local Cultural Tours on a journey Tour Operator, Dave’s Brewery perspective of what makes back in time to become Tours takes you inside the this city tick. a part of ‘The Dreaming’. city’s finest breweries. Tours operate: Wed–Sun Tours operate: Tours operate: Fri & Sat Daily on request EVENTS

ENLIGHTEN FLORIADE FLORIADE NIGHT FEST See Canberra in a different Each September Floriade comes light during Autumn as the celebrates the return of spring to life after dark for Floriade city’s national attractions open with one million blooms NightFest — a magical evening their doors after-dark to host and a 30-day program of event featuring spectacular an array of exclusive events entertainment and festivity lighting, live music, comedy, and surprising experiences. showcasing the best night markets and When: March in horticulture, landscaping, roving entertainment. innovation and design. When: Over two weekends When: Sept–Oct during Floriade

CANBERRA BALLOON ANZAC DAY AT TRUFFLE FESTIVAL SPECTACULAR THE WAR MEMORIAL The Truffle Festival — Held over nine days each autumn, Take part in the national Anzac Canberra Region is the ultimate the Canberra Balloon Spectacular Day ceremony or experience the foodie festival. Each year during sees dozens of hot air balloons Dawn Service, a moving tribute Winter, exclusive events are held take to the skies against the commemorating those who across the region highlighting picturesque backdrop of have served and died in war. the rare Black Winter Truffle. our national attractions. When: 25 April When: June–Aug When: March EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES

NATIONAL MUSEUM QUESTACON AUSTRALIAN OF AUSTRALIA Free-fall down a six-metre slide, INSTITUTE OF SPORT Australia’s stories come alive freeze your own shadow and Go behind the scenes on at the National Museum of experience an earthquake an award-winning 90-minute Australia, on the shores of at Questacon — The National guided tour of Australia’s Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin. Science and Technology Centre. premier elite sports precinct, Open Daily with free admission Open Daily the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Guided tours available Tours Operate: Daily

PARLIAMENT HOUSE ROYAL CANBERRA DEEP See democracy in action at AUSTRALIAN MINT SPACE CENTRE Australia’s iconic Parliament See where every coin in Take a leap into outer space House high on Capital Hill. the pockets of millions of at the Canberra Deep Space Open Daily with free admission Aussies was originally made. Communication Complex. Guided tours available by Open Daily with free admission Here you’ll discover NASA’s Deep Space Network. pre-arrangement for groups Guided tours available by pre-arrangement for groups Open Daily with free admission COMING SOON

ABODE KINGSTON ABODE MIDNIGHT MANTRA MIDTOWN Kingston’s regeneration BRADDON With a mix of 136 hotel rooms will continue with a 55-room Midnight will consist of three and 40 suites across eight hotel Abode Hotels general integrated buildings with the accommodation levels, manager Rien Donkin Abode Hotel wrapped around Mantra Canberra will said the four-storey hotel an internal courtyard at the offer a restaurant and bar, would deliver the brand’s core of the complex. The nine conference rooms, gym signature self-contained, storey project will include and car parking. apartment-style rooms, 250 private apartments and however it was designed commercial and retail space to complement on the ground and first levels. Kingston’s streetscape.

MULLIGAN’S FLAT NATIONAL ADINA GRAND Chose from four walking tour BOTANIC GARDENS TFE Hotels will operate a beautiful new Adina Apartment options of similar length. Guided tours are one of the best Hotel Grand, Canberra. You will learn about ways to get the most out of your the sanctuary and The contemporary new design trip to the Botanic Gardens. hotel will be part of an exciting endangered woodlands, Knowledgeable staff and search for nocturnal animals $300 million development volunteers shed a new light by Capital Property Group and enjoy experiencing on the way we view plant life at the corner of Constitution nature at night. and will introduce you to a new Place and , world in the undergrowth. where two purpose-built Tours due to commence buildings will set a new standard in late 2017 in environmental design. Expected to open 2020 CAPITAL BEER HOUSES BYWONG FARM TOUR EAT CANBERRA Come behind the scenes and see Bywong farm is an operating FOOD TOURS how we turn malt, hops, water farm with a window into and yeast into delicious beer! Eat your way around birthplace of rural Australia. (restaurant hop) and sample We will give you the full run It has been traversed by a range of food and drinks at down from start to finish and bush rangers, visited and 5–6 stops, Visit a combination answer all your questions. appreciated by dignitaries of hot spots and hidden gems Includes tour of the brew house from around the world. and eat your way around — beer on arrival, more beer Enjoy a tour of an operational the streets of Canberra! straight from the tanks and even farm including sheep sheering more beer when we pour you and tea in the sheds a tasting paddle at the end. Commencing late 2017 Commencing late 2017

GROUP & STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

DYNAMIC BALDWIN CANBERRA MOTIVATION DISTILLERY PARK RESORT This much awaited mountain Enjoy an informative and Located only six kilometres bike shuttle service will fun evening with Baldwin from Canberra city brand operate on weekends and Distilling’s Head Distiller, new facility offering a new public holidays with trips Anthony Baldwin. standard of specifically every 40 minutes. Sample Whiskey, designed and built student Vodka and Moonshine. and teacher accommodation Price include 60 minute will be available for groups tour and educational visiting our nation’s capital. Distilling information. Opening April 2017 KEY CONTACTS:

Natalie Dean Business Development Manager Email: [email protected] Tel: +61 (0)2 6205 0506

Alison Beer Partnership Events Officer Email: [email protected] Tel: +61 (0)2 6207 8649

Jacquie Roberts Senior Manager, International Partnerships Email: [email protected] Tel: +61 (0)2 6205 1383

Looking for more information about Canberra? There are a number of sources to assist you. Canberra’s destination website is visitcanberra.com.au. The website provides information on things to see and do in Canberra as well as an online booking facility. For trade related information such as brochures, images, itineraries and maps, please visit our corporate website, tourism.act.gov.au/trade.

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