Spring 2017 Canberra bursts into colour Canberra springs into a colourful celebration this season with a jam-packed calendar of events and indulgent treats to make your short break to the capital an unforgettable one. Front cover: Floriade brings colour across Canberra. This page: Floriade’s NightFest returns over two big weekends. 48 SPRINGTIME HOURS IN CANBERRA Begin your day with a hearty Treat yourself to something decadent breakfast. Venture into the popular — perhaps a glass of bubbles over precincts of NewActon, Braddon, brunch, or a spa treatment in a Kingston and Barton and start luxurious spa – if you can’t justify a your day the right way. treat during your break, when can you! There’s something for everyone at Take in the views from one of our national attractions. Art-lovers, Canberra’s lookouts. Mount Ainslie or head to the National Gallery of Black Mountain offer sweeping vistas Australia or National Portrait Gallery. across the city, the lake and beyond. History buffs, the Australian War Kangaroo sightings are a common Memorial and National Archives occurrence so keep your eyes peeled! of Australia are calling your name. Bringing the kids? Questacon or the Grab a bite to eat somewhere National Dinosaur Museum are unexpected. Visit Pollen at the must-visits. Make time to explore Australian National Botanic and walk away feeling like you’ve Gardens for a lunch in lush learned something new. surrounds, or enjoy an elegant outdoor brunch in the Parliament Jump on a bike and make your way House courtyard (7 & 14 October). around the centrepiece of Canberra, Lake Burley Griffin. Enquire about bike hire at the Canberra and Region Make the Canberra Visitors Centre at Regatta Point. and Region Visitors Swing by Floriade in the evening Centre your one stop shop and enjoy a beverage among the blooms — it’s open until 7pm. for all your booking, Take in the magical evening light shopping and information as the sun begins to set across needs. Head to Regatta Lake Burley Griffin. Point, Barrine Drive to Wake up in one of Canberra’s various accommodation options — from organise your short-break luxury hotels and self-contained in Canberra. apartments to hostels, camping sites, rural properties, or perhaps a room right next to some welcoming zoo animals — we’ve got the lot. WHAT’S NEW GET ACTIVE THIS SPRING • GoBoat sets sail for Canberra. • If witnessing the world’s best These Scandinavian designed, during the Rugby League sustainable self-drive boats will World Cup (29 October– be available for you to float across 10 November) or seeing the Lake Burley Griffin, nibbling away Wallabies battle Argentina on a picnic. (16 September) doesn’t get you motivated, we’re not • Floriade is open longer this year sure what will. (10am to 7pm) so you can see the capital’s sights and spend plenty • Get up close and personal with of time at the spring festival. Australia’s friendly natural wildlife at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, a • You’ve now got two weekends to 45-minute drive from Canberra. fit in your Floriade NightFest fun — 22 to 24 September and • Explore Instagram-worthy 29 September to 1 October. natural beauty in the bush capital. Join us as we laugh, eat and Popular spots include Namadgi party after dark. National Park, Gibraltar Falls and Booroomba Rocks. • The industrial suburb of Fyshwick is changing. The Capital Brewing • Take part in a sporty event. Co.’s taproom opens 9 September, Whether it’s the mindfulness accompanied by tasty food truck triathlon (running, yoga and treats, and is a perfect spot to meditation) at Wanderlust 108, relax after experiencing the new or participating in the Canberra rockclimbing locale Blochaus. Times Fun Run, your body will thank you for taking part in all • Beauty junkies, rejoice! the fun. The Canberra Centre is now home to popular and hard-to- • Make like the locals do by source brands. The new beauty exercising around the lake. precinct, Monaro Mall, sees the Walk the two-bridges likes of Mecca Maxima, L'Occitane, (Commonwealth Avenue to Lush and many more under Kings Avenue loop), take part one roof. in a stand-up paddle boarding yoga class or segway your way around the lake with SegGlideRide. Enjoy a picnic on Lake Burley Griffin with a GoBoat experience. Photo: Lean Timms 5 TOURS TO TRY • Explore the Canberra region • Discover the hidden stories at wineries with a tailored wine tour Australia’s national attractions courtesy of Black Glass Wine with an expert guided tour. Tours and Executive Drivers. Most tours run daily, with • Take to the skies with a helicopter, special tours available balloon or Yak-52 ride above throughout the season. Canberra and beyond. • Eat and drink your way across • Learn Canberra’s history and Canberra with a Cafe Culture secrets with a riding tour through Walking Tour by Eat Canberra, the precincts or an Aboriginal the CanBEERa explorer care of cultural tour with Dharwra Dave’s Brewery Tours and the rise Aboriginal Cultural Tours or of the Canberra spirit scene with discover our favourite local Local Spirit. products, quirky places and street art hot spots with a Canberra Secrets tour. What’s on throughout spring Explore the Canberra region’s majestic natural surrounds with a ranger guided walk. AIS TOURS PLAY UP RANGER GUIDED AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM OF WALKS INSTITUTE OF SPORT AUSTRALIAN TIDBINBILLA Discover where our DEMOCRACY AT OLD NATURE RESERVE PARLIAMENT HOUSE top athletes train in Don't miss your chance Australia’s premier Looking for a fun to see Australian wildlife, elite sports precinct. and unique place to including kangaroos, Go behind the scenes entertain the kids? platypus, wombats and and challenge yourself Curated for, with and by more, in this beautiful in Sportex, AIS’ engaging children, this popular natural environment. sport experience where family space allows Check out the website for you can try wheelchair children to stand up, the Explore Program for basketball, virtual dress up, make up, school holiday programs. downhill skiing and think up and step up. tidbinbilla.act.gov.au more for yourself. moadoph.gov.au 02 6205 1233 02 6270 8222 experienceais.com.au/ visit-ais/tours 02 6214 1010 Check out Alison Alder’s unique portraits of Australia’s first eight Prime Ministers in onetoeight at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Image: Museum of Australian Democracy collection. ONETOEIGHT: THE GIFT: FACING TWO FRONTS: AUSTRALIA’S FIRST ART, ARTEFACTS THE FIGHT PRIME MINISTERS AND ARRIVALS FOR RESPECT MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES DEMOCRACY AT OLD AUSTRALIAN OF AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENT HOUSE DEMOCRACY AT OLD Through the lens of PARLIAMENT HOUSE Visually arresting, military service and the humorous and thoughtful, This new contemporary stories of those who Canberra-based artist art exhibition explores served, learn about Alison Alder reinterprets the role migrants have Indigenous soldiers’ and reinvigorates portraits played in enriching struggle for social justice. of the first eight prime the fabric of Australian naa.gov.au ministers in onetoeight, life, and the gift of 02 6212 3600 a contemporary democracy they have art exhibition. received in return. moadoph.gov.au moadoph.gov.au 02 6270 8222 02 6270 8222 Take a peek into the lives of Australians at Finders Keepers: Collectors and Their Stories at the Museum of Australian Democracy. Photo credit: Mark Nolan FINDERS KEEPERS: THE OPENING DAY: MUSEUM TOURS COLLECTORS AND 9 MAY 1927 NATIONAL THEIR STORIES MUSEUM OF DINOSAUR MUSEUM MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIAN AUSTRALIAN Bring your camera, DEMOCRACY AT OLD DEMOCRACY AT OLD your friends and those PARLIAMENT HOUSE PARLIAMENT HOUSE burning dinosaur Peek into the collections of Old Parliament House questions for a fun and five fascinating Australians. was once brand new. educational journey From mementoes of What was it like to be a back in time. Tours run political careers, to spectator at the opening every weekend and well-worn protest T-shirts, ceremony? Follow this during ACT/NSW each collection tells exhibition through the school holidays. corridors to discover the extraordinary stories about nationaldinosaurmuseum. the ideas, individuals and pomp and pageantry, com.au events that have shaped humour and tragedy of 02 6230 2655 the nation. this historic day. moadoph.gov.au moadoph.gov.au 02 6270 8222 02 6270 8222 Attend the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial each day. Image: AWM2016.8.203.4 ROLL OF HONOUR LAST POST CEREMONY WAVING THE RED PROJECTIONS AUSTRALIAN FLAG: CHINESE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL POSTERS 1949–1976 WAR MEMORIAL The Last Post Ceremony NATIONAL LIBRARY Explore the First World is held at the end of each OF AUSTRALIA War galleries. At night day at the Australian War Full of officially see the names of those Memorial at 4.55pm. sanctioned ideals for who gave their lives In this moving ceremony, Chinese citizens in a projected onto the a member of the Australian communist world, these Memorial. Check the Defence Force shares the bright and colourful website for the story of one person listed posters depict notable name schedule. on the Roll of Honour. events and campaigns awm.gov.au awm.gov.au in China’s history. 02 6243 4211 02 6243 4211 nla.gov.au 02 6262 1111 Learn from the creators during Ostani Lounge’s vino tastings. 1ST THURSDAY OF FRIDAYS FRIDAYS EVERY MONTH STORY TIME FEDERATION FRIDAY VINO TASTINGS AUSTRALIAN WAR NATIONAL ARCHIVES OSTANI LOUNGE, MEMORIAL OF AUSTRALIA BAR & RESTAURANT Hear stories of brave Drop in between Celebrate the Canberra animals, extraordinary 12–2pm when the District’s vineyards people, and faraway Federation gallery with tastings and places, brought to life is open. See some presentations from through puppets, uniforms, of Australia’s most some of Canberra’s and educational toys.