Now before you make a sweeping judgement that there’s nothing to do in Canberra, rest assured I too was once entrapped in this mindset. It will be hard to shake but eventually, with a little effort, the inland capital can be far more exciting than you ever imagined!
Now let’s say you had a few days in Canberra, what would you do with yourself each day? Well some of the suggestions I’ll make can be done on everyday of the year! (excluding Easter Sunday and Christmas Day), so no excuses about things not being open. Canberra can even be enjoyable for those who cringe and moan at the thought of going to something with the word ‘gallery’ in it.
However, a once gallery opposer, I can say Canberra’s galleries have something to offer almost everyone.
During summer, the National Gallery of Australia traditionally plays host to an internationally renowned exhibition. This summer is no exception. Until April 2012, the Renaissance exhibition will showcase some of the masterpieces of 15th and 16th century Italy, including the brushstrokes of Botticelli, Raphael, Belini and Titian. An audio tour is highly recommended but will set you back an additional $5, on top of the $16 concessional ticket. There are also parts of the gallery open year-round for free.
Head across the walkway to the National Portrait Gallery and check out the Australian Impressionism show for a steal at $8 for student/concession. The main exhibition is also free. The Gallery café also makes for an equally pleasant and tasty caffeine stop.
A short walk to Parliament House at 10am, 1pm or 3pm will offer you a free-guided tour through Australia’s political system including the upper and lower houses. For extra excitement you can come back when parliament is sitting and see real pollies!
If you’re around Canberra on the weekend, the Farmers Market at EPIC are held every Saturday between 8am-11am, and offer a plethora of organic fruits and veg as well as other homemade tasty treats. If you’re after more niche products such as jams and crafts, the Bus Depot Markets in Kingston caters for this and is on every Sunday from 10am – 4pm.
If nature is more your thing you should consider a drive down to Tidbinbilla in Canberra’s south, which is an open nature park full of wallabies and other curious native Australian animals.
If you haven’t already made use of the extensive bike paths in Canberra, it’s not too late to start now. If you don’t have your own bike you can hire one with Lake Burley Griffin providing a picturesque setting for a relaxing cycle. It’s a great time of year to be doing it, with the sun shinning and the birds a singin’ what more could you want on a peaceful cycle around the capital?
If you finish off your cycle in the Royal Botanic Gardens you won’t be disappointed as the Gardens are a very peaceful place to be. Being so close to ANU there’s no excuse to at least give it a quick visit and enjoy what the gardens have to offer.
While it’s hard to condense the plethora of activities Canberra has to offer in this article I hope I’ve given you a proper head start in activities you can do in the capital. So when you have a spare moment, make the most of being in the capital and enjoy yourself!
