CANBERRA CITY GUIDE
The capital of Australia is fast becoming a city renowned for its culture and cool.
While many assume that either Sydney or Melbourne is the capital of Australia, the seat of government can, in fact, be found in Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), a three-hour drive from Sydney (keep going and you’ll eventually hit Melbourne) or a quick 55-minute flight. A planned city of stunning civic buildings, plentiful parklands and the giant man-made Lake Burley Griffin at its heart, Canberra is finding a cool new edge, with buzzing neighborhoods, micro-brewers and hip hotels proliferating; it was even named on Lonely Planet’s list of the 10 best cities in the world in 2018.
FOR CULTURE VULTURES
First, stop at the NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA (nga.gov.au), home to the country’s most significant art pieces, from Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly series, commemorating one of Australia’s most famous ‘ bushrangers’ (the Australian version of Jesse James) to Jackson Pollock’s Blue Poles (pictured), acquired in 1973 for a world record price. Head on over to the NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA’S TREASURES GALLERY (nla.gov.au), which houses Captain James Cook’s journal, and take in the NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY (portrait.gov.au), filled with stunning portraiture of some of Australia’s most celebrated individuals, from former prime ministers to royalty to Indigenous leaders to pop culture icons.
WHERE TO EAT
The annual TRUFFLE FESTIVAL ( trufflefestival.com.au) runs from June to August, while THE TRUFFLE (thetrufflefarm.com.au) provides the ultimate food experience: hunting for truffles before enjoying a sixcourse degustation lunch of truffle-enhanced dishes. And don’t miss THE POACHERS PANTRY (poacherspantry.com.au), a vineyard, cellar door and restaurant.
WHERE TO STAY
OVOLO NISHI (ovolohotels.com.au) is part of the architectural Nishi Building in the cool New Acton entertainment district, offering up stylish accommodation and food.
No one does quirky like QT (qthotelsandresorts.com), and its Canberra digs are no exception, with bold decor and a buzzing lobby bar.
HOTEL REALM (hotelrealm.com.au) is all sleek and modern, with restaurants shared with BURBURY HOTEL and LITTLE NATIONAL HOTEL.
BACK TO NATURE
FLORIADE, Australia’s largest celebration of spring held annually in September and October, sees Canberra and its Commonwealth Park transformed into a vibrant, bright collage of blooms, presented in big floral displays. floriadeaustralia.com
On the edge of the city, the NATIONAL ARBORETUM (nationalarboretum.act.gov.au) is a vast expanse planted with over 48,000 significant trees from across Australia and around the world; the children’s Pod Playground of giant acorn cubby houses with slides and rope ladders is worth the trip alone.
JAMALA WILDLIFE LODGE, (jamalawildlifelodge.com.au) gives guests the chance to sleep in luxury right next to the zoo enclosures of a roster of fascinating creatures, from tigers to sun bears, or alternatively in giraffe-height tree houses.