My view of Canberra had been primarily formed by Bill Bryson who (if my memory serves me correctly) in his book ‘Down Under’ describes an evening walking and walking in pursuit of a decent feed, only to be forced to admit defeat and eat the culinary offerings of his hotel.
I instantly understood what he meant. The city centre is referred to as ‘civic’ and until you know where to look, it’s almost as if all the eateries and shops have been hidden somewhere. The other centre ‘The parliamentary Zone’, where most of your museums are, seems close on the map but it’s actually 3 kilometres away. Therefore the biggest top tip for anyone considering a trip to Canberra: a car is essential.
I instantly understood what he meant. The city centre is referred to as ‘civic’ and until you know where to look, it’s almost as if all the eateries and shops have been hidden somewhere. The other centre ‘The parliamentary Zone’, where most of your museums are, seems close on the map but it’s actually 3 kilometres away. Therefore the biggest top tip for anyone considering a trip to Canberra: a car is essential.
Luckily I had a car, which is incredible. On loan from the lovely family for whom I was house sitting. They lived just over the border in New South Wales and had extraordinary views. Sometimes my propensity for early rising pays off...as you can see the landscape is ideal for some sunrise ballooning. Spotted through my bleary eyes!
I'd been given a list of some 'must see' destinations if you had one day to spend in Canberra, so I did them first with some friends: Parliament, the War Memorial and cocktails at The Hyatt.
But first we drove up Mount Ainslie to get an idea of the city's layout.
I'd been given a list of some 'must see' destinations if you had one day to spend in Canberra, so I did them first with some friends: Parliament, the War Memorial and cocktails at The Hyatt.
But first we drove up Mount Ainslie to get an idea of the city's layout.
From Mount Ainslie you get a great view of this road: Anzac Parade, and if you descend to the Australian War Memorial, as we did to take this shot, then your camera can enjoy the full benefit of the Australian capital being a designed city!
The War Memorial is just staggering. I was very keen to see the Commemorative Courtyard and the Roll of Honour, as I'd seen them so many times in the course of producing news programmes for the ABC. What I didn't realise was just how many names there'd be. The roll of honour lists virtually every Australian who'd ever died in war since 1885, and to quote the website that's over 102,000 people. My friend Bert said he felt sick. I was absolutely gobsmacked. Australia's population is small nowadays, so imagine what it must have been like to lose 60,000 people in one war alone (that was the ball-park figure lost in WWI).
The War Memorial is just staggering. I was very keen to see the Commemorative Courtyard and the Roll of Honour, as I'd seen them so many times in the course of producing news programmes for the ABC. What I didn't realise was just how many names there'd be. The roll of honour lists virtually every Australian who'd ever died in war since 1885, and to quote the website that's over 102,000 people. My friend Bert said he felt sick. I was absolutely gobsmacked. Australia's population is small nowadays, so imagine what it must have been like to lose 60,000 people in one war alone (that was the ball-park figure lost in WWI).
We took a tour with an amazing tour guide called Gordon. His name badge said 'volunteer'. Good work Gordon! He said the WWI wing of the building was closed. Thank goodness, I thought, I couldn't even absorb what WAS on display. I think it would take days to really appreciate this amazing museum. After all that war and politics, it was time for a beverage....
The first thing I asked when I took on the house sit was 'what about bushfires'...but I was assured it had never happened and even if it did, a fire was likely to bypass the house I was looking after. But what happened four days into my stay? I spotted white smoke just after lunch and thought it was just someone's normal fire. When brown smoke started to creep into the mix I got in the car and went to investigate. I found all the residents on their balconies staring in the direction of the flames. I shouted up at one of them to ask what was going on and she said 'I don't know, this has never happened before'.
The slightly worrying view from my driveway
I then saw my neighbour from opposite who had piled her children into the car and was leaving. Even though I didn't really believe the blaze would reach us, this gave me a sense that the situation could be pretty serious. I started running around with hoses trying to make the ground wet, but I quickly realised that in the heat it was a futile effort.
I rang home owner Terry, and upon asking him what he thought I should do, he replied in the most Australian way....'get yourself a beer'!!
In the end the amazing 'firies' got control of the situation but the flames were reportedly 20 metres from houses. And this was how the area looked afterwards.
I rang home owner Terry, and upon asking him what he thought I should do, he replied in the most Australian way....'get yourself a beer'!!
In the end the amazing 'firies' got control of the situation but the flames were reportedly 20 metres from houses. And this was how the area looked afterwards.
Bushfires are just a fact of life in Australia, and I now see why people risk living in the bush. It's beautiful, and the wildlife in the srea where I was staying was phenomenal. Huge kangaroos came to visit every night, I saw a couple of wombats, the world's second-deadliest snake, the Eastern Brown, as well as plentiful birds like rozellas and galahs. I was in the area during the heatwave, when the temperatures reached 41 degrees. Bushfires were thankfully a long way away but we did see the resulting, amazing, sunsets.
My favourite thing about my time in the area was the wildlife, and most nights I had a mob of kangaroos come through a gap in the fence to enjoy some grass. It was wonderful to watch but too dark to photograph.
But then the heatwave came and I saw a post on the ABC's Facebook page about a guy who had put water out for his local wildlife. So I followed suit and started a craze amongst my new roo friends! They began to visit during the day, so I was finally able to get a couple of shots.
This one was a regular visitor but my kangaroo highlight has to be when the alpha male came to visit one night. What huge beasts they are!
But then the heatwave came and I saw a post on the ABC's Facebook page about a guy who had put water out for his local wildlife. So I followed suit and started a craze amongst my new roo friends! They began to visit during the day, so I was finally able to get a couple of shots.
This one was a regular visitor but my kangaroo highlight has to be when the alpha male came to visit one night. What huge beasts they are!
I tried, and failed, to keep the lawn green for the roos during the heatwave...
The landscape is just wonderful to drive through (with loads of air con!) and one of my favourite drives was towards a place called Tidbinbilla, which is where Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex is located.
It's one of three centres that are spaced 120 degrees apart, across the earth. Here, Spain and California. This satellite dish - the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere - was talking to a craft near pluto while I was there! It then moved to talk to something else. I wasn't expecting to see this 70 metre dish (DSS43) move, and it's quite a sight!
It's one of three centres that are spaced 120 degrees apart, across the earth. Here, Spain and California. This satellite dish - the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere - was talking to a craft near pluto while I was there! It then moved to talk to something else. I wasn't expecting to see this 70 metre dish (DSS43) move, and it's quite a sight!
And on the subject of communications, the Telstra Tower up Black Mountain was pretty awesome too. You pay a small fee to go up to the viewing deck, from which you can get excellent 360 degree views of the city. Canberra's population is 367,000 putting it somewhere between Bradford and Leicester in size!
One of the best days was spent doing something very Australian: watching the cricket! I'd mentioned to Terry that going to a cricket match was on my bucket list, and he said that a very high profile match, the Prime Minister's XI, was on the following week. Some very lovely and hospitable neighbours offered to take me, so that I could have the full experience and drink beer!
On arrival we had the opportunity to be photographed with the ICC Cricket World Cup. I reluctantly agreed as I had no make up on and was dressed to cope with the forecast 37 degrees but they make it look ok with all those logos!
The idea of this annual game, as I understand it, is that the Prime Minister of Australia picks a team and they play against an overseas team.
In my case it was England...I suppose because they were already in the country following their Ashes defeat...or maybe there's more to it than that! I am no sports expert.
So I got to see Prime Minister Tony Abbott walk onto Manuka Oval to be greeted by Alastair Cook. You can recognise Tony Abbott from miles away. He has a very interesting walking style....
On arrival we had the opportunity to be photographed with the ICC Cricket World Cup. I reluctantly agreed as I had no make up on and was dressed to cope with the forecast 37 degrees but they make it look ok with all those logos!
The idea of this annual game, as I understand it, is that the Prime Minister of Australia picks a team and they play against an overseas team.
In my case it was England...I suppose because they were already in the country following their Ashes defeat...or maybe there's more to it than that! I am no sports expert.
So I got to see Prime Minister Tony Abbott walk onto Manuka Oval to be greeted by Alastair Cook. You can recognise Tony Abbott from miles away. He has a very interesting walking style....
You can see the England team I saw incuded Cook, Root, Carberry, Morgan, Butler, Bresnan, Jordan, Tredwell, Rankin, Woakes, Ballance and Bopara. Cook went out after one run!! But eventually England WON by 172 runs and I got my ticket signed by the captain. As you can see, I was pretty shiny-faced after more than a handful of beers and about 10 hours in the heat....
Click HERE for a full match report from someone who understands sport.....
Click HERE for a full match report from someone who understands sport.....
The rest of my time in the area was spent visiting other museums like the fantastic National Portrait Gallery, the small but interesting National Film and Sound archive, and the National Museum of Australia. There are plenty more I would have liked to have seen but then again, I always like to leave one or two things unvisited to give me an excuse to come back!
I was also thoroughly entertained by the most hospitable of neighbours, and also the family whose house I was in, once they'd returned from their holiday in Tasmania. I was blown away by everyones kindness and I look forward to the day when I can visit again.
I'll leave you with a few of the stunning skies I captured during my stay. And don't ever believe anyone who says Canberra's boring. They secret is knowing where to look.
I was also thoroughly entertained by the most hospitable of neighbours, and also the family whose house I was in, once they'd returned from their holiday in Tasmania. I was blown away by everyones kindness and I look forward to the day when I can visit again.
I'll leave you with a few of the stunning skies I captured during my stay. And don't ever believe anyone who says Canberra's boring. They secret is knowing where to look.
RSS Feed
