CANBERRA – THE AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLER GUIDE

Brand new, four-and-a-half star East Hotel is giving its neighbours a run for its money in the contemporary stakes – think polished concrete floors, recycled timber and a black ‘starry’ ceiling in the lobby area. The hotel has rooms in various layouts, but we especially love the family suites, complete with kid’s cubby, bunk beds and Xbox Kinect. easthotel.com.au

Georgia Rickard checks in at one of Canberra’s newest hotels... and finds out that it’s business time  “Why are you writing in gold pen?” I ask suspiciously, as Jose the concierge fills in my details. I’m here as an anonymous, paying traveller – he doesn’t know I’m reviewing this place for the best travel magazine in the whole world. (Well, it is.) Unless… could he? Perhaps gold pen is a secret signal he uses, to inform other staff members of impending special guests. Jose stops what he’s doing and looks up at me. “Well, you are special,” he says smoothly. “But...

Where is it? Canberra How to see it for yourself? These balloons are taking part in the annual Canberra Festival Balloon Spectacular. However, rides can be booked at any time of year with operators such as Balloon Aloft (balloonaloft.com) and Dawn Drifters (dawndrifters.com.au). Why I love it “Rising above it all at dawn in a balloon is one of the most memorable, shifting views. Canberra is one of the few capital cities people can fly over to appreciate the geometry of the city’s design.” – Kathy Tricolas, Australian Capital Tourism Image by Australian Capital Tourism...

Our National Capital is becoming an attractive destination, thanks to a swathe of new design hotels, writes Quentin Long. There is definitely something happening in Canberra. The “new Canberra” has a confident local population with a sense of identity and belonging. Canberra is no longer a place of transience but a place worthy of a family putting down roots. It’s only taken 100 years (Canberra celebrates its centenary in 2013) and a bastardisation of the Walter Burley-Griffin vision, however we got there in the end. A marker of this new confidence is development of several new hotels in the last...

Sleek, modern, minimalist: it’s been called all these things. So Elisabeth Knowles is surprised to find that this hotel is one of the comfiest stays in Canberra. I’m a bit confused by Hotel Realm, one of only two five-star stays in Canberra (the other is the Hyatt). Since it opened in 2008, some guests have criticised it for being too minimalist for its own good, possibly due to the use of ‘hard’ industrial finishes such as concrete and granite, and the lack of art in the foyer and rooms. Until I finally got a chance to stay at Realm earlier this...

Where is it? The National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra, ACT There’s much to see at the NGA including its fantastic new indigenous arts wing, which includes both contemporary pieces and historic artefacts. Yet the one exhibit no visitor here should miss is the Ned Kelly series by Sidney Nolan. The series is housed in its own oval exhibition space, purpose built to display the 26 paintings that depict the rise and fall of Australia’s favourite outlaw, from the shooting of policemen at Stringybark Creek to the siege of the Glenrowan Hotel....

Where is it? Treloar Crescent, Canberra, ACT Clip a sprig of rosemary to your chest and join a crowd of thousands at 5.30am on April 25 to commemorate the soldiers who have served our country on overseas battle fields and on peace-keeping missions, and pay your respects to those who have lost their lives. The eerie sound of the lone bugler playing the Last Post never fails to bring a tear to the eye

 Andrew Mueller takes a nostalgic tour of duty around the Canberra War Memorial, in the company of a retired Major-General and, erm, a Canadian country singer. I’ve heard the jokes about Canberra – and I lived there long enough, six years of my childhood, to feel entitled to make them, when the occasion is fitting. But whenever my friends in London ask my advice when plotting their first Australian itinerary, I always recommend visiting the capital, even if only for a couple of days.  The countryside that surrounds and encroaches on the city is beautiful, there’s something seductively soporific about...

 Where to go and what to do to have fun in the sun in Canberra this summer BEST BEER GARDENS  Pavilion on Northbourne  Great for: Wet weather. The vast hotel atrium is an indoor garden perfect for rainy days.  Details: 242 Northbourne Ave. (02) 62476888; pavilioncanberra.com Old Canberra Inn Great for: Rustic charm. Built in 1857, this Natural Trust building has three beer gardens on site.  Details: 195 Mouat St, Lyneham. (02) 6257 6380; www.oldcanberrainn.com.au   All Bar Nun Great for: Pizza and Pint nights on Mon & Tues; dinner and a drink for $17 or Sunday arvo live music. Details:...

Upcoming events in Canberra and the ACT  APRIL/MAY ANZAC DAY AT THE WAR MEMORIAL April 25 Remember our fallen Diggers at the Australian War Memorial’s Anzac Day Dawn Service. Afterwards, the public can view the Tri-Service Guard mounted at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier until 8.30am. The National Anzac Day Ceremony will commence soon after at 10.15am. awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL April 5-9 Enjoy non-stop entertainment at this annual cultural celebration, with almost 200 different acts including music, dance, poetry and storytelling. There will also be workshops available, as well as plentiful market stalls and a kids’ program...

Canberra is one of Australia’s favourite punching bags. The rest of the country complains that the capital city is too full of politicians, has blistering cold winters (ignoring the gorgeous springs and nicely hot summers), and most of all, it’s boring.  Utter nonsense. Even beyond the much-vaunted tourist attractions surrounding Lake Burley Griffin (from the War Memorial to the National Gallery), a few things suggest that Canberra is far from dull.  Words by Mark Juddery 1. Occult planning? Does Canberra’s design have occult significance? Walter Burley Griffin and his wife / creative partner Marion were linked with several esoteric and occult...

Do you know where you come from? And we’re not talking about the birds and the bees here. We mean how much do you know about where you and your family are from? Can you account for exactly how you ended up living in Australia? Do you know what your great-great-great grandparents did for a living? The National Archive of Australia welcomes you to undertake research and uncover your immigration history. “I HADN’T HEARD OF THIS ONE EITHER! BUT THANKS FOR THE TIP. I’D LOVE TO DO THIS.” – Catriona Rowntree The collection holds mainly records created by the Federal...

Glen Nagle reckons the Moonrock Café has the best coffee in the galaxy – and he can prove it. Since he works for the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex at Tidbinbilla just outside Canberra, we’re inclined to believe him. Unfortunately, many people who visit Canberra stay in the “Parliamentary Triangle”, which houses many fine institutions such as the National Gallery, Parliament House and the War Memorial. But we urge you – we beg you – to make the 40min trip to Tidbinbilla to see the DSCC. It’s operated by NASA and has the best collection of space memorabilia and real...