QT Canberra: a quirky retreat in the heart of the city

Carla GrossettiBy Carla Grossetti
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QT Canberra brings a new meaning to the term ‘political party’.

If only the walls of the QT Canberra could talk. The quirky reimagined hotel has hosted everyone from celebrities to diplomats and political bigwigs over the past decade. And while there might not be as much cloak-and-dagger bed-hopping or backstabbing as per political drama House of Cards, it’s still a see-and-be-seen kind of stay.

Location

The QT brand reimagined the Rydges Lakeside Hotel in Canberra in 2014. And in doing so, it applied its quirky QT formula of ‘crazy + sexy = cool’ to an extensive redevelopment of the 205-room hotel. The original hotel was built at One London Circuit in 1970 and it has great mid-century Brutalist bones.

the hotel lobby of QT Canberra
Stay in the heart of the city at QT Canberra.

QT Canberra now sits in the arts and cultural precinct of New Acton in the so-called ‘capital of cool’. It’s also a short stroll from Lake Burley Griffin, boasting views from either side, and is a great starting point for a self-guided tour of the best things to do in Canberra.

Style and character

Neon Twitter feeds scroll down mirrors next to the reception, and the wallpaper is a brilliant kaleidoscopic pattern of pollies. The central lobby area also features a few glass-domed cabinets filled with politically themed knick-knacks. If you’re here to hobnob with members of parliament, you’ll be right in position.

the bar and lobby at QT Canberra
QT Canberra’s bar and lobby evokes an eclectic but chic ambience.

The hotel has been designed to embrace the arty and edgy luxury that underpins the QT brand, which is best described as minimalist chic with a monochromatic theme brightened by pops of colour and quirk. And although there are a lot of knowing nods to the hotel’s role in Australia’s political history, it’s worth taking a tour of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House to see its influence.

QT Canberra, ACT
Settle in to the QT Lounge at the chic Canberra Hotel.

Facilities

QT Canberra has an onsite restaurant, bar and high tea offering, as well as conference venues, high-speed internet access, room service and undercover parking for guests. You can also hire a bike at reception to take around the nearby lake or take advantage of your Club Lime gym access.

an exclusive dining setup at QT Canberra Sky High Tea
Partake in an afternoon tea at QT Canberra Sky High Tea. (Image: QT Canberra)

Rooms

Although compact, each of the hotel’s rooms and suites are both fun and functional. My suite has a luxurious king-sized custom QT Dream bed and balcony that you can open to breathe in the crisp Canberra air. The pocket-sized bathroom also ticks all the boxes: big mirror, large rain showerhead, good lighting, and quality toiletries from Kevin Murphy.

a look inside the QT Canberra State Suite
QT Canberra State Suite is a stylish two-bedroom penthouse apartment.

Pops of yellow break up the neutral palette of black and white, allowing natural light to butter the space and own the 80s vibes. You will feel like you’re nailing it in your new life as a digital nomad when you book the QT Superior Room, which has fast internet, free wi-fi and an ergonomic desk.

a look inside QT Canberra Superior King Room
Settle in the QT Canberra Superior King Room.

Food and drink

The hotel’s sprawling ground floor is its crowning glory. It encompasses the reception, lobby and lounge areas, plus acts as the entrance to the onsite restaurant, Capitol Bar & Grill. QT is also home to its very own a hidden bar, Lucky’s Speakeasy.

a dimly lit interior at Lucky’s Speakeasy, Canberra
Lucky’s Speakeasy is perfect for an evening cocktail.

Capitol Bar & Grill is one of the city’s best restaurants and is dominated by dark and moody tones. Wooden features and monochromatic, patterned furnishings add a modern feel. It’s also full of playful, cheeky winks and nods to the site’s heavyweight political history.

The menu is both simple and sophisticated, with a focus on fresh produce and Australian flavours. The pasture-fed T-bone Bistecca Fiorentina from the dry-age cabinet coaxes out my inner carnivore and is charred to perfection.

a cosy dining interior at Capitol Bar & Grill, Canberra
Settle in at the Capitol Bar & Grill.

For dessert, I do as the waiter suggests and opt for the tiramisu, with dense layers of creamy mascarpone spiked with a shot of espresso. Choosing from the cheese trolley is also quite the experience and includes some tableside theatrics. I finish with a few wedges of the finest local and imported cheeses, paired perfectly with a glass of red.

Does QT Canberra have access for guests with disabilities?

QT Canberra is fully wheelchair accessible, including Capitol Bar & Grill. There are two wheelchair accessible King rooms for guests with mobility needs. Rooms and common areas can all be accessed via a wheelchair-friendly lift.

Is QT Canberra family-friendly?

The hotel is a great option for families with children. Kids can stay for free when sharing a room with adults if existing bedding is utilised. Two children aged 12 and under can also enjoy complimentary meals (from the designated kids menu only) when accompanied by a paying adult.

Details

Best for: Artsy types looking for a chic stay in the heart of the action.

Address: 1 London Circuit, Canberra ACT

Phone: (02) 6247 6244

Cost: From $554 per night.

Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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Victoria’s surprising new outdoor adventure hotspot

    Craig TansleyBy Craig Tansley
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    A town charmingly paused in time has become a hot mountain biking destination. 

    There’s a forest reserve full of eucalyptus and pines surrounding town – when you combine all the greenery with a main street of grand old buildings still standing from the Victorian Gold Rush, Creswick looks more period movie set than a 21st-century town.  

    old gold bank Victoria
    Grand buildings from the Victorian gold rush. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    This entire region of Victoria – the Central Goldfields – is as pretty-as-a-picture, but there’s something extra-special about Creswick. I used to live 30 minutes north; I’d drive in some evenings to cruise its main street at dusk, and pretend I was travelling back in time. 

    It was sleepy back then, but that’s changed. Where I used to walk through its forest, now I’m hurtling down the state’s best new mountain bike trails. There’s a 60-kilometre network of mountain bike trails – dubbed Djuwang Baring – which make Creswick the state’s hottest new mountain biking destination.  

    Meet Victoria’s new mountain biking capital 

    Creswick bike trail
    This historic town has become a mountain biking hotspot.

    Victoria has a habit of turning quiet country towns into mountain biking hotspots. I was there in the mid-2000s when the tiny Otways village of Forrest embarked on an ambitious plan to save itself (after the death of its timber cutting industry) courtesy of some of the world’s best mountain bike trails. A screaming success it proved to be, and soon mountain bike trails began popping up all over Victoria. 

    I’m no expert, so I like that a lot of Creswick’s trails are as scenic as they are challenging. I prefer intermediate trails, such as Down Martuk, with its flowing berms and a view round every corner. Everyone from outright beginners to experts can be happy here. There’s trails that take me down technical rock sections with plenty of bumps. But there’s enough on offer to appeal to day-trippers, as much as hard-core mountain-bikers. 

    I love that the trails empty onto that grand old main street. There’s bars still standing from the Gold Rush of the 1850s I can refuel at. Like the award-winning Farmers Arms, not to be confused with the pub sharing its name in Daylesford. It’s stood since 1857. And The American Creswick built two years later, or Odessa Wine Bar, part of Leaver’s Hotel in an 1856-built former gold exchange bank.  

    The Woodlands
    The Woodlands is set on a large bushland property. (Image: Vanessa Smith Photography)

    Creswick is also full of great cafes and restaurants, many of them set in the same old buildings that have stood for 170 years. So whether you’re here for the rush of the trails or the calm of town life, Creswick provides. 

    A traveller’s checklist 

    Staying there 

    1970s log cabin
    Inside the Woodlands, a chic 1970s log cabin. (Image: Vanessa Smith Photography)

    RACV Goldfields Resort is a contemporary stay with a restaurant, swimming pool and golf course. The Woodlands in nearby Lal Lal comprises a chic log cabin set on a 16-hectare property abundant in native wildlife. 

    Eating there 

    Le Peche Gourmand
    Le Peche Gourmand makes for the perfect pitstop for carb and sugar-loading.

    The menu at Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel includes some Thai-inspired fare. Fuel up for your ride on baguettes and pastries from French patisserie Le Peche Gourmand . The Farmers Arms has been a much-loved local institution since 1857. 

    Playing there 

    Miss NorthcottsGarden
    Miss Northcotts Garden is a charming garden store with tea room. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Creswick State Forest has a variety of hiking trails, including a section of the 210-kilometre-long Goldfields Track. Miss Northcotts Garden is a quaint garden store with tea room.