Travel Australia - Canberra

TRAVEL : Australian Insiders Guides
Canberra: 48-hour itinerary
Fog over Lake Burley Griffin, with the Carillon looming in the distance (Photo: Karen Trist/Lonely Planet)
Fog over Lake Burley Griffin, with the Carillon looming in the distance
In one weekend you can get a lot out of our nation's capital. Check out this two day itinerary for the highlights.
Get out
Start with something active. One of the greatest things about Canberra is the scenery; cycling or rowing on the lake are both great options. Mr Spokes hires out bicycles and has itineraries for different levels of riders. REAL Fun hires out bicycles, canoes and camping equipment if you need it. And ACT Boat Hire has kayaks, canoes and paddleboats.

The solitude and aesthetics of Canberra in the early morning are awesome, so rise and shine.

To venture further a-field go to Mt Stromlo, which has a world championship mountain bike park. Otherwise, head up to Majura Pines.

If bush walking is your cup of tea, then Canberra's got you covered; drive 10 minutes in any direction and you'll realise the success of Walter Burley Griffin's garden city ideals. There are marked trails snaking the parks throughout the city and surrounds. Pick up a map at the Canberra Visitors Centre.

If you need to be sure that coffee is proximate to your walk, head up to the Botanical gardens. The refreshing cool of the rainforest landscape is surprisingly close to the city centre.
Relax
After your exertions head over to Lyneham and sink into the eclectic chairs and couches at the Front Gallery and Café. It has a small gallery showcasing young, local artists, free wireless Internet and a mate's lounge-room kind of feel. Pass the time into the evening and watch the place fill up with people for a Saturday night gig or Friday night poetry slam.
High-brow brekkie

The next morning have breakfast in Kingston or Manuka, and then head over to Parkes. This is the area where you'll find the national institutions. Check out what exhibitions and events are on and choose the ones that suit your interests. If the High Court or Parliament is in session, drop in and see how it all works.

There are a host of excellent options, including Old and New Parliament House, the newly relocated National Portrait Gallery, the National Library, the National Archives and, of course, the National Gallery. If it is a hot day make sure you get to the Sculpture Garden before 2pm to walk through the fine mist of Fujiko Nakaya's Fog Sculpture (1977) and on to the cool, contemplative space of Fiona Hall's Fern Garden (1998).
Yum

After a day of nationalism and culture return to the city for dinner and drinks. Find restaurants around Garema Place or lining Bunda Street around the base of the newly redeveloped Canberra Centre.

Then it is beer o'clock at Wig and Pen; they have a ludicrously long list of amber liquid brewed in-house. King O'Malley's is up next for big pub atmosphere, unless you'd prefer the unassuming and eccentric The Phoenix where you'll find a mostly-local crowd.

If you're in the mood for classy cocktails, head to Hippo Lounge Bar, Muddle or Knightsbridge Penthouse.
Move

If you're around on a Sunday afternoon and you feel like getting sweaty with the locals, head down to Corroboree Park in Ainslie at 1pm for Sunday Dance Jams. Five bucks gets you an hour and a half of crazy fun dancing and a chance to bust out all your moves too daggy for Saturday nights.