Brick by Brick, National Capital Exhibition

The Brick by Brick – Build Your Own Capital expo at the National Capital Exhibition grabbed my attention a few weeks ago. Visitors are encouraged to build their own version of what the capital could look like, or replicate our institutions (with handy construction sheets), with lego or duplo. I drag Boyfriend along, ready to build something amazing… but this is quickly quashed when I realise I have no skills with lego at all.

Advertisement

Cascades Trail, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

It’s a hot day when we enter Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve; the Cascades Trail has been described as a walk to escape from the heat. We sure hope so!

Aranda Bushland Nature Reserve

In the spirit of getting amongst Canberra’s bushland in the hours that stretch out after work in January, our next pick is Aranda Bushland. Nestled between Mt Painter and Black Mountain, I drive past it regularly but have never taken the time to get amongst it. As usual, I’m pleasantly surprised.

Red Hill Nature Reserve

I love Canberra in January. Maybe I’m making too much of it, but I love the (relatively) quiet roads, and that it feels like the few of us around have the city to ourselves. Most of all, I love the days that seem to stretch out – getting home from work and still having hours of daylight left. It’s the perfect opportunity to get out and explore some more walks which are right on our doorstep. (Here’s one we did this time last year.)

Behind the Lines at Museum of Australian Democracy

Another year is almost over, and that also sounds the end of another political year. In a year where we had three Prime Ministers, the Behind the Lines exhibition at the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House) had plenty of political cartoons to choose from in their annual exhibition.

Pitch n Putt and Driving Range

Boyfriend does a lot of things that I want to do – without complaining. He always asks me to come to the driving range with him, and he usually gets a grimace in response, so he was pleasantly surprised when he made his usual offer and I said, ‘Sure, why not?’ this past long weekend.

Lerida Estate winery

We all have moments of sheer genius. Probably my last of 2012 was deciding that lunch at a vineyard would be ideal on our trek to spend New Year’s Eve in the Blue Mountains. Even better, I thought to flick through the Canberra Entertainment Book and saw that there was a deal on wine for Lerida Estate (one of the Lake George wineries).  With just over an hour until we would arrive there, I also had the thought to book ahead for Cafe Lerida (which they seem to recommend). Like I said, sheer genius.

Trekking up Tuggeranong Hill

One of the many things to love about Canberra is that if you want to climb a decent hill and immerse yourself in nature, you’re at most only a few suburbs away from doing that. One of the many things to love about Canberra in summer is that you can do this in the hours after you finish work, thanks to glorious daylight savings.

Lunch at Bicicletta

Bicicletta had been getting some rave reviews, and when searching for a place to dine for in the dying days of 2012, it jumped to mind.

Me and Mrs Jones versus Bodega de Pintxos

It’s December, the days are long, the weather is (finally?) warm (hopefully for good!), and what better way to catch up with friends than to venture down to rejuvenated Kingston?