Canberra Favorite Tips by Ronald_T

Canberra Favorites: 76 reviews and 82 photos

When you are visiting the... - Canberra
When you are visiting the... New Parliament House Review

Favorite thing: When you are visiting the Australian Capital, you have to visit the National Parliament House (http://www.aph.gov.au) that is located on a 32-hectare site and built on top of Capital Hill. It is the focal point of Canberra. The building completed in 1988 after a cost of over 800 million dollars, but it is one of the most attractive parliament buildings in the world. It replaced the old parliament (http://www.oph.gov.au) house, which is located further down the hill. The National Parliament House is build from a design by the architect Romaldo Giurgola. It was official opened by Queen Elisabeth II (for those don’t know, she is English) on May 9th 1988. For those who want to send an e-mail to the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, this is the address: http://www.pm.gov.au ;-)

See for more info and pictures in the Parliament House travelogue please…

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  • Written Sep 12, 2002
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With its atmosphere of... - Canberra
With its atmosphere of... Tourist Attractions Review

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<p><font face='Times New Roman' size='4'>With its atmosphere of yesteryear, <b>Gold Creek Village</b> just north of Canberra off the <b>Barton Highway</b> is worth a visit. Offering many attractions, including the model village of <b>Cockington Green</b> (see further), the <b>National Dinosaur Museum</b>, the
<b>Australian Reptile Centre</b> and a traditional <b>English pub</b>, the Village offers a range of shopping experiences. In <b>Federation Square</b>, for example, you'll find speciality shops offering terracotta, linen, lace, lollies, local pottery, paintings, golf accessories, men's gifts and craft supplies. You can take time out from the shopping and relax in the coffee shops and a licensed restaurant with a country pub atmosphere. <b>Ginninderra Country Crafts</b> features hand painted porcelain, dolls, pottery and decorative clothing. Here you can see craftspeople at work - and purchase their wares. Among the rustic gardens you will find the oldest building in Gold Creek Village, <b>St Frances Catholic Church</b>, built in 1871. The schoolhouse and residence, built in 1883, take you back to days gone by. Other shops feature leather craft, country-style home wares and speciality gifts. </font></p>
<p><font face='Times New Roman' size='3' color='#FF0000'> See for more info and pictures in the
<a href='http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.53989/article/857/1/'> Gold Creek</a> travelogue please.</font></p>
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Review Helpfulness: 1.5 out of 5 stars

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  • Written Sep 12, 2002
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St. Christophers Church in... - Canberra
St. Christophers Church in... Outer Towns/Suburbs Review

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<p align='center'><font face='Times New Roman' size='4'>St. Christophers Church in Manuka.</font></p>
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Review Helpfulness: 1.5 out of 5 stars

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  • Written Sep 12, 2002
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Visit Manuka. In Sydney it's... - Canberra
Visit Manuka. In Sydney it's... Outer Towns/Suburbs Review

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<p><font face='Times New Roman' size='4'>Visit <b>Manuka</b>. In Sydney it's Double Bay, in Melbourne it's South Yarra. In Canberra, it's Manuka. (Say Mar-nar-kar, not Ma-noo-kar.) Don't be deceived by its low-key village look. This place has everything on the one block. Here you'll find the up market fashion labels (including the imported ones) and a whole street of cafes where the locals love to see and be seen. Drop by for a latte and browse in the arcades. There are beautiful things to discover. Just minutes away from the <b>parliamentary triangle</b>, its a great place to escape to after visiting the Art Gallery, Parliament House etc, etc. And if you want you can even go to the Cinema after some fine or casual dining. To go straight to Manuka with public transport take bus 39 from the City Interchange.</font></p>
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  • Written Sep 12, 2002
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For people who like to shop... - Canberra
For people who like to shop... Shopping Review

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<p><font face='Times New Roman' size='4'>For people who like to shop in a shopping Mall (and that's not me) I recommend the <b>Canberra Centre</b> (<font color='#0000FF'>see picture</font>) in Bunda Street. This glamorous shopping mall has the major department stores (David Jones and Grace Bros), fashion shops, from the upper market to the 'more dash than cash' variety, a food court, bookstores, speciality shops and a number of souvenir-style shops. Its open 7 days a week, and there's ample undercover car parking in the multi-level car park next door. Forget the A$ 4 you pay in Sydney - here it's a paltry 40 cents for your first hour! A must for the ladies while I am going for a walk and a drink ;-)</font></p>
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The centre of Canberra is not... - Canberra
The centre of Canberra is not... Shopping Review

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<p><font face='Times New Roman' size='4'>The <b>centre of Canberra</b> is not so big (compared with Sydney) as you know Canberra counts only 311000 inhabitants. It is also known that Canberra is the fastest growing city of Australia with <b>7.2%</b> people a year. But one thing is a fact; Canberra has an enjoyable commercial centre (also known as <b>Civic</b>), and at least not so busy as the other main city's. It's a great feeling walking in the centre without passing cars and you find nice shops and café's all around the place. Its even difficult to get lost in the centre because you always coming back to the fabulous <b>merry-go-round</b> (<font color='#0000FF'>see picture</font>) in the middle of the town. Notice the old city centre around the
<b>Norhbourne Avenue</b> (where you also find the <b>Melbourne building</b>) that has fine eateries and shops that are quite tempting as you walk around that place.</font></p>
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Take a walk in the ... - Canberra
Take a walk in the ... Parks / Gardens / Lakes Review

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<p><font face='Times New Roman' size='4'>Take a walk in the <b> Commonwealth Park</b> that offers you more then you think. Lots of outdoor activities are organized there like the <b>Floriade</b> (see further), <b>concerts</b> and also the celebrating of <b>New Year Eve</b>. See or sail the <b>Lake Burley Griffin</b>. You will find there also the <b>Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet</b> that is situated in Lake Burley Griffin, which was created in <b>1964</b> when the former <b>Molonglo River</b> was dammed. Most of the time this park, which is only minutes away from the city, is a good place for a picnic or take a rug and lay down with a good book under the many trees around. On the picture here you have a good view out the Commonwealth Park over the lake Burley Griffin within the Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet and in the background the Black Mountain and the Telstra Tower (see further).</font></p>
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But in fact, who was Walter... - Canberra
But in fact, who was Walter... History/Location Review

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<p><font face='Times New Roman' size='4'>But in fact, who was <b>Walter Burley Griffin</b>? A question I ask myself and after a long search I want to share my findings. <b>Walter Burley Griffin</b> (<font color='#0000FF'>see picture</font>) was born on <b>November 24, 1876</b> in <b>Maywood</b>, <b>Illinois</b>. Already in high school, Griffin showed his interest in landscape gardening. The family had moved to a new house in the <b>Chicago</b> suburb of <b>Elmhurst</b> and Griffin was involved in landscaping the backyard. His parents let him do what he wanted and before long his brother and sisters were calling it 'The Jungle' because he was experimenting with so many different forms of plants. In <b>1895</b>, Griffin enrolled in the <b>Department of Architecture</b> at <b>University of Illinois</b>. In <b>1899</b>, Griffin graduated in Architecture. He returned to Chicago where he quickly found a job as a draftsman working with Chicago's most progressive architects. From <b>1899</b> to <b>1914</b>, Griffin created more than <b>130 designs</b> in his Chicago office for buildings, urban plans and landscapes, half of which were built in <b>Illinois</b>, <b>Iowa</b>, <b>Michigan</b> and <b>Wisconsin</b>. In <b>1912</b>, Griffin won the Canberra Commission for the design of the <b>Federal Capital of Australia</b>. Griffin arrived in <b>Canberra</b> on <b>October 1913</b> as <b>Federal Director of Design and Construction</b> - development of the city was ready to begin. Dominating Griffin's plan was a central artificial lake and a '<b>parliamentary triangle</b>' in which the most important national buildings were to be placed. The surrounding residential areas had a geometric street pattern, circular and radial in shape, all fitting well into the general topography. Griffin continued to practise as an architect in Australia and design also the <b>Newman College</b> at the <b>University of Melbourne</b>, the <b>Capitol Theatre</b> and some houses. By <b>1935</b>, Griffin was reduced to designing municipal incinerators and he left Australia to take up an architectural appointment in
<b>India</b>. He died there in <b>1937</b> at the age of <b>60</b>.</font></p>
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Go up to the Mount Ainslie... - Canberra
Go up to the Mount Ainslie... Views Review

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<p><font face='Times New Roman' size='4'>Go up to the <b>Mount Ainslie</b> and have a great lookout over the parliamentary triangle, Lake Burley Griffin and the Carillon. Views of the Australian War Memorial are especially good from this lookout. It was on this spot that the architect <b>Walter Burly Griffin</b> had his inspiration to design the <b> Canberra</b> that it is today. </font></p> <p align='center'><font face='Times New Roman' size='4'> This is a piece of <b>Griffin's</b> own words about
<b>Mount Ainslie</b>: </font></p> <p align='center'><font face='Times New Roman' size='4' color='#0000FF'> '...The site may be considered an irregular amphitheatre with Mount Anslie at the north-east, flanked by Black Mountain and Mount Pleasant all forming the top galleries; with the slopes to the water, the auditorium - the waterway and flood-basin, the arena; with the southern slopes reflected in the basin, the terraced stage and setting of monumental Government structures sharply defined rising tier on tier to the culminating highest internal hill, Capital Hill; and with Mugga Mugga, Red Hill and the blue distant mountain ranges forming the back scene of the theatrical whole...'</font></p>
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Since March 2000 Canberra have... - Canberra
Since March 2000 Canberra have... Tours Review

Favorite thing: Since March 2000 Canberra have there own sightseeing bus, the Canberra Tour.

Lets see where they bring you.

01} Melbourne Building

02} Casino Canberra

03} Australian War Memorial

04} Dickson-China Town

05} Canberra Visitor Centre

06} Sydney Building

07} Regatta Point

08} National Library

09} High Court of Australia

10} Questacon

11} Old Parliament House

12} Parliament House

13} World Embassies & Residences

14} Screensound Australia

This is just information. See for the Canberra Tour also under Tourist Traps.

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