Canberra may be one of the youngest capital cities in the world, but what it lacks in age it well and truly makes up for in good looks and good vibes. And actually, some of its heritage-listed history and splendour may well surprise you. From wide open spaces to urban chic, national treasures to cultural icons, vines to mountains, adventure to art, the capital is one surprise after another. Read on for some of the very best things to do in Canberra, from tried and tested classics to exciting, innovative experiences or fun with some new kids on the (capital) block. Love Boats Canberra’s aquati ..read more

It’s not every day you get to be judge, jury and perhaps even executioner, but if you go along to Lexi Sekuless Production’s latest theatre, Terror, you’ll have that chance to do exactly that—and all over the space of just a couple of hours. From the minute you enter the industrial-feel foyer of the Mill Theatre at Fyshwick’s Dairy Road precinct and are handed your juror number and badge to wear and given some instructions, you know that this is not a normal night at the theatre. You’re here for business: to listen, to ponder and ultimately to judge. Terror, written by German lawyer and write ..read more

This is not a travel story. When I’m home alone for an extended period, it can lead to some very late nights. Recently when I should have been going to bed, I came across (actually revisited) a mesmerising cover of a song classic, and I went down a rabbit hole. It’s US group Disturbed’s 2018 version of Sound of Silence, a song written nearly 60 years ago by Simon and Garfunkel, and one I grew up with. Didn’t we all? And wasn’t it originally ‘sounds’?? That warren wasn’t just the song but watching other people listen to and analyse it. Suffice to say the night wasn’t just very late but very ea ..read more

Coming to Canberra and not sure of the best way to discover the city? Relax—options abound. Beyond the national institutions and abundance of roundabouts, the capital boasts a feast of activities and surprises with no shortage of different ways to experience them. By foot, on two wheels or on water, from the air or on horseback, each offers different vantage points, new insights and some pretty spectacular views. You just have to choose your mode of transport. Float your boat The sparkling centrepiece of Lake Burley Griffin provides aquatic options galore to discover Canberra, depending on you ..read more

If you live in Canberra, you may have heard of Dairy Road in Fyshwick and perhaps associate it with old farmland or even the car yards of its industrial past, but you may not know it’s evolved into a funky little village boasting cafes, galleries, distilleries and community events. You may be even be more surprised to learn it also contains a tiny but thoroughly professional theatre – Mill Theatre – tucked away in its timber-trussed interiors, and that’s something worth knowing about. The Mill Theatre, the first private enterprise theatre in Canberra, opened in November last year. It’s an inti ..read more

An architectural landmark in Newcastle has been reincarnated as a vibrant hotel with a big personality and remarkable views. In the heart of Newcastle not far from the harbour, a swank new hotel has reinvigorated one of the city’s most iconic pieces of architecture. The circular concrete bastion that once served as the council’s administration has collected a slew of nicknames over the decades—the Roundhouse, the Champagne Cork, the Shuttlecock and even the Wedding Cake. Now it has a new one and a whole new purpose. Opened in June 2021, the Crystalbrook Kingsley is a stylish 130-room hotel ..read more

It’s 20 years today since the utterly extraordinary day when a firestorm swept into Canberra suburbs on 18 January 2003 and swathes of the ACT were on fire, when four people lost their lives and over five hundred homes were destroyed in a matter of hours. It started as an ordinary Saturday but by the afternoon it felt like the apocalypse. It was a tragic day that changed our city, landscape and community forever. I was fortunate as I lived in a safe space, in fact, directly opposite one of the evacuation centres in Narrabundah which was reassuring. I didn’t lose loved ones or my home (though ..read more

Don’t panic. This isn’t a political post. While I may be a little saturated with political stories in the media and constant updates on election results (some still ongoing) and you probably are too, that doesn’t mean I’ve lost respect for the remarkable building that houses our government in Canberra. I’m a little besotted with it actually, and I was thrilled to I got to explore it a little deeper and know it a little better a couple of weeks back. I’ve been to Parliament House many times over the years so have a familiarity with the building and how it works but last week that familiarity we ..read more

It’s been quite a while since I’ve been to Sydney. There was that whole plague thing going on and it seemed like a pretty good idea to avoid big, crowded cities. And yes, I know that plague is still with us but now it seems we’re just stepping around it these days, oft warily. If you’re looking for some inner-city snippets for your next Sydney sojourn, read on. A coastal stroll If you’ve never done the iconic Coogee to Bondi Beach coast walk – or in the reverse direction or any part thereof – put in on your list. Along a scenic six kilometre pathway along the coast, it takes in cliffs, roc ..read more

Yesterday I did something I’ve been aspiring to do for quite some time. I flew over my lovely home town in a hot air balloon – and I have to tell you, it’s a pretty spectacular city to look down upon from way up there. Of course, it’s an early morning start with a 5.30am meeting time at the Hyatt, not the usual Sunday choice for a night owl. But I’m up, and bright eyed and bushy tailed though no doubt my hair’s a mess. As soon as I pull into the car park, it’s clear this is a well oiled machine: there’s someone immediately waving parking directions with a glowing stick and inside it’s all bus ..read more