Canberra Tour

Wednesday, 20 May 2015

Looking from the War Memorial to Parliament House

Canberra and Surrounds

Mt Black

Maureen, Les, Pauline

A tap for Aidan

Prickly cactus

Bonsai Eucalyptus

Bonsai Banksia

Bonsai Melaleuca

Big Bad Banksia Pods

Acorn Slide

Just nattering

The Eagle's Eyrey

Yarralumla

Lone Pine Seedling

Mt Stromlo Observatory

Last night’s heavy rained had cleared by this morning and the temperature was quite mild, especially for Canberra.  James and Maureen picked us up about 10.00 am and our first stop of the day was on the summit of Mt Ainslie, with panoramic views over Lake Burley Griffin and Canberra.  Coming off the mountain, we drove through the Australian Defence Force Academy/Duntroon grounds (without getting lost) before a quick circuit past ASIO (not that we are supposed to know that), Old Parliament House, the Treasury, the High Court, the National Library and the National Gallery before stopping at the National Portrait Gallery.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time here, especially as the majority of the portraits were of well-known people.  Our Tasmanian princess, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, held pride of place in one of the galleries.

Our lunch stop was at the new Arboretum, with its thousands of newly planted trees, unusual playground and very large visitors’ centre and restaurant looking out over the hills.  We even looked down on Yarralumla, home of Australia’s Governor General.  A walk through the bonsai garden revealed many Australian natives being grown as bonsais, along with the more traditional plantings.

James and Maureen were excellent tour guides, finishing our day at the derelict Mt Stromlo Observatory, which was destroyed in the 2003 bushfires.  Once again, more magnificent views, although a little misty by now, of the mountains in the distance.