Canberra is more than museums,monuments and MPs.Credit:IIIShutter
Picnic on a Swedish boat,swim in an art deco pool and visit a new wine bar dedicated to riesling. Canberra proves its far more than museums and monuments.
THE ONE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE
Locals and visitors alike flock to Canberra's National Arboretum – a tree museum - to go bush walking. mountain biking,to fly kites over grass hills or let the kids loose on the incredible POD Playground. A bonsai exhibit includes the country's oldest living bonsai while Instagrammers love the 35-metre-long"Wide Brown Land"sculpture based on Dorothea Mackellar's famous poem and inspired by the author's handwriting. Stroll the nearby Himalayan Cedar Track for some forest bathing. Seenationalarboretum.act.gov.au
The National Arboretum.Credit:John Gollings
THE ONE ART GALLERY
If,heaven forbid,you only have time to visit one Canberra gallery make it the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). It's home to Australia's largest collection of indigenous art and other must-see works including Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles,Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly paintings and works by Monet,Matisse,Warhol and Albert Namatjira. Explore light and shadow in James Turrell's dramatic Skyspace'Within Without'and go soon to take in the"Know my Name"exhibit showcasing female artists from 1900 to now. Drawn from the NGA's collection and loans from across Australia,it's the most comprehensive presentation of art by women assembled in Australia to date (until January 31,2021). Seenga.gov.au
THE ONE POOL
If,heaven forbid,you only have time to visit one Canberra gallery make it the National Gallery of Australia (NGA).
Be transported to the roaring 30s at Canberra's oldes public pool which opened on Australia Day 1931. Originally named"The Swimming Pool"(it literally was the only one in town) the heritage-listed Manuka Pool's striking art deco style was designed by principal architect E H Henderson and has recently reverted to its original Brunswick green and salmon colour scheme. There's an outdoor 30 metre pool as well as a separate kids'pool surrounded by grass and shady eucalypts. Heritage signage includes the amusing"running and spitting prohibited". Seemanukapool.com.au