Why The Trip to Canberra?

A dear friend was amid organizing something a but special for her 50th birthday. 3 days in an hotel, and 2 days staying in a private zoo seemed perfect. Despite the reputation for being completely uninteresting, little more than a collection of gormless public servants and stupefying government buildings, Canberra is a beautiful city set in a natural amphitheater in thousands of hectares of rolling countryside.

In winter, Canberra freezes through near 0c at night, but our days were a more convivial 16c. The wind is like a frozen dagger, at as the sun went down at the Mt Ainslie lookout, made the place feel more like sitting at the centre of Santa’s back yard.

The Car:

Genesis GV80 is made for a road trip. but I fear the big SUV will see so few of them. The front passengers get heated/cooled/massaged seats, but if you want CarPlay music, you’ll need a USB cord (wireless is coming). We’ve since got ourselves a nifty Wireless CarPlay kit, so watch for the unboxing and test.

The large SUV is a 7 seater, but unless you’re vertically challenged, the 3rd row is best left stowed. It raises the rear floor somewhat, so makes the cargo space small than otherwise would be. I’d like a 5 seat option.

Rear seat video screen will see little use, and as they can also control the infotainment system, could be a weapon in the hands of young teens.

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ABOVE: 2023 Road Trip to Canberra

The Trip:

Canberra is not everyone’s idea of a week’s getaway, but there is a ton to do. The city was designed in a competition won by Walter Burley Griffin, but his wife Marion, also had a hand in the way Canberra looks today. The Y-shaped city is the seat of Australia’s political action, and houses many of the nationa’s treasures, and no, I don’t mean the MPs.

We set off to Canberra with a full tank, and full stomachs. In normal drive mode, the GV80 wafts along on the open road with a magic-carpet going on underneath. There are video screens in the back, but it is much easier to use your phone for a spot of Netflix. I clamped my phone to the bottom of the screen using an airline Phone Holder. Watch for it in our video.

The 3-hour trip, broken by the desperate need for toilet and coffee breaks, was over before it began. We arrived at our digs for 3 days, the Hotel Kurrajong, Canberra.

Our package deal included breakfast, thankfully. You need a mortgage to eat in the dining room otherwise. Chifley’s Bar and Grille is named after Ben Chifley, a Labor Prime Minister who called the hotel home for 11 years. In a far cry from the soft-bellied MPs of the current crop, Ben walked to Parliament house every day, whereas current MPs will get a ComCar for a 100metre trip.

The Bistro prices had mains at just under $50, and drinks at normal bar prices. The rooms are around $200 a night depending on what website you go through. Our room was quite small, but had everything in it. We BYO’d our booze, and sat out on our small ground floor balcony. Public spaces are elegantly styled in the Deco theme. Parking is $17 a night, which seems a bit steep given that it is not under cover.

Top Tip: Look for packages that include breakfast

Canberra is a planned city, and Walter Burley Griffin was mad on roundabouts. Think of Australia’s capital as a big country town, but posh. Everything closes early, and often for days at a time. It seems odd to folk from the east coast capitals where life goes on, and you can use the supermarket until midnight.

After checking in, we headed to Mt Ainslie for the obligatory lookout selfie straight down the avenue from the War Memorial through to both the old and new Parliament Houses.

Electric Car Charging:

For those with an EV, you’ll need to do a bit of searching for outlets. Canberra is not particularly well served. Chargers of various speeds can be found, so be sure to check all available apps. If you have a rental car such as the Polestar 2 from hertz, you may have charging included in your price at Evie. We were joined by a couple from Townsville, who rented a car at Brisbane Airport for the drive to Canberra. EV road trips still require planning.

Walking distance is: Old parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia, National Portrait Gallery.

We took the Genesis GV80 a little further afield to the National Zoo and Aquarium, beside which is the National Arboretum.

There are wineries scattered throughout the region, and some fun driving roads to add a touch of fun to the weekend away.

I spent part of an afternoon meditating beside Lake Burley Griffin while the other two did Mini Golf at the Power Kart Raceway.

We lunched at the Grease Monkey, and can vouch for the Greasy, a yummy burger that really hit the spot. From there, we hit the Australian Mint, where all Australian circulating coinage is stamped out. The tour was well worth it, and like all good tourists, we stamped out our very own coin to take home.

Part 2 of our trip tomorrow. We’ll drop a “Canberra in Pictures” for a full gallery of things, places, and People, including Jackson Pollock’s $500,000 Blue Poles at the National Gallery of Australia.

The Car: 2022 Genesis GV80

Places Visited: Australian Mint, National Arboretum, National Zoo and Aquarium, Kurrajong Hotel Canberra, Power Kart Raceway Mini Golf, Mt Ainslie Lookout, National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery of Australia