Lizards at the Botanical Gardens (1)
by Kate-Me
This lizard is a Water Dragon, I believe, and we came across the first one quite by accident, sunning itself in the carpark when we arrived.
As the park was almost closed, and a ranger had told us that there were many more lizards (and bigger ones too) down in the rockery area, we decided to come back the next day, which we did, and found this handsome fellow. This is not only my favorite memory of the Canberra National Botanic Gardens, but my favorite memory of all Canberra.
National Museum
by CandS
The National Museum..it features several permanent exhibitions and some moving exhibitions... A lot of the things in the museum are from and about Australia...past and present. It's a great place to go to learn more about the Australian lifestyle and history. There are a lot of things to read in the museum though (at each exhibit) so be prepared to have some 'brain strain' if you want to read it all...
Entry is free
http://www.nma.gov.au
information@nma.gov.au
Open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily
Aboriginal Tent embassy
by Kate-Me
The Aboriginal tent embassy - basically an aboriginal camp of tents and campfire in the park directly across from the old Parliament House - seems and looks to be a protest embassy. I know it was in Canberra years ago for a particular protest, and I don't know if it's been there ever since, or if recent events in Sydney (the death of an aboriginal boy being chased by police, which resulted in an aboriginal riot in the suburb of Redfern) have brought it back.
It was a strange sight to see this Aboriginal camp in the middle of Canberra in an otherwise sombre and official environment, with the old Parliament house right opposite.
Reading the caravan's grafitiied walls also gives an insight to the depth of the pain that the Aboriginal people feel about what happened and the level of injustice that they feel is being done to them.
I can't comment one way or the other, as I don't know enough about it or the aboriginal deaths in police custody issue.
Floriade 2007
by iandsmith
It was themed, as Floriade always is. It had all the usual tent attractions, such as organic soaps, foodstuffs etc.; such as gardening stuff, such as alpaca clothing, roasted nuts and natural fragrance candles.
It also had entertainment. Indeed, that was an aspect that was bound to increase. Some said it wasn't as good as the previous year, but someone always says that. For mine, I enjoyed it as I always do. Sure, there are bits and pieces that may not be to one's liking but, when someone goes to the trouble of putting out thousands of flowers, it can't be all bad can it.
With its atmosphere of...
by Ronald_T
With its atmosphere of yesteryear, Gold Creek Village just north of Canberra off the Barton Highway is worth a visit. Offering many attractions, including the model village of Cockington Green (see further), the National Dinosaur Museum, the
Australian Reptile Centre and a traditional English pub, the Village offers a range of shopping experiences. In Federation Square, 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. Ginninderra Country Crafts 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, St Frances Catholic Church, 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.
See for more info and pictures in the
Gold Creek travelogue please.
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AussieBarney at the controls.
AussieBarney with Simpson and his donkey
Streets of Canberra
About Government House
