You won’t find The Cotter Loop mentioned in the tourist brochures, that is the name used by vehicle enthusiasts, who love this excellent driver's road. It refers to the road trip out from Canberra past Mount Stromlo, The Cotter, Canberra Deep Space Centre, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (see following tips) and back via the old village of Tharwa. All those places merit stopovers and if you have time, maybe also take in the former Lanyon Station and Nolan Gallery just before you enter the southern end of the Canberra suburbs. Heading back to the city, you pass the satellite city centre of Tuggeranong where there is a shopping mall.
The overall trip is about 60km of winding and undulating road, through some lovely scenic country in the lower hills south of Canberra, and there are some interesting places to visit. Follow the Tourist Drive 5 signs, beginning by heading down Adelaide Avenue past the Prime Minister’s Lodge, then diverting onto Cotter Road. From there, it is little more than a matter of following your nose! Put aside a full day for this trip if you include the side visits.
Addition 9 March 2008: I have now replaced the sketch map with this poster map, to which I have added annotations. NB also that the old bridge at Tharwa is now closed for ongoing repairs, so the route is shortened as I have marked it.
Updated Apr 18, 2008
One of the many miniature models. Almost 35,000 flowers are planted annually to add colour to the display at Cockington Green.
You will see a Scottish castle, a period house in Sussex and a countryside casa in Chile, a replica of Stonehenge, a typical UK village cricket scene, a windmill and more.. Cockington Green was opened 1979 and is a popular attraction in Canberra. You can also take a ride on a little steam train ride around the grounds. (see more in travelogues).
Updated Dec 13, 2003
Bega Cheese Factory, Bega is a little town south of Canberra just inland along the NSW Sapphire Coast. It is well known for the Cheese Factory and Heritage Centre there which you can find just north of town, on the banks of the Bega River. You can see how cheese is made from the viewing rooms of our factory.
18 - 36 Ridge Street, North Bega NSW.
Updated Aug 2, 2003
Travelling into NSW and right before the Victorian border is the little town of Ettamogah. The main attraction being the Ettamogah Pub. Cartoonist Ken Maynard, who lived in Albury, wrote a comic strip in which he depicted the goings-on at an imaginary hotel called the Ettamogah. In 1987 an actual pub was made that was an exact replica of the cartoon pub, complete with an almost impossible design of outward leaning walls and veranda's, a tree that stands in the middle through two floors, an old jalopy on the roof and signs everywhere. More pics in my travelogue.
It is situated on the Hume Hwy, at the corner of Table Top Rd and Old Sydney Rd, 16 km north of Albury.
Updated Aug 2, 2003
Federation Square, Gold Creek is right near Cockington Green, this shopping area is an award winning complex. There is a country pub style restaurant, coffee shop, children's playground and lovely little shops selling pottery, linen an lace, homemade lollies, crafts to name but a few.
You can take a bus from the City interchange which will take you here (Route 51/52)
Updated Aug 2, 2003
Cockington Green is set is lovely landscaped gardens and features meticulously crafted miniature buildings of Great Britain, Chile, South Africa, The Netherlands and Columbia (with more to be added in the future). The models are on a one-twelfth and one eighteenth scale.
Location: 11 Gold Creek Road
Nicholls ACT. About 11km north-west of the city. You can take a bus from the city (route 52) which will drop you off at Federation Square.
Open: : 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Updated Aug 2, 2003
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Cockington Green is set is lovely landscaped gardens and features meticulously crafted miniature buildings of Great Britain, Chile, South Africa, The...
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Q: I plan to spend only one day in Canberra with a one day bus pass - any must see places along the bus routes?

A: i am pretty sure the buses take you close to the war memorial and to old and new parliament houses - they are closish together i really like the art gallery which also...
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