Outdoor Adventure, Canberra

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There are two ways to enjoy hot air balloons in Canberra – one take a ride in one and two stand or sit and watch them.

Every year in March/April Canberra hosts a balloon spectacular (formally festival). For a couple of weeks up to 50 balloons gather together each morning on the lawns of Old Parliament House. The balloons, which come in all colours, shapes and sizes start inflating just after 6am and take to the skies between 6.30 and 7.00. Get these in time to see them inflating and gently drifting skywards, a truly amazing and surreal sight.

The event has become very popular over the years and breakfast, drinks and on ground entertainment is available until around 10am by which time the balloons will have returned.

The Canberra balloon festival is one of the top three hot air ballooning festivals in the world. Some of the unusual balloons that have participated in the festival in the past include a pair of dancing honey bees, Vincent Van Gogh’s head, a windmill, a tropical tree, a turtle and a Scottish bagpiper.

While I have not taken to the air flying over Lake Burley Griffin, Parliament and the other buildings of national significance must rank as one of the more scenic flight routes in the world.

There are a number of ballooning companies in Canberra all to eager to take you for a ride. Flights are offered (weather permitting) all year round and not just during the festival period. Autumn is certainly the most popular time. Google to find an operator. Flights (45mins – 1hr) cost around $300+ per person. Wrap up well (especially if your going up in a balloon) as there is often a chill in the air at this time of year this early in the morning.

Caution: Don't drive around the city watching the balloons as you drive. You won't be the first person to have a pang from so doing and get fined for dangerous driving. Pull over and watch.

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had a great time on the M2C Guided Tour.

It's the first time I have been on a guided tour and Vicki and the team did a wonderful
job of looking after us.

The BMW GS 650 bikes are a great choice. They come with panniers and top box so
all the gear I had fitted in no troubles at all. The bikes were comfortable, not too big,
not too small. We covered a range of roads from highways to secondary and tertiary
roads with a small stretch of dirt as well. The BMW always felt at home whatever the
conditions were, they also seemed to be incredibly frugal on their fuel use as well,
so we had plenty of riding time between fuel stops.

I'd say one of the big plusses of going on the guided tour is discovering new roads
and routes that I had never been on before. It was very relaxing not to have to worry
about the navigation aspects, as we were lead along some of the best roads and
countryside you'll see. On top of that the breakfast, lunch and dinner venues were
pre- selected so all we had to do was hop off the bike and tuck into some great food
and beverages at each stop.

It was two days of great riding, in wonderful surroundings, with a friendly and
professional team and group of other riders, the ride down into Kangaroo Valley
on the Sunday morning is a lasting memory, simply stunning.

I can thoroughly recommend M2C biketours - they're friendly, professional and
customer focussed with great bikes and great knowledge of where to ride for an
unforgettable weekend.

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Most people go to the snowy mountains which are a good many hours away. For our family, we get enough snowplay at Corin Forest, about an hour from Canberra.

The kids were still a bit young to take up skiing so the best option when in the snow is tobogganing! There is enough snow cover at Corin forest and is easily accessible too! There are lots of other things to do there- the flying fox, bobsled, alpine slide and more snow play!

There is also a licensed cafe with a cosy fireplace to boot! The Corin Forest BAse Station is a good venue for parties, seminars, small functions, etc.

This year, due to the bush fire several years ago, the place has no snow but still caters to groups who want to camp, hike, etc. Do inquire at their website for details. The bush setting is still spectacular as ever without the freezing snow!

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Canberra is also known as the bush capital, because it is surrounded by hills. There are many National Parks within Canberra. These National Parks are ideal for Bush walks. Bush walking is our favourite pastimes and cheap way of keeping fit.

Redhill Canberra Nature Park is another park that we take our dog Gibson for a bush walk. The grade is an easy to medium. We usually start our walk from the Muggay Way entrance. To reach to the top at normal pace is about thirty minutes. The trail surface is mainly dirt and some are gravel. The walk can be hard for novice, it is all up and up all the way to the top and going back is great it’s all down hill.

Along the way to the top you might see Kangaroos grazing and variety of birds, the common one being the Magpie. Once you reach the top the view is spectacular. You will see Canberra surround area. (see insert photos)

Make sure you are fit and do not have medical condition because Bush walks around Canberra, require a fairly good level of fitness.

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Canberra is also known as the bush capital, because it is surrounded by hills. There are many National Parks within Canberra. These National Parks are ideal for Bush walks. Bush walking is our favourite pastimes and cheap way of keeping fit. Mt Taylor Canberra Nature Park is an easy to medium grade. We usually start our walk from the Tuggeranong side (Sulwood Drive). To reach to the top at normal pace is about twenty five to thirty minutes. The trail surface is mostly gravel tracks and a small percentage of bitumen. The walk is mostly easy going apart when you reached the wooden steps, then the climbs just a little bit harder. Once you reach the top the view is spectacular. On one side you will see Woden Valley (Woden Hospital, Woden Plaza), Redhill Black Mountain Telstra Tower, Civic, Lake Burley Grifin Fountain (if it’s on), Mt Ainslie, Mt Stromlo and part of Belconnen. The other side of Mt Taylor you will see Tuggeranong Valley surrounded suburb and beyond.

Make sure you are fit and do not have medical condition because Bush walks around Canberra, require a fairly good level of fitness.

We park our car at the corner of Sulwood drive and Inskster Street Kambah. You will see other cars parked. The bushwalk path is not far from the parking area.

Mount Taylor (856 metres above sea level) is one of the hills located in Canberra and it is located between the Woden Valley, Weston Creek and Tuggeranong Valley. Mt Taylor is part of the Canberra Nature Park.

See photos for the view.

Enquiries: 02 6207 2087

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I found the Southern Cross Pitch n Putt 18 holes golf course is really fun activity for the family to enjoy. It's like playing in a small golf course. The only difference is you only pitch and put. You use only two golf stick the wedge and the putter. The landscape has lots of trees and water feature. The layout of the golf field is well plan. It takes about 90 minutes to complete the 18 holes.

Open daily 8am to 5pm

Cost: $12 for 18 holes.

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Once you have seen the galleries and museums, why not explore Canberra by using pedal power. Mr Spokes Bike Hire is able to provide you with all sized bikes, pedal cars, family bikes, tandems, child seats. Open daily from 9 am. Price ranges from $12 - $100. Bike $12 - $38. Tandem $24 - $75. Pedal Car $30. Family packages 2 adults and children $75 - $100. The hourly rates are from one hour to full day.

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What is very interesting that even in Canberra you can meet kangaroos or parots. When you wake up you can feel like in heaven. All the animals and the nature is so different from the European one and this makes Australia a mysterious place.

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OK, whether you consider this 'outdoor adventure' depends on your age! For the littlies, it surely is.

The merry-go-round in the central city area of Civic was designed and built in Melbourne, where it operated at St Kilda from 1915. At the time it was described as the ‘largest portable steam riding gallery’. The 52 hand carved wooden horses and two elephants were imported from Germany (presumably before WW1). In 1973 it was purchased at an auction (for $40,000) for the people of Canberra, refurbished at community expense, and re-commenced operation in its present location in 1974.

Hot Air Ballooning is just one of many activities to give you a buzz.... There is also
White Water Rafting,
Horse riding,
Ice skating,
Bushwalking/Hiking
Birdwatching,
And Site seeing..