Parks /Gardens / Lakes, Canberra

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You can't miss seeing this lake as Canberra the city, surrounds it.
An ornamental lake, it was created by damming the Molonglo River and by constructing the Scrivener Dam.
Prime Minister “Sir Robert Menzies” officially inaugurated the lake in 1964.

The lake is 9kms long, and the Lakeshore if you feel like walking or riding around the whole of it, is 40.5kms.

At the Visitor’s Centre, or at other Tourist locations, pick up a walking trail map called the “Burley Griffin Walk.”

The walk is easy , and there is plenty to see, including the Carillon, which has 55 bells and is one of the World’s largest.
Blundell’s cottage, built in 1860, is open on Saturdays from 10 – 3 pm.
Memorials for the Merchant navy and HMAS Canberra and other landmarks can be seen on the walk.

Paddle boats, Kayaks, surf skis, and Canoes can be hired, and are popular water sports in summer. We watched the Australian Defence Force academy training in their 8 man canoes, then later, the College girls and boys started training.

There are lots of nice places for great views of Canberra important sights

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Whilst it may not be the first reason for coming to Canberra, it'll certainly be one of the first things you actually see as Lake Burley Griffin is HUGE. To the south lie the Parliament buildings, courts, National Library, Archives and Gallery. To the north is the Australian Memorial and the main shopping and hotel district. There's no real 'east and west shoreline' as the lake follows the course of the Molonglo River.

Although designed by Burley Griffin in 1911 it was not officially inaugurated (with some changes) until 1964, as a result of the damming of the Molonglo River. The Great Depression, WWII and drought prevented its completion. It's essentially an ornamental lake, and at 11kms long and, at its widest, 1.2km wide, it's quite some ornament! It's crossed by two bridges, both towards the eastern end of the lake and the city (plus the Scrivener Dam road at the far western end of the lake).

Extraordinarily, it has more than 40 kms of shoreline, and includes six islands. In spite of all that water, swimming is pretty uncommon, although it is used for rowing, fishing and sailing.

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The nation's capital is the perfect base to explore Kosciuszo one of Australia's great national parks. It has Mt. Kosciuszko which is the tallest mountain of the nation at 228 metres. It also encompass the headwaters of the very famous and scenic SNOWY RIVER, more breathtaking limestone caves and alpine resorts.

Therea re heaps of rare and endangered plants and animals in this park, some of which are found nowhere else in the world like the pygmy possum and the corroborree frog.

The traditional owners and keepers of the land are the Aboriginal people who have lived in this place for tens of thousands of years.

Lots of outdoor activities are on offer for every season like walking, hiking, touring, camoing, fishing, cycling, snowsports and other recreational activities such as canoeing, mountaineering, guided walks, rafting, and many more!

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The most economical way to enjoy Canberra is to have a picnic along Lake Burley Griffin and just soak up the peace and quiet along this popular lake in the heart of Canberra. If you are lucky enough, you will also have some lovely creatures to share your time with here!

Lake Burley Griffin was constructed in 1963 after the Molonglo River was dammed, and was named after Canberra's designer. It is possible to boat in the lake, and walk or skate around the 35km shoreline.source-http://www.australianexplorer.com/canberra_lake_burley_griffin.htm)

There are the usual amenities- toilets and taps but the best thing here is the shady trees lining the lake where you just roll up your blanket and wind down after a day's exploring the capital!

We got our food from the nearby DEPOT MARKETS and took our food- LAOTIAN fare and some vintage cheese to enjoy by the lake.

You can also hire a boat or bike to use here.

Btw, this lake is artificial, would you believe?

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Cockington Green Gardens
11 Gold Creek Rd
Nicholls, ACT 2913, Australia
+61 2 6230 2273

My wife’s cousin brought us to this nice place of miniature houses called Cockington Green in Canberra. My wife loved it a lot! The little houses were so cute and so painstakingly made, you are simply amazed by the detail.
This beautiful garden of little architectural delights was opened in 1979, a creation of the family of Doug and Brenda Sarah Cockington. It has a wonderful international collection of miniatures, including an English Village while a miniature Steam Train Ride brings you around the whole complex. There is also the Rose Room indoor exhibition, which features ‘Waverley’ (a 34 room Dolls House) ,and after that enjoy a coffee in the Parsons Nose Garden Café. Truly a nice place to spend a couple of hours or so while in Canberra.

Opening Times
Entry from 9.30am - Last Entry time 4.15pm with viewing available until 5.00pm
Minimum viewing time recommended - 1 Hour
Open 7 days a week (Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day)
The display may be closed in event of extreme weather.
Transport
Cockington Green Gardens is located at Gold Creek Village, 10 minutes from Canberra City Centre.
Car and Coach parking are available. Public transport is also available, please refer to options listed below.
Action Buses
Ph 11710
Local bus service operating daily from: City & Belconnen,
Bus Routes 50 / 51 / 52

The Captain James Cook Memorial fountain is located in the Central Basin of Lake Burley Griffin. It’s not the highest in the world but it can reach to the maximum height of 147 metres. The highest in the world King Fahd Fountain in Jeddah can reach up to 312 metres. When it’s on about six tonnes of water is in the air discharging 500 litres per second. The water returns to the lake.

The fountain was built to commemorate Captain James Cook the first European contact with the eastern coastline of Australia.

The water jet operates from 10–11.45 a.m. and 2–3.45 p.m. In summer it operates for an extra period from 7-9 p.m. It does not operate during high wind and when there is a draught.

I took the photo in front of National Capital Exhibition at Regatta Point which is the best view.

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If you happen to be in Canberra around mid September to mid October don’t forget to visit Floriade at Commonwealth Park..

Hey btw it's free, there's no charge, so there is no excuse for you not to come to see Floriade.

Every year Canberra celebrates spring with flower festival and each year Floriade has different theme, this year the theme are ‘Films That Shaped Our Nation’. This year festival is the 21st which began in 1986. Nearly every year we come and visit Floriade.

You can walk among the garden beds of flowers. They are many varieties of flowers beds representing the themes. You can stroll along at Mick Dundee’s Billabong flowers beds which are inspired by the movie ‘Crocodile Dundee’, or walk towards ‘The Man From Snowy River’, which the flower garden beds representing the high country bushland. They even have ‘Mad Max’ flower garden beds representing harsh land of Australia, and many other themes amongst the Floriade flower festival.

Floriade is surrounded by mix of flowers with kaleidoscope of colours, there’s yellow, red, blue, pink, white, purple. Tulips, viola, daffodils, irises and daisies are just few of the flowers on display.

They are activities for children, onsite cinemas, roving performers, music’s and dance entertainments and others. Also cafes for breakfast/lunch and refreshment.

Email:floriade@act.gov.au

9.00am–5.00pm Monday to Friday

8.00am–5.00pm weekends and public holidays

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If you happen to be passing Lake Burley Griffin (the lake Canberra is situated on) between 10-12am or 2-4pm you should see this. I say should because twice I've waited for it to get turned on at 10am and it hasn't spouted until 15-20minutes later.
Originally it used to go permanently but, the government, in their infinite wisdom, decided it cost too much to run so now it only goes 4 hours a day........or less!
It sprays 110 metres vertically when conditions are right.
Also in these pics is a globe on which is indicated Captain James Cook's three voyages until the time he was killed in the Hawaiian islands.
In the distance is the National Library.
The second pic shows how pretty it is in spring.