Monday 31 August 2020

Canberra in Springtime: An Ode to Renewal

renewal (noun): an instance of resuming something after an interruption.

Canberra welcomes visitors, after this year of interrupted plans, to explore a city blooming with events and experiences designed to invigorate the mind and body.

Let this be your guide to gallery finds and escapes to unwind, fine-dining fare and flowers planted with care. Shrug off your winter layers and find renewal in the capital.

Australian National Botanic Gardens
A constant state of renewal, the Australian National Botanic Gardens marks a significant 50 years of growing, researching, protecting, sharing and educating this year. Embark on a walk through their varied landscapes, from Rainforest Gully to the Red Centre, and discover unique flora (and the occasional wandering fauna!) being preserved for all to enjoy. Further relaxation is encouraged over a spa treatment or a meal at either Jindii Eco Spa or Pollen café.

For a memento of your experience, collect a bottle of Underground Spirits' Ad Crescendum Native Gin; its namesake being a Latin reminder 'to grow' with the Garden's foraged botanicals distilled in the spirit, including banksia, finger lime, rainforest aniseed, white aspen and yam daisy.

A Wild Night Out at Tidbinbilla
25 September – 10 October 2020
A family overnight stay unlike any other, A Wild Night Out at Tidbinbilla brings together education and interactive experiences with luxury. Each overnight family sleepover package includes ranger activities including a Behind the Scenes at the Vet Centre and in-camp ranger chat to prepare guests for their time at Tidbinbilla and Aboriginal Hanging Rock. Breakfast, dinner and campfire fun including stargazing, roasting marshmallows are included, before you turn in for your night's sleep in a 6-metre Emperor Bell glamping tent accommodation – complete with quality bed linen. This year, celebrated award-winning photographer Ari Rex joins the A Wild Night Out at Tidbinbilla camp on Wednesday 7 October 2020 to host an astro-photography workshop – the perfect night of milky way photography for adults and kids alike.

Handmade market goes virtual
26 September, 9am to 9pm
While this popular Canberra based physical market is temporarily on hold, the Handmade team continues to connect with its community by offering regular online markets to support its producers of quality Australian made design and produce. Find objects created with heart during their spring virtual market.

Floriade: Reimagined
12 September – 11 October
In 2020, Floriade has been reimagined with the annual spring celebration moving from its traditional home in Commonwealth Park to bloom across Canberra. One million bulbs and annuals will create a tulip trail through the ACT's suburbs and city. With floral plantings by the Floriade horticulture team and over 90 Canberra community groups, this year's festival allows the community to connect safely while public health restrictions are in place. Floriade: Reimagined offers all the Floriade activities you know and love with a mix of virtual and in-person experiences. 

From 12 September to 11 October 2020, enjoy Floriade Life featuring workshops, talks, and fitness classes to help keep your gardens green and minds inspired. Stock up on Australian designed products, gardening delights and spring-inspired eats at the virtual marketplace that showcases all your favourite Floriade traders and foodies. Young Floriade fans can learn about sustainability and the environment, search for gnomes hidden throughout Canberra and uncover new worlds with Floriade Sprouts. Floriade's after-dark experience, NightFest, will return for one night only on Friday 2 October 2020. Stay tuned for more details.

National Portrait Gallery spring exhibition program
Been missing live gigs? Celebrate Australian pub culture in all its glory at Pub Rock (5 September 2020– 14 February2021), which brings together works from Australia's leading music photographers with gems from the Gallery's permanent collection. Pub Rock will feature 'staged portraits and publicity shots alongside images captured during unguarded moments and the grungy energy of live performance'. With photographic appearances from AC/DC, INXS, Nick Cave, The Bee Gees and Kylie Minogue as well as Midnight Oil, Paul Kelly, Yothu Yindi, Cold Chisel, The Angels, Christine Anu and Marcia Hines, plug into the curated Spotify playlist and get the full gig experience.

Those seeking a quieter traverse of a gallery experience have not been neglected - This is my place (21 September 2020– 28 February 2021) is holding space for you. This exhibition is all about those intimate spaces that we call ours, whether they're countries, towns or homes. Spanning 250 years and featuring painting, drawing, photography and sculpture, This is my place is a meditation on the spaces that define us—an important exhibition for our times.

Sage Dining Rooms
Sage Dining Rooms has long held a place in the Canberrans diaries as a celebratory venue of choice. Expect demand for tables at this establishment to surge after they were awarded best fine dining restaurant in Australia in TripAdvisor's 2020 Travellers' Choice Best of the Best awards. The Sage Farm, located less than 10km from the restaurant's door in the Majura Valley, produces the organic herbs and vegetables that adorns dishes such as Jerusalem artichoke with whipped garlic, buckwheat dukkah and dashi or button mushroom agnolotti and black pepper. A sophisticated wine list that heroes local wineries rounds out this paddock to plate experience.

Sage Dining Rooms is located at the Gorman Arts Centre in the foodie precinct of Braddon. A tranquil Garden Bar leads guests into the intimate dining room and sets the scene for the night. Sage is best known for their modern- Australian, colourful degustation menu. Seafood is always a standout; local producers feature heavily on the menu while staff are well versed and helpful. Recently, Sage has started its Friday and Saturday lunch service again for two or three course meals with the option to enjoy the full Sage experience, the five-course chef selection.

DESIGN Canberra Festival
9-29 November
From architecture and interiors to world-class contemporary craft, this Canberra festival covers all things design. DESIGN Canberra celebrates our capital as a global design hub. With some of the nation's best food, wine and brews, it has all the ingredients for a perfect weekend getaway.

The festival will see more than 150 (mostly free) events, exhibitions, talks, tours, collaborations, artist studios and workshops take place across 21 days. The program celebrates Canberra's epic design history, including the city's renowned 50s architecture and a thriving community of studio artists. Returning this year are the popular Open Studios, which invite you to step inside the studios of Canberra's best makers and designers to purchase contemporary handmade ceramics, furniture, jewellery, textiles, glass and more, directly from the artists. Running every Saturday of the festival, Open Studios are a great way to buy beautiful handmade homewares while meeting and supporting local makers.

Public health information for the ACT
The nature of COVID-19 is that it is highly contagious, and it can move very quickly. At this stage we strongly discourage anyone from COVID-19 affected areas from travelling to the ACT. The latest information on COVID affected areas can be found on the Travel Advice page of the COVID-19 website: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/travel

People should not travel if they are unwell. Remember that while travelling, it is your responsibility to maintain physical distancing and practice good hygiene, as well as to adhere to the rules of the jurisdiction to which you are travelling. 

Tags: #Canberra, #SpringTravel
Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au
Website: visitcanberra.com.au

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