We planned to have a full day in Canberra exploring all the attractions so it needed to be dog free. We booked them into a kennel and got very lost and frustrated trying to find the place! We did eventually find the kennels they weren't the best but it was only for a day. We drove into Canberra and went straight to Parliament House where we joined a morning tour.
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| 81 metre high flag pole |
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| Long corridors |
We went into the House of Representatives chamber which is decorated in the traditional lower house colour of green ~ the colours of Australian eucalypt and acacia trees...
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| One of the 2700 clocks in the building centrally controlled and complete with flashing red and green lights to inform members where they need to be |
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| Speakers chair |
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| Art portraits of previous prime Ministers |
We also went into the Senate chamber which is decorated in the reds of Australian soils and red gums...
There is some fantastic artwork all through the rooms. This painting of the Queen officially opening the new Parliament House in The Great Hall on 9th May 1988 has so much detail...
Had a pic of the Prime Minister who was in office when we were both born ~ Robert Menzies...
Looked in the Great Hall and admired the parquet floor of Western Australian jarrah and the massive tapestry on the wall...
It was a very interesting tour and we are ashamed to admit that we learnt things about Australia and its history that we really should have known. There are 4700 rooms in Parliament House ~ hard to believe! We had lunch in the café near the statue of the Queen...
I tried to stand in the exact spot as Her Majesty did...
Next we walked down the hill to the old Parliament House which is now known as the Museum of Australian Democracy. It was interesting looking through and comparing how much smaller it is to the new Parliament House...
We sat in the Prime Ministers office where the Prime Ministers we had grown up with governed from...
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| Entry into Old Parliament House |
There are various other high profile National buildings all in the same area. We went into the National Library which was strangely eerie with hundreds of people sitting at their computers with no other sound except the tapping of keyboards.
We looked inside the High Court which houses 3 courtrooms and has a massive entry/foyer area which is lovely and airy but seems a huge waste of space!...
The Autumn trees were just starting to turn pretty shades and I loved looking at them as we strolled around...
We had a quick look in the National Portrait Gallery at some of the amazing work by talented photographers and artists...
Loved this portrait of a lady who has obviously spent her life by the beach and is very proud of her body...
We then drove up ANZAC drive to the Australian War Memorial. We had visited briefly yesterday but today we got to look all through the displays. It was a very moving and interesting experience...
Prince Harry had visited a week earlier and the wreath he had laid was still there...
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| Looking down ANZAC parade and setting up for ANZAC service |
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| Amazing visual models displaying the horrors of war |
Stood by the tree Kate and William had planted on a recent visit...
And placed a poppy on the Roll of Honour (found out later my Great Uncle Neils name was actually on the roll)...
It was a great day of learning and appreciating our history and I can't believe that Canberra which is our nations capital is a place we had never visited before! Our fur babies were very happy to see us and we took them for another lovely evening walk along Lake Burley Griffin.
Next day after a few housekeeping jobs we drove back into central Canberra and parked under the War Memorial and went for a walk up and down ANZAC parade looking at all the major military memorials. Then we drove just out of Canberra to the summit of Black Mountain. Perched high on the mountain is the Telstra Tower. Rising 195.2 metres above the mountain summit, it is not only a landmark but also offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside...
We enjoyed the 360 degree views ~ would be lovely in winter with all the snow capped mountains!
We parked near the National Library and had lunch and sat and "people watched" and then walked along the "Australians of the Year" walk to the Commonwealth Avenue bridges...
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| Australians of the year walk path |
We then drove out to the suburb of Gowrie and visited Aunty Carol. It was great to catch up with her and apart from the dogs wanting to chase her 3 cats it was a lovely afternoon...
We walked the dogs along Lake Burley Griffin for the last time ~ it was another beautiful evening with another lovely sunset...
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| Telstra Tower in the distance |
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Canberra and I think the absolutely perfect weather made it even better! Something that we really noticed with Canberra is you actually have to go looking for shops as the main area is based on Government and Departmental offices which is a nice change from the usual inner city bustle of shopping. With such heavy security everywhere there isn't too many undesirables hanging around either. We will be back one day Canberra!
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