Important update
Enlighten Illuminations, our program item for Saturday night, finished on the 11th. There is good news though. Skyfire, a signature event on the Canberra calendar, lighting the skies above Lake Burley Griffin, is on Saturday night. However, this means changes to our dinner arrangements that evening.
We will be in a prime location after shooting in the Sculpture Garden. For the more mobile people, it's only about 2km walk from the hotel.
There are four options for Saturday evening. There's no need to made a decision at the moment, but PLEASE let Peter B. know at lunchtime.
If you think you might want to watch the fireworks, you should pack the following:
We will be in a prime location after shooting in the Sculpture Garden. For the more mobile people, it's only about 2km walk from the hotel.
There are four options for Saturday evening. There's no need to made a decision at the moment, but PLEASE let Peter B. know at lunchtime.
- Stay on at the Sculpture Garden after we have finish at 5pm, as we would be very close to a great vantage point. This would require a bit of a wait for Skyfire to start, but people will already be arriving for a good spot.
- Walk from our hotel to the lake foreshore at about 6pm, this is about 2km.
- Drive to a car park near the foreshore at about 6-6:30. Car parks could be crowded by then though.
- Have dinner at the Kingston Hotel as previously planned.
If you think you might want to watch the fireworks, you should pack the following:
- Picnic rug
- Small esky for food and drink
- Pick up some food and drink some time if you plan to watch the fireworks.
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On our club outing to Canberra from Friday 15 March until Sunday 17 March, there will be endless photographic opportunities, regardless of whether you are more into nature or architecture, event photography or night shoots.
The weekend coincides with the annual Balloon Spectacular and Canberra's version of Vivid Sydney, Enlighten. Another highlight is a guided tour through the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). You can showcase photos taken on the weekend at a presentation night on 3 April. Note: Officially, this is a 2-day outing from 16–17 March. However, as the majority of participants will already arrive on Friday 15 March, we have added some suggestions for this day as well. |
Table of contents
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Introduction
Each year in March, Canberra hosts two major events:
Add to this the many permanent attractions in Australia's capital, and you have got the ingredients for a fantastic weekend with lots of photographic opportunities. In particular, we will visit:
Enough time will be available to explore Canberra at your own pace and, for instance, walk along the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
- Canberra Balloon Spectacular is an annual hot air balloon festival that takes place at the lawns of the old Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. Up to 50 hot air balloons launch daily at dawn over the two week festival from the lawns in front of Old Parliament House.
- Enlighten Canberra is an outdoor art and cultural festival featuring light installations and projections, performances from local and interstate musicians, dining and film events. According to its motto, Enlighten encourages people to "See Canberra in a whole new light."
Add to this the many permanent attractions in Australia's capital, and you have got the ingredients for a fantastic weekend with lots of photographic opportunities. In particular, we will visit:
- The Australian National Gallery, with close to 170,000 objects one of the largest art museums in Australia;
- The Australian War Memorial, the national memorial to the members of Australia's armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in wars involving the Commonwealth;
- The National Arboretum, which features 94 forests of rare, endangered and symbolic trees from around Australia and the world;
- The Australian National University with its architecture ranging from the early Federal Capital style to the modernist styles of the 1960s and 1970s, and more recently to buildings with a strong emphasis on sustainable design.
Enough time will be available to explore Canberra at your own pace and, for instance, walk along the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
Accommodation
Forrest Hotel
www.forresthotel.com
30 National Circuit, Forrest ACT 2603
(02) 6203 4300
From Sydney's Northern Beaches, it's approximately a 3 ½ hours drive to get there.
www.forresthotel.com
30 National Circuit, Forrest ACT 2603
(02) 6203 4300
From Sydney's Northern Beaches, it's approximately a 3 ½ hours drive to get there.
Program
FRIDAY 15 MARCH
For those who arrive in Canberra in the afternoon, we have planned the following:
Throughout the afternoon | Check in at Forrest Hotel
30 National Circuit, Forrest ACT 2603
www.forresthotel.com
Don’t forget to sign on with Jeff on arrival.
The precise time of checking into your room is up to the individual member and of course depends on the time of your arrival and your participation in our afternoon activity.
14:30 – 16:30 | National Botanic Gardens and Black Mountain Tower (Maps 1 and 2)
NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS
Clunies Ross Street, Acton ACT 2601
www.anbg.gov.au/gardens
Distance from our hotel is approx. 7 km/10 minutes.
Enjoy a range of walking trails to suit all tastes and abilities, interesting plants and animals, educational activities, a Botanical Resource Centre, but also a café. Entry to the Gardens is free, but a $3.40 per hour parking fees applies when using the on-site car park.
BLACK MOUNTAIN
The National Botanical Gardens are located right at the foot of Black Mountain, so time permitting we will do a side trip up the hill to the Telstra Tower. It provides spectacular panoramic views of Canberra and surrounds. Descriptive panels provide information of various landmarks.
Parking is free. If you want to go up to the tower's visitor platform, admission charges of $7.50 for adults and $3 for pensioners apply.
19:00 | Catch the sunset at Aspen Island (Map 3)
Wendouree Drive, Parkes ACT 2600
Aspen Island is located on the south-eastern side of Lake Burley Griffin's central basin, a comfortable 10-minutes drive from our hotel. A footbridge connects it with Kings Park. Aspen Island is home to the Australian National Carillon, a gift from the British government to the people of Australia to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the national capital. The carillon has 55 bells weighing between seven kilograms and six tonnes and spanning four and a half octaves. They chime every quarter-hour and play a short tune on the hour.
Sunset is at 19:21.
20:00 | Dinner at Timmy’s Kitchen, Manuka (Map 4)
Manuka Village, Furneaux St, Manuka.
www.timmyskitchen.com.au
For those who arrive in Canberra in the afternoon, we have planned the following:
Throughout the afternoon | Check in at Forrest Hotel
30 National Circuit, Forrest ACT 2603
www.forresthotel.com
Don’t forget to sign on with Jeff on arrival.
The precise time of checking into your room is up to the individual member and of course depends on the time of your arrival and your participation in our afternoon activity.
14:30 – 16:30 | National Botanic Gardens and Black Mountain Tower (Maps 1 and 2)
NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS
Clunies Ross Street, Acton ACT 2601
www.anbg.gov.au/gardens
Distance from our hotel is approx. 7 km/10 minutes.
Enjoy a range of walking trails to suit all tastes and abilities, interesting plants and animals, educational activities, a Botanical Resource Centre, but also a café. Entry to the Gardens is free, but a $3.40 per hour parking fees applies when using the on-site car park.
BLACK MOUNTAIN
The National Botanical Gardens are located right at the foot of Black Mountain, so time permitting we will do a side trip up the hill to the Telstra Tower. It provides spectacular panoramic views of Canberra and surrounds. Descriptive panels provide information of various landmarks.
Parking is free. If you want to go up to the tower's visitor platform, admission charges of $7.50 for adults and $3 for pensioners apply.
19:00 | Catch the sunset at Aspen Island (Map 3)
Wendouree Drive, Parkes ACT 2600
Aspen Island is located on the south-eastern side of Lake Burley Griffin's central basin, a comfortable 10-minutes drive from our hotel. A footbridge connects it with Kings Park. Aspen Island is home to the Australian National Carillon, a gift from the British government to the people of Australia to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the national capital. The carillon has 55 bells weighing between seven kilograms and six tonnes and spanning four and a half octaves. They chime every quarter-hour and play a short tune on the hour.
Sunset is at 19:21.
20:00 | Dinner at Timmy’s Kitchen, Manuka (Map 4)
Manuka Village, Furneaux St, Manuka.
www.timmyskitchen.com.au
SATURDAY 16 MARCH
6:30 – 8:30 | Balloon Spectacular, Parks Place (Map 5)
Parkes ACT 2600
Get up close and personal with the balloons being filled and taking off. From our hotel, it's usually a 10-minutes drive. However, as the event is popular, expect some traffic into the area and leave early. On the weekend, there is free parking at the National Library, the Questacon and other museums in the area.
7:00 – 9:00 | Breakfast at your leisure
Suggestions include bacon and egg rolls or pancakes from the Lions Club at the Balloon Spectacular; breakfast back at the hotel; or breakfast at Elixir, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes (opens at 8am).
10:00 – 11:30 | Architecture photography at the Australian National University, ANU (Map 6)
The John Curtin School of Medical Research
Garran Road, Acton ACT
Distance from the hotel is approx. 10 minutes
services.anu.edu.au/campus-environment/trails-tours/architecture-trail
ANU has expanded to a campus of over 150 buildings. The architecture ranges from the early Federal Capital style to the modernist styles of the 1960s and 1970s, and more recently to building with a strong emphasis on sustainable design. The campus was once criticised as an "Architectural Disneyland". However, the buildings constructed here over the last century are representative of many important eras in Australia' architectural history.
The ANU architecture trail focuses on the six major phases of architecture at the ANU.
You may want to download the ANU Walks apps onto your smart phone before you leave home:
Throughout the afternoon | Check-in at Forrest Hotel (For those arriving on Saturday)
12:00 | Lunch, Museum Cafe at the National Museum of Australia (Map 7)
1 Lawson Crescent, Acton ACT 2601
www.nma.gov.au/visit-us/cafe
This is the official start of our outing. For those who haven't already done so: Don’t forget to sign on with Jeff on arrival.
Choose from a selection of locally made cakes and pastries, seasonal light meals and daily specials. Sit indoors or on the deck with spectacular views over Lake Burley Griffin. Entry to the museum is free, as is parking on weekends.
13:30 | Arrive at National Gallery of Australia, NGA (Map 7)
Parkes Place East, Parkes ACT 2600
www.nga.gov.au
Parking, same as for the balloon mornings, as close to the NGA as you can find. The NGA is home to Australia's national collection of visual arts. The national collection includes 170,000 iconic and highly celebrated works of art spanning four main areas: Australian art, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, Asian art, and European and American art.
Entry to the museum is free. The main parking area is underground and accessible via King Edward Terrace off Parkes Place. Car parking rates are $2.50 per hour. On weekends, free above ground parking is also available off Bowen Drive.
13:30 – 14:00 | Fog Sculpture in the NGA Sculpture Garden
Fujiko Nakaya's fog sculpture Foggy wake in a desert: An ecosphere is in operation between 12:30 and 14:00 daily.
15:00 – 16:00 | Guided tour of the NGA
Our group has been booked into a complimentary Focus Tour about light, composition, colour etc. through the eyes of artists and photographers.
Following the guided tour, you can choose from two options:
Option 1
16:00 – 17:00 | Sculpture Garden at the NGA
Parkes Place East, Parkes ACT 2600
The grounds between the National Gallery of Australia and the shores of Lake Burley Griffin display the gallery's extensive collection of sculptures by Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Aristide Maillol and others. The formal entry to the Sculpture Garden is through the winter garden at the northwestern side of the gallery building.
Option 2
16:00 – 17:00 | National Photographic Portrait Prize 2019 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery
King Edward Terrace, just next to the National Gallery of Australia
nppp.portrait.gov.auThe National Photographic Portrait Prize is an annual event intended to promote the very best in contemporary photographic portraiture by both professional and aspiring Australian photographers. Entry to the permanent collection is free of charge, tickets for the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2019 exhibition are $10 or $8 for concession card holders.
After our visit to the NGA/National Portrait Gallery, there are again two different options. Please let Peter B. know by lunchtime which one you prefer.
Option 1
18:00 | Skyfire, Canberra's No 1 fireworks extravaganza
Vantage points all around Lake Burley Griffin
Some of Canberra’s favourite food trucks will be serving up snacks and meals. Alternatively, bring a blanket and a picnic basket. There will be displays and artillery firing by Australia’s Federation Guard at Gallipoli Reach, and for the first time a Royal Australian Navy Taipan helicopter display and low flyover by a RAAF C17 aircraft.
To get to Skyfire:
Option 2:
18:30 | Dinner at Maddies at the Kingston Hotel (Map 8)
73 Canberra Avenue, Griffith 2603
A short (1.3 km) 5-minutes drive from our hotel
www.kingstonhotel.com.au
Maddie’s Restaurant is à-la-carte, however you can also use the nearby steak area to cook your own steak if you wish.
If you cannot find parking at the Kingston Hotel, the East Hotel just opposite (entrance off Oxley Street) has public car parking available: If you present your East Hotel parking ticket when you purchase a meal or drink at the Kingston Hotel, they will refund $2 to cover your 2-hour park.
6:30 – 8:30 | Balloon Spectacular, Parks Place (Map 5)
Parkes ACT 2600
Get up close and personal with the balloons being filled and taking off. From our hotel, it's usually a 10-minutes drive. However, as the event is popular, expect some traffic into the area and leave early. On the weekend, there is free parking at the National Library, the Questacon and other museums in the area.
7:00 – 9:00 | Breakfast at your leisure
Suggestions include bacon and egg rolls or pancakes from the Lions Club at the Balloon Spectacular; breakfast back at the hotel; or breakfast at Elixir, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes (opens at 8am).
10:00 – 11:30 | Architecture photography at the Australian National University, ANU (Map 6)
The John Curtin School of Medical Research
Garran Road, Acton ACT
Distance from the hotel is approx. 10 minutes
services.anu.edu.au/campus-environment/trails-tours/architecture-trail
ANU has expanded to a campus of over 150 buildings. The architecture ranges from the early Federal Capital style to the modernist styles of the 1960s and 1970s, and more recently to building with a strong emphasis on sustainable design. The campus was once criticised as an "Architectural Disneyland". However, the buildings constructed here over the last century are representative of many important eras in Australia' architectural history.
The ANU architecture trail focuses on the six major phases of architecture at the ANU.
You may want to download the ANU Walks apps onto your smart phone before you leave home:
- Android app: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.edu.anu.walks
- iPhone app: itunes.apple.com/au/app/id477946627
Throughout the afternoon | Check-in at Forrest Hotel (For those arriving on Saturday)
12:00 | Lunch, Museum Cafe at the National Museum of Australia (Map 7)
1 Lawson Crescent, Acton ACT 2601
www.nma.gov.au/visit-us/cafe
This is the official start of our outing. For those who haven't already done so: Don’t forget to sign on with Jeff on arrival.
Choose from a selection of locally made cakes and pastries, seasonal light meals and daily specials. Sit indoors or on the deck with spectacular views over Lake Burley Griffin. Entry to the museum is free, as is parking on weekends.
13:30 | Arrive at National Gallery of Australia, NGA (Map 7)
Parkes Place East, Parkes ACT 2600
www.nga.gov.au
Parking, same as for the balloon mornings, as close to the NGA as you can find. The NGA is home to Australia's national collection of visual arts. The national collection includes 170,000 iconic and highly celebrated works of art spanning four main areas: Australian art, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, Asian art, and European and American art.
Entry to the museum is free. The main parking area is underground and accessible via King Edward Terrace off Parkes Place. Car parking rates are $2.50 per hour. On weekends, free above ground parking is also available off Bowen Drive.
13:30 – 14:00 | Fog Sculpture in the NGA Sculpture Garden
Fujiko Nakaya's fog sculpture Foggy wake in a desert: An ecosphere is in operation between 12:30 and 14:00 daily.
15:00 – 16:00 | Guided tour of the NGA
Our group has been booked into a complimentary Focus Tour about light, composition, colour etc. through the eyes of artists and photographers.
Following the guided tour, you can choose from two options:
Option 1
16:00 – 17:00 | Sculpture Garden at the NGA
Parkes Place East, Parkes ACT 2600
The grounds between the National Gallery of Australia and the shores of Lake Burley Griffin display the gallery's extensive collection of sculptures by Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Aristide Maillol and others. The formal entry to the Sculpture Garden is through the winter garden at the northwestern side of the gallery building.
Option 2
16:00 – 17:00 | National Photographic Portrait Prize 2019 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery
King Edward Terrace, just next to the National Gallery of Australia
nppp.portrait.gov.auThe National Photographic Portrait Prize is an annual event intended to promote the very best in contemporary photographic portraiture by both professional and aspiring Australian photographers. Entry to the permanent collection is free of charge, tickets for the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2019 exhibition are $10 or $8 for concession card holders.
After our visit to the NGA/National Portrait Gallery, there are again two different options. Please let Peter B. know by lunchtime which one you prefer.
Option 1
18:00 | Skyfire, Canberra's No 1 fireworks extravaganza
Vantage points all around Lake Burley Griffin
Some of Canberra’s favourite food trucks will be serving up snacks and meals. Alternatively, bring a blanket and a picnic basket. There will be displays and artillery firing by Australia’s Federation Guard at Gallipoli Reach, and for the first time a Royal Australian Navy Taipan helicopter display and low flyover by a RAAF C17 aircraft.
To get to Skyfire:
- Either stay on at the NGA Sculpture Garden after we have finish at 17:00, as we are very close to a great vantage point.
- Walk from our hotel to the lake foreshore at about 18:00; this is about 2km.
- Drive to a car park near the foreshore at about 18:00-18:30. Note that car parks could be crowded by then though.
Option 2:
18:30 | Dinner at Maddies at the Kingston Hotel (Map 8)
73 Canberra Avenue, Griffith 2603
A short (1.3 km) 5-minutes drive from our hotel
www.kingstonhotel.com.au
Maddie’s Restaurant is à-la-carte, however you can also use the nearby steak area to cook your own steak if you wish.
If you cannot find parking at the Kingston Hotel, the East Hotel just opposite (entrance off Oxley Street) has public car parking available: If you present your East Hotel parking ticket when you purchase a meal or drink at the Kingston Hotel, they will refund $2 to cover your 2-hour park.
SUNDAY 17 MARCH
6:30 – 8:30 | Balloon Spectacular, Parks Place (Map 5)
Parkes ACT 2600
Get up close and personal with the balloons being filled and taking off. From our hotel, it's usually a 10-minutes drive. However, as the event is popular, expect some traffic into the area and leave early. On the weekend, there is free parking at the National Library, the Questacon and other museums in the area.
7:00 – 9:30 | Breakfast at your leisure
Suggestions include bacon and egg rolls or pancakes from the Lions Club at the Balloon Spectacular; breakfast back at the hotel; or breakfast at Elixir, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes (opens at 8am).
By 9:30 | Check out of hotel
10:00 | War Memorial (Map 9)
Treloar Crescent, Campbell ACT 2612
www.awm.gov.au
The Memorial is located at the top of Anzac Parade, around 10 minutes from our hotel. Entry to the Memorial and parking are free. Still photography is permitted, however camera bags larger than 40cm x 30cm x 30cm must be cloaked at facilities provided. We will be visiting the photography collections and exhibits.
12:30 | Lunch at Poppy’s Café (Map 10)
Located in the grounds of the War Memorial.
13:30 - 14:30 | Cork Oak Forest and Arboretum (Map 10)
www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au
The National Arboretum features 94 forests of rare, endangered and symbolic trees from around Australia and the world. Many of the trees are still young but two of the forests are over 100 hundred years old. Over 44,000 trees from over 100 countries are growing across the huge 250-hectare site, making it one of the world's largest living collections of rare, endangered and significant trees.
Entry to the Arboretum is free-of-charge, however, pay parking applies from 9am until 4pm daily at the rate of $2.10 per hour with a maximum of $7.80 for a day. These prices are only at the main car park. The Cork Oak Forest and Dairy Farmers Hill lookout are free parking.
Hidden at the northern end of the National Arboretum is one of Canberra's lesser known gems — a 100-year-old cork oak plantation. Walking into the forest is like walking into a cathedral, with sunlight peeping through the lines of cork oak trees planted in rectangular patterns.
14:30 | More photography in the Arboretum For those who haven't had enough …
Any time after 14:30 | Head home (Map 11)
Please don't forget to "sign off" by letting Jeff know.
6:30 – 8:30 | Balloon Spectacular, Parks Place (Map 5)
Parkes ACT 2600
Get up close and personal with the balloons being filled and taking off. From our hotel, it's usually a 10-minutes drive. However, as the event is popular, expect some traffic into the area and leave early. On the weekend, there is free parking at the National Library, the Questacon and other museums in the area.
7:00 – 9:30 | Breakfast at your leisure
Suggestions include bacon and egg rolls or pancakes from the Lions Club at the Balloon Spectacular; breakfast back at the hotel; or breakfast at Elixir, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes (opens at 8am).
By 9:30 | Check out of hotel
10:00 | War Memorial (Map 9)
Treloar Crescent, Campbell ACT 2612
www.awm.gov.au
The Memorial is located at the top of Anzac Parade, around 10 minutes from our hotel. Entry to the Memorial and parking are free. Still photography is permitted, however camera bags larger than 40cm x 30cm x 30cm must be cloaked at facilities provided. We will be visiting the photography collections and exhibits.
12:30 | Lunch at Poppy’s Café (Map 10)
Located in the grounds of the War Memorial.
13:30 - 14:30 | Cork Oak Forest and Arboretum (Map 10)
www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au
The National Arboretum features 94 forests of rare, endangered and symbolic trees from around Australia and the world. Many of the trees are still young but two of the forests are over 100 hundred years old. Over 44,000 trees from over 100 countries are growing across the huge 250-hectare site, making it one of the world's largest living collections of rare, endangered and significant trees.
Entry to the Arboretum is free-of-charge, however, pay parking applies from 9am until 4pm daily at the rate of $2.10 per hour with a maximum of $7.80 for a day. These prices are only at the main car park. The Cork Oak Forest and Dairy Farmers Hill lookout are free parking.
Hidden at the northern end of the National Arboretum is one of Canberra's lesser known gems — a 100-year-old cork oak plantation. Walking into the forest is like walking into a cathedral, with sunlight peeping through the lines of cork oak trees planted in rectangular patterns.
14:30 | More photography in the Arboretum For those who haven't had enough …
Any time after 14:30 | Head home (Map 11)
Please don't forget to "sign off" by letting Jeff know.
Tips
- We suggest you consider car sharing once in Canberra.
- Don’t forget to sign on with Jeff on arrival.
- In average, the temperature in March ranges between 11°C at night and a day high of 25°C. March is also the wettest month with an average of 60mm of rain. So bring warm clothes for the early morning and evening. Beanies are recommended.
- This outing involves some walking, so bring comfortable shoes. The grass is usually very wet from heavy dew, so good closed shoes or boots are recommended for the mornings.
- Don’t forget a tripod for night photography at Skyfire.
- On the weekend of our outing, the sun will rise at around 7 AM, sunset will be at approx. 7:20 PM.
- There is an article from the Canberra Times that should be of interest. We won't be going to the same vantage points that are mentioned in the article, but it's worth reading anyway: 'Use your photos to tell a story': How to take the best Balloon Spectacular pictures
- Please note the three basic rules of driving in Canberra:
- If you can see where you're going, you're going the wrong way.
- To cross a bridge, you must go under it first.
- If you want to turn left, you must turn right first.
"Single point of truth" is this page on our club website. Any updates will be published here.
