Canberra: How to make the most of the national capital after the bushfires

When Canberra turned the page from 2019 to 2020, a thick blanket of smoke smothered the nation’s capital.

Despite a state of emergency being declared in the ACT for the first time since the 2003 bushfire crisis, the city has continued to forge ahead.

The past decade has seen Canberra transform into a youthful and vibrant metropolis with an ever-growing dining scene which rivals those of Sydney and Melbourne.

The secret is out, and there’s a long hit-list of bars hidden down alleyways and eclectic shops just waiting to be explored.

Distance:  286 kilometres south-west of Sydney, 663 kilometres north-east of Melbourne

Renowned for: Parliament House and foreign embassies

A stopover during a school excursion to the ski towns is not enough to experience the full kaleidoscope that is Canberra. The nation’s capital enjoys a colourful and jam-packed events calendar including the National Multicultural Festival, Balloon Spectacular and locally founded Spilt Milk music festival.

There’s a lengthy list of things to do, starting with our national institutions – tour Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, National Museum of Australia or drop in at the National Gallery of Australia. All have great gift shops so you can take a unique piece of Canberra home with you.

The best view in town is from the National Arboretum Canberra, a 250-hectare site which was built after the Canberra bushfires in 2003 and has one of the world’s largest living collections of rare and endangered trees. If you’re lucky to catch the sunset here, you’d be spoilt by a backdrop of the city’s signature fairy-floss coloured skies.

No visit to the territory is complete without seeing Lake Burley Griffin, and why not experience it on the water in a GoBoat with friends?

If you want to savour a local spirit, visit The Canberra Distillery’s many stockists. Locally produced, the much-loved collection of gins will make you feel like you’re a true local at first sip.

Continue to see the city through a local lense on the banks of Canberra’s Molonglo River where you’ll find Pialligo Estate, a restaurant, winery and function venue. It has embraced the “paddock to plate” philosophy, where foods are grown on-site or sourced from local producers.

“At Pialligo, we try and maximise all 22 hectares of land that we have in every way possible … we do whatever we can with our local produce to make it shine,” says Pialligo Estate general manager Scott Taylor.

In terms of cafes, where to begin? Ona Coffee House in Fyshwick is a must-visit, where you can smell and watch the team roasting beans. Founded by local Sasa Sestic, Ona has won a number of accolades, including the 2015 World Barista Championship crowned to Sestic himself. The world-class coffee is matched with an impressive breakfast and lunch menu.

“The restaurant culture in Canberra has definitely transformed over the past five or so years,” Sestic says.

“It’s a great place to work and to raise a family, which is why I have called it home for so long.”