Canberra wanderings

It is October and it is snowing in Canberra - soft fluffy specks are floating on the breeze, falling from the trees that line Lake Burley Griffin in front of the National Art Gallery, piling up on the grass and around the base of gum trees and native shrubs, coating the water surface around the floating woman in the sculpture garden.

 

Wandering around in our nation's capital is a bit like wandering in a city that is not a city, and feeling calm and suspicious at the same time. The buildings and gardens in the Parliamentary Zone, (yes - that is what the road signs call it) are well manicured, and neatly designed in a European way with an Aussie twist, whatever that is. Traffic and people move smoothly and purposely without any obvious rush, giving the impression of unseen secret important business being conducted all around. It is not crowded at all. It all feels deceptively sanitised, given the recent federal political history, and I suspect many people have been tranquilised into accepting it as truth. Wandering on foot, you see things you miss from a vehicle. That neat grass and tree lined road verge and lake shore is actually littered in places with rubbish hidden in the vegetation. I saw a decapitated snake hanging, deliberately placed, over a tree branch at eye level. Another metaphor for what lurks behind the public façade?

However, I have had a pleasant and relaxing few days wandering in Canberra. I choose to enjoy the beautiful aspects of the surroundings for my own benefit and ignore the rest, best not to analyse some things too deeply. I did not go to Parliament House, or the War Memorial and its excellent museum - been there, done that, on past visits with my sons. This time I treated myself to the National Library, the National Art Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, and all of their excellent shops and cafes - things you can't do with bored boys in tow.

I also walked up Black Mountain to the Telstra Tower, which I only entered to use the Ladies loo. I had no desire to pay the entry fee to this concrete monstrosity as I had done that in the past too, with my sons. And you do not need to enter the tower to obtain excellent views of Canberra. I'd been looking at it from all directions during my walk up the mountain. I didn't bother taking a photo of the tower. It dominates the skyline in many Canberra photos so you can google if you really want to see it. Of course, it is a useful monstrosity as it does provide telephone, television and tourist fleecing services for Canberra.

Wandering through the bush in the heart of the city was rather pleasant, although hot at times. I enjoyed the musical accompaniment of a large variety of birdsong, although there was a constant backdrop of droning traffic noise. I wonder how many Canberra residents appreciate how lucky they are to share their city with so many wild birds and animals.

This huge male grey kangaroo was nervously standing very tall, keeping a wary eye on the cars pulling in to the carpark in case they threatened his hareem. I saw mobs and families of kangaroos in other areas too.

 

There were flocks of rosellas and sulphur crested cockatoos feeding in trees above me as I wandered up and around Black Mountain. Cheeky currawongs, slightly different to the Tasmanian currawongs in appearance, but behaving the same way, flying down on to low tree branches, watching me inquiringly hoping for some human food. I told them they were out of luck as I had no food with me.

 

I walked mostly alone except for when I met this wildflower rambling group of grey haired, loud talkers - "We haven't seen any orchids yet. We are a bit disappointed." I didn't have the heart to tell them that I was pretty sure I had seen several of the little purple beauties on Mount Jerrabomberra that previous day when walking up behind my brother's house. As I was coming from the opposite direction on the narrow track they all had to stand to one side while I walked past them.

 

Then I walked back down the mountain to the National Botanical Gardens for lunch. Many Canberran places have names beginning with 'National' or 'Australian'. My favourite part of the gardens is the rainforest gully as it is cool and green. The Tasmanian rainforest section almost brought a homesick lump to my throat, but perhaps it is a bit ambitious to attempt to recreate 'Tasmanian mountain lakes' vegetation in Canberra, as that section was a dismal failure.
Several water dragons, about a half metre long, live near the ponds in the botanical gardens. They were quite interesting to watch.

I have also enjoyed walking and mountain biking or Mount Jerrabomberra - or Jerra Hill as my brother more appropriately calls it. Although officially a mountain, it is really just a big tree covered hill.

 

 

October, after the school holidays, is a nice time to visit Canberra. The weather has not yet become fiercely hot and the children are occupied away from the places you might want to visit, and the wildflowers are putting on a show.