Canberra Nara Peace Park

Hi all, hope you've had a satisfying and fulfilling Christmas. God knows Santa was more than generous around our house and I am still baffled as to how we ended up with so many toys!!! Surely the rug rats weren't that good this year :)

So as things are settling back down to normal around here and we're getting back into some semblance of routine I've had a thought. Today we decided to have a spend free day which meant something rare and unusual occurred - we went to a nice place for a picnic. And a ridiculously long walk (and although the Captain will blame me for that I take no responsibility for where the car was actually parked seeing as I wasn't driving ;).

Anyway, we ended up at Canberra Nara Peace Park and it was so pretty there by the lake that I thought of a new segment to do on my blog. It's called Around Canberra and each week (or fortnight depending on how I go) I'll do a little profile on somewhere nice to go around here. Not many people know about Canberra and it really is a pretty little city. So I thought I'd show it off :)

And because I've decided to write For Tomorrow We May Die these summer holidays which is set solely in Canberra I thought it would be good research too. So here, in the very first episode of Around Canberra, I give you Canberra Nara Peace Park.

Where: Canberra Nara Peace Park, in Lennox Gardens, Lake Burley Griffin

What: A Japanese garden which celebrates the sister-city relationship between Canberra and Nara, Japan

Why: Perfect to view the lake, have a picnic, follow the excellent tracks on bikes or by foot. If you don't like sitting on the ground there are some lovely undercover picnic tables and BBQs available.

Who: Everybody as there is plenty of shade and parking is very handy (you don't have to walk two kilometres just because we did). The park itself is not so interesting to young ones as there is no playground but there are plenty of ducks, swans and geese - just be sure to take plenty of bread (punks can turn vicious if you suddenly run out).

When: In nice weather. We went today - ie late December and although it was warm the breeze off the water was nice. Much hotter though and it would have been too hot. In winter keep in mind that around the lake can be freezing and windy. In September this year there was a candle festival held there.

Cost: Free

Other notes: There are no shops around so if you don't pack a lunch don't worry - The Southern Cross Yacht Club is just around the corner and during the warmer months does a delicious fish and chips. You can also eat in the club.

More info: Waymarking - includes a map (which I didn't know how to put on here!! Sory!)

PS My son managed to duck into most photos - it's like Where's Waldo!!


This plaque was actually to remember the seventy Australians who fought in the Spanish Civil War 1936-39. Hmmm, I'm sure there's a story in there somewhere...







The lake through the trees