When I think about the people that visit Canberra, I think of Year 6 students going on camp, people visiting museums and politicians.
I can now proudly include myself in that list.
I recently got the chance to visit Canberra, and it really changed my perception of the nation’s capital.
Sitting just a three-hour drive from Sydney is the Australian Capital Territory, is what I can now describe as a utopic version of Sydney.
The hotel
I stayed at the boutique hotel Ovolo Nishi. This stylish and quirky hotel is a must stay when you are in Canberra. The décor is vintage and gives a high-class experience to anyone who walks in.
I got there on a Friday afternoon, a little bit tired after a day’s work and a three-hour drive to Canberra, ready to head to my hotel room and crash for the night but my plans were changed very quickly. I instead decided to head down to the bar area to sip on a glass of prosecco and listen to the live music. It felt like a classic hotel experience, with low lighting and lovely music all coming together to create an inviting atmosphere.
I got to stay in the Creative Sun room, which was so spacious and felt really decadent. It was a unique wedge shape design with incredible art, a sunlit bathroom and a beautiful bed. One of the best parts of the room was the blinds that went up and down via a button you could reach while in bed, that’s not something I have at home! I have truly never felt so comfortable and at home in a hotel room before.
I cannot recommend this hotel enough for those visiting Canberra. Not only is the actual hotel amazing, but the location is enough to get me to come back. It is just a five-minute drive to Australian Parliament House and the National Museum.
Everything else is just a short drive from the CBD including the Australian War Memorial.
The food
I ate exclusively at Ovolo Nishi’s in house restaurant Monster. It focuses on fresh and quality ingredients giving exploding flavour and so many options.
It has so many options for all meals of the day, and I truly can’t make any complaints about the food options at Ovolo Nishi. Make sure you eat here.
My favourite was definitely the pesto pasta paired with a cool glass of prosecco.
What to do
There is so much to do in Canberra. In fact, I found myself having too much to do in too little time.
I started by heading to the National Museum of Australia to check out the Pompeii exhibition. This is a must experience in Canberra right now. It is a multi-sensory immersive experience that combines a 360-degree recreation of the volcanic eruption with over 90 items from the ancient city. As a self-proclaimed history buff, this was such an amazing experience. Seeing casts of those who perished in the eruption to mosaics and items that are over 2,000 years old was so incredible. This exhibit is on until May 4.
The other highlight on my tour of Canberra was visiting the Australian War Memorial. This was a special experience for me for a few reasons, my father served many years in the Air Force and now, my older brother is serving in the Army. It is always really important to me to recognise and pay respects to our country’s military history. Again, this is a must visit when you next find yourself in the nation’s capital.
I spent a few hours walking around the exhibit visiting the World War One and World War Two galleries, The Hall of Valour, The Holocaust exhibit as well as the new Cold War Gallery and Afghanistan exhibit. There is so much detail put into these exhibits, and it really reflects the experience of the men and women who fought for our country. I found myself in tears reading the stories of Australians who had died in prisoner of war camps during World War Two. This is open year-round and free to enter but I do recommend donating whatever you can on entry so the memorial can continue on.
Overall
Canberra was a sneaky highlight to the start of my year. I never thought to visit Canberra before but now I can’t stop recommending it to any who will listen. From the ease of navigating the city to the food and drink scene to the experiences you can have.
Put it back on your list.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.