Bobby Clark's guide to exploring Canberra's galleries as a family
Updated 16 Oct 2026
Bobby Clark is a Melbourne based artist whose work combines symmetry, balance, and her own experiences.
"I first visited Canberra back in 2017 when I flew in for a whirlwind 24 hours to paint a mural in the then brand new Monaro Mall at the Canberra Centre. It was the very start of my new creative life path in Melbourne after taking a long hiatus after moving here fresh out of Manchester Art School to just live and travel. It was a dream job and my memory of the city is blurry, exciting and full of art. I have always wanted to return, especially with my husband. My memories of brutalist architecture and minimalist sculptures always echoed in my mind. It was so beautiful to return nine years later with Steve and our two sons.
Here’s everything we did on a packed four days in Canberra."
Bobby's Itinerary
Day 1:
Brassey Hotel
Louis
Canberra Glassworks
Gang Gang Cafe
Day 2:
Recess Coffee
National Gallery of Australia
National Portrait Gallery
Museum of Australian Democracy
Beltana Farm
Day 3:
Dairy Road
Hale Spa
Cafe Stepping Stone
Old Canberra Inn
Day 4:
Maple + Clove
National Arboretum of Australia
Floriade - Commonwealth Park
Day One
CHECKED IN - Touchdown (literally) and checked into a family suite at the iconic 1920s heritage Brassey Hotel Canberra, set on two and a half acres of manicured gardens and lawns.
ATE - We touched some grass and unpacked (fave part of arriving anywhere for holiday) then got some brunch at Louis. We shared the fish and chips, grilled barramuni fillet with broccolini, miso sesame cream and caper parsley salad and the grilled chicken salad with zhoug and fregola salad.
GLASSWORKS - Jonty and Steve had a nap while James and I went for a private tour and tile making workshop at Canberra Glassworks. This was incredible. James and I loved watching the glass blowing studio in works and the tile making workshop. James was in his element wearing safety glasses and using the glass cutting tools. I love watching kids create. I was fixated on creating something that looked cool but watching James lead fully with intuition was so beautiful. Kids are so free with their creativity. I wish I could tap into that.
We spent ages walking through the gallery gift shop looking at the variety of art and objects on display. James absolutely NEEDED a giant marble. I loved a look behind the scenes at the glass blowing and looking at the processes and colour palettes of the glass. MY absolute favourite was the sculpture outside the heritage listed Kingston Powerhouse titled ‘Touching Lightly’ by Warren Langley.
DINNER - at Gang Gang Cafe and bar in the Inner North. Big Fitzroy community vibes serving local beers and wines next to a big open green space for the kids to run wild. We shared fresh pizza, chicken schnitty, salad and home-made pappardelle with lamb, peas, and shaved parmesan. The food was delicious but the kids were WILD. Do you ever have one of those nights when it’s like a comedy sketch? Jonty actually frisbeed our pizza across the room. The live jazz and table magician made it more comical and less ‘lets leave’.
Day Two
BREAKFAST at Recess Coffee - Hot coffee, nice food and good people. Set in a cute suburban street behind one of Canberra’s iconic brutalist cylindrical concrete bus stops. Known for their ‘best in Canberra’ fluffy-yet-crispy pancakes we had ours with a side of bacon and maple syrup and their fresh juice. Vinyl records, stunning interior, amazing art and an amazing selection of books to purchase, this place was right up our alley.
ART - Post breakfast we headed into the National Gallery of Australia which absolutely needs no introduction. The building itself is incredible and that’s before you even step inside. This is one of my favourite buildings in Australia. I get just as much out of looking at the architecture of the building as the insane art on the inside. Home to over 155,000 work of art making it home to the most valuable collection of art in Australia.
Currently showing: Blueprints for temples, Beyond these Walls: Why Art Needs Publishing and David Hockney: Portraits in Print.
James’s favourite piece was Balloon Venus Dolni Vestonice (Yellow) (2013–17) by Jeff Koons, mines is Dubonnet (1914) by Sonia Delaunay. Jonty loved Within without by American artist James Turrell which he thought was a swimming pool.
PORTRAITS - a solo trip across to road to the National Portrait Gallery to view the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026.
Also on view was Power Suits: Fit within the Frame featuring a playful display of more than 100 portraits spanning the 1930s to today and featuring painting, photography and mixed-media.
OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE - Taking advantage of my solo time I continued on to the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. I honestly expected to pop in and out and not to find this very interesting but I stayed there for two whole hours taking in every single detail. It was like stepping back in time. Each room is tonally decorated in deep reds, emerald greens and tones from the rich palettes of history. I could have lived there. The old telephones, ornate brass carved doors, deep textural velvets, even the locks on the bathroom doors. I was beyond obsessed with Yours Faithfully - an interactive exhibition encouraging you to write a letter to your Member of Parliament, leave a note for another visitor or write a message for a loved one using vintage typewriters. I wrote six letters. One to each of my boys to open on their 18th birthday, a letter to Steve for 20 year anniversary on October 15th, my brother and my friend Annika. I also took one letter from a mother of three that I fell in love with.
DINNER - Farm to table at Beltana Farm. Tucked away in beautiful Pialligo, amidst the truffle farm of over 800 trees we shared gourmet plates in a stunning farmhouse setting. We ate beef cheek skewers, potato rosti, 300g little joe’s msa4+ striploin with baby gem, lemon honey dressing, shallot and oregano salad followed with a dark chocolate mousse and vanilla ice cream for the boys.
Day Three
BREAKFAST at Dairy Road - A reimagined industrial neighbourhood of local businesses surrounded by nature creating the perfect setting for weekend hang outs. We ate delicious baked goods from Under Bakery and drank coffee from Barrio Collective Coffee. The kids drew inside the concrete pipe tunnels and I bought some incredible pre-loved books from The Shed and Bookrunner. I did lose Jonty for a second on the second floor of LESS sculpture, that baby is FAST!
RELAXED at Hale Spa for a solo 2 hour spa session and a 30 minute express facial which was exactly what I needed. I floated between the cave like spa and traditional sauna with little tea and snack breaks in the spacious lounge before heading for my heavenly facial that gave my skin a big boost of hydration and made me ask myself why I don’t have more facials.
LUNCH at Cafe Stepping Stone in a farm style setting for toasties and carrot cake. Cafe Stepping Stone exists to help female migrants or refugees from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We wandered the grounds, kicked the football and ate in the sunshine.
DINNER at The Old Canberra Inn, a living piece of Australian history built in 1857 (one of the earliest licensed pubs in Canberra, which pre-dates the city itself). We LOVED this family-friendly historic pub. The interior was stunning and everyone was so happy and friendly we spoke to nearly every table. Great for a Sunday dinner with the family for pub classics.
Day Four
BREAKFAST at Maple + Clove, walking distance from the Brassey in the Barton/Kingston precinct.
KITE FLYING at the National Arboretum Canberra, a mosaic of living forests and gardens offering breathtaking views and the award-winning Margaret Whitlam Pavilion and the popular Village Centre. James loved the Bonsai collection and asked a thousand questions about how trees can be that old and that small, and loved flying a kite in the amphitheatre. The Pod Playground for kids is incredible! So much to see, climb and discover it really nails the balance between nature and play with the cutest banksia pod cubbies and acorn tree houses filled with accoustic instruments and sand pits. The boys didn’t want to leave.
FLOWERS at Floriade with more than one million blooms bring Commonwealth Park to life in a vibrant display of colour and natural beauty. The perfect final activity in Canberra mixing a sea of colourful flowers with great food, live music and fairground rides to cap of the most beautiful trip to the capital city.
Nine years later, Canberra was every bit as inspiring as I remembered, only this time I got to see it through four sets of eyes.
Travelling with kids is never exactly relaxing (see: flying pizza), but there’s something so special about experiencing a city through their curiosity. Four days of eating beautiful food, looking at incredible art, playing, exploring and making memories.
Canberra, you really surprised us. I already can’t wait to come back.
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About the author
Bobby Clark is a Melbourne based artist whose work combines symmetry, balance, and her own experiences. She writes about her experience of art and motherhood on her Substack Artist, Mother, Other.