Dave Caffery’s Insider Guide to Canberra

If you asked me how my perfect day in Canberra begins, I probably have a start earlier than most. Technically, the perfect morning starts at midnight as the clock ticks over and the headliners start their set. You’ll find me at The Vault or one of the many dance parties put on by local promoters. I figure margaritas don’t count as breakfast if you’re still awake. 

Once the sun is up, coffee is essential. Only last week I was amazed, yet again, by the quality at The Cupping Room. My recommendation to all is to try the batch brew - it’s sensational. If brunch is on the cards, Silo is the go-to, perfect for refuelling with pastries and picking up a loaf for later. 

After caffeination, I’ll seek out some time in the outdoors. My pick of where to roam depends on the season. Over the school holidays, I host Techno Picnics by Lake Burley Griffin. We take the Soul Defender, an ex-military cargo truck converted into a mobile party stage, down by the lake and put on dance parties for families. Parents bored of the Wiggles love it – we’ve found kids can dance to anything if the vibe is right. If it’s a non-event day, I’ll let visitors in on my go-to running route: Haig Park is an exact 4-kilometre loop, nice and flat. To set the mood, I tune into local Canberra artists; Citizen Kay, Safia and Doppel who all feature heavily in my rotation.

Canberra’s full of surprises, and one of my favourites to share with visitors is right by the Dionysus office in NewActon. Here sits Robin Blau’s ‘Time Thief’, a sculpture of a bird swooping a functioning clock. Since its unveiling in 2011, horologists have tried to fix the clock, but time still escapes. It’s currently four hours ahead, just like my days feel. As the evening closes in, I’ll let the night’s activities guide my dinner selection. If I’m off to the Canberra Theatre for a performance, I’ll make sure I get to Azima. If it’s around Lunar New Year, when Dickson comes alive, my order is a vegetarian laksa from Pho Phu Quoc. And if I’m with loved ones who want to feel a piece of Canberra’s soul, we’re taking them straight to Old Canberra Inn, where the gigs help set the tone of the night.

If I had just one day left, I’d spend it with friends at Bar Rochford. A long session there is unbeatable. I would ask Nico or one of his team to whip me up a Tommy’s Margarita, and know I won’t be steered wrong if I ordered whichever sensational pasta they’ve currently got on the menu. They only play records, usually funk and soul, and that’s all you need for the last day on Earth. Canberra to me is intimate and beautiful. This is what we’re looking to celebrate in part with our new festival Wonderful World, which will launch in autumn. Families are invited to rediscover joy and imagine a world where loved ones embrace the wonders of our lives. It’s going to be an opportunity for parents, carers and grandparents to rediscover their wonders, and for kids to fall in love with the world again and again.