A perfect day in Canberra: insights from an accessible tourism expert

I’m not one to rush. My ideal weekend gives me either nature or the arts but because of the way Canberra is laid out, I can do both at a leisurely pace in one day. For me, the perfect morning starts at My Café in Manuka. The food is hearty but healthy; a vegetarian big brekkie and Refresher juice with pineapple, watermelon, orange and mint are my favourites. I never have trouble with my wheelchair there and the staff are amazing. It’s a great example of the community feel in Canberra’s inner south.

From there, it’s an easy wander past Manuka Oval to Manuka Pool (October to March), which opened in 1931 and still has that beautiful Art Deco character, plus it has a big lawn for picnics. I’d continue on to Lake Burley Griffin via Telopea Park – both have fully accessible paths – and once I got to the water, I’d pick which way to turn depending on my mood.

Going right would take me to Kingston Foreshore, where there are dozens of places to grab a quick lunch; Walt & Burley does reliable pub classics. From there, I’d follow the lake’s Eastern Loop for two kilometres to get to the nature trails and bird hides of the Jerrabomberra Wetlands. It’s an unbelievable spot: you can be in native grassland, spotting planes as they come in to land at the airport or watching for Latham’s snipes and waterfowl from a bird hide, and all the while Parliament House hovers in the distance.

If I felt like soaking up some culture instead, I’d turn left at the lake and, going past the black swans that hang out under Kings Avenue Bridge near Bowen Park, I would head over to the National Gallery of Australia, my go-to of the city’s art hubs. No matter how many times I visit, I always find something new to see. Bert Flugelman’s gleaming silver Cones (1982) is one of my favourite works in the Sculpture Garden.

I love live music and theatre so as evening approaches, I’d go into the city for a show. For dinner, I recommend grabbing ramen at Tenkomori, a great hole in the wall on Lyric Lane, which winds between London Circuit and the theatre door at Canberra Theatre Centre.

Later in the night, I’d make my way to the Melbourne Building to see what’s happening at Smith’s Alternative. It used to be a bookshop but these days it’s a cool spot to have a drink and see a gig – you might get jazz, folk, classical, big band, comedy or poetry. Canberra is full of quirky secrets and Smith’s is one of the best.

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