Camp at Woods Reserve, ACT

We recently took the family on our first camping trip in the ACT.  After a bit of research, we decided to try out Woods Reserve, close to the Tidbinbilla nature reserve, in Canberra's southernmost vales.  Our decision was heavily influenced by the ability to take dogs to Woods Reserve.

Following weeks of 'persuasion' by Miss 8, we agreed to go for one night only, as we are not really equipped for longer camps and rain was forecast.

After stuffing the car full of gear, we made it down and got our huge four room tent - aka 'the palace' - up.  A few minutes later, a huge storm rolled in over the mountains and we all bundled into the tent to batten down the hatches.  While it hailed the size of peanut M&Ms and poured down outside, the kids bounced off the walls and the beds inside.  DH and I found ourselves in camping hell.

An hour or so later we emerged a bit moist but unscathed, congratulating ourselves for having set up camp at the top of a hill.  However, a creek had sprung up within centimetres of our tent, and the kids quickly got wet.  We got our gas stove out and cooked some bacon and eggs under the tent flap as it was still drizzly.  Not too long after it started to get dark and we tried to settle the kids down for an early night.

I was awoken at 6 am the next morning by a hysterical kookaburra, obviously finding mirth in my night of wobbling around on a cheap airbed.  The kids woke up soon after and within long were tearing around the shared campsite and talking in very LOUD voices.

After breakfast we finally had an opportunity to explore our surrounds, and how wonderful they were.  Situated in a deep in a valley, with a river running through it, Woods Reserve really does feel remote.  Kangaroos grazed behind our tent, much to the chagrin our tethered dog (dogs must be on leads at all times).  The creek/river, fed from the towering Gibraltar Falls, could have been taken straight out of a Tasmania calendar it was so perfect.  I also saw the biggest moth of my life in the toilet block (we're talking inches), which I guessed to be that tasty bush tucker morsel known as the Bogong moth.

The campsite itself features fire pits, picnic tables, a toilet block with free hot showers and washing up facilities.  To me, it was the ideal mix of roughing it and essential creature comforts like toilets and hot water.

The friendly rangers came by a bit later, eager to see how the campers had fared in the storm.  I paid the $8.50 per adult nightly fee before they went about their business stocking up toilet paper etc.  It was encouraging to see that we daft campers weren't completely alone in the bush!

It didn't take us too long to pack up and jam everything back in the car, although we had to dry the tent out back at home before packing it up properly.  Needless to say, I was pleased to be home after one very long night in the ACT wilderness!

Visit the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

I have visited the National Gallery of Australia on several occasions.  Tagging along after a volunteer guide, carrying my stool, as a sullen high school student; as a young university student with boyfriend, and late last year to celebrate my tenth anniversary with my husband (yes, the same boyfriend).  The National Gallery rocks.

You cannot get bored at the gallery.  You can spend minutes staring at Jackson Pollock's "Blue Poles", for example.  I was upset that I could not find the square block of black painting that mesmerised me as a teenager.  I tell you, there were shapes in that seeming simple block of black.  I am not being facetious here.

Highlights of my recent visit with hubby were the colonial art, and the brilliant photographic exhibition tucked away at the back by an Australian woman, Carol Jerrems.  There is a lot of post-modernism and pop art that can be a little tiresome.  However the Aboriginal art is compulsory.

The gallery is large enough that you can look over everything thoroughly in several visits, or flit through and see everything that catches your eye in one.  There is also a delightful sculpture garden between the gallery and Lake Burley Griffin.  Facing out to the gardens and onto a pond with disconcerting heads poking up out of it (purposely so to bring about an emotional response to a massacre that occurred in Indonesia), is the restaurant.

Fittingly, the gardens are native and are designed around a four seasons theme, although I couldn't pick it.  The kids are free to roam, but not touch or climb on the sculptures.  The experience was stimulating for the KTNM, who don't really need any more stimulation - but what the heck, it is art. The native gardens are a superb example of how attractive and sustainable an Australian native garden can be.  The resident flocks of blue wrens have to be seen to be believed.  I also saw several groups picnicking on the lawns, which is an idea I have tucked away for future reference.

Do visit the NGA.

PS - Toulouse-Lautrec has just arrived and OMG Turner is coming in 2013!!!

Swim The Cotter, ACT

When the weather turns hot in Canberra - 40 degrees celcius hot - one must find some water in which to cool down. This weekend we chose to visit The Cotter, an estuary near the newly completed Cotter Dam, to the West of the city past Mt Stromlo.

Our family and numerous other Canberra-ites had the same idea - to swim in the beautiful surrounds of the Casuarina Sands recreation area, and a picnic lunch on the shady riverbank.

The Cotter appears to be partially dammed or is a very slow moving river. The water is brownish, but not unpleasant to swim in, as it has no odour. The banks are steep, but if the kids are decked out in PFDs or confident swimmers or tall (or a combination of the three) you will find it a fairly safe environment (closely supervise children at all times in the water).

The Kids Too Numerous To Mention (KTNTM) had an absolute ball. Taking a ride on their father's back to the other side, borrowing a kindly person's blow-up kayak, and making friends with a little boy named Jasper, they loved every minute. Lunch was simple sandwiches and fruit, but boy did it taste awesome down by the river.

I strongly considered not sharing this oasis on the interwebz. The Cotter is THAT good. But it would be downright mean not to share. Anyway Canberrans are just so nice to share with.

Visit Burrinjuck Dam, NSW

On the long weekend, friends asked us to go camping at Burrinjack Dam, about 30km south of Yass, NSW.  Burrinjack Dam is an easy 1.5 hr drive from Canberra.

Because the weather was wetish and storms were forecast, we chose to do a daytrip rather than attempt camping with the Kids Too Numerous to Mention (KTNTM).  We packed our chairs and picnic lunch and set off, arriving mid-morning.

Once off the Hume Highway, the road to Burrinjuck takes you through lush farmland (think 'Babe' the movie) and then down a steep descent through the most beautiful and dense mountain fauna I have ever seen.  Wildflowers abounded as it is Springtime here in Oz. 

Once down the occassionally treacherous and narrow road, you reach the NSW State Park Office, where you pay your $10 entry fee to the park and camp fees if applicable.  There are maps available and the rangers are very knowledgable and helpful to boot.

The camping area consists of bungalows, cabins, powered and unpowered camping sites.  The accommodation varies in price and in terms of facilities.  However, I was pleased to find that the toilet and shower blocks were spotless.

The first thing that strikes you once in the park are the huge numbers of kangaroos that congegrate on the grassed areas, mooching around, scavenging for food, and resting.  Many of the roos we saw were heavy with child or already carting their joeys around in their pouches.  Joeys could be seen gawking out of their mother's pouches with feet and tail poking out too!  They would try to nibble food from the ground while their mothers foraged above them.

While waiting for the others to arrive, we checked out the lake.  The lake is man-made; a confluence of several rivers, notably the Murrumbidgee.  The lake is dammed, but access was not allowed to the dam on our visit.  The lake appears and indeed smelt, very clean.  Some of the families that were camping went fishing, but no fish were caught this time!

There was plenty of (fishing) boat action on the lake, but because of the cooler weather, people were turning in early.  I can imagine that in the height of summer the lake would be a very popular destination for skiing, rubber-tubing and wakeboarding too.

After enjoying our picnic at one of the picnic/BBQ areas available, we decided to feed the kangaroo.  We bought several bags of roo food for $2 ea from the park general store.  We also bought bags of bird food for the same price.  The general store appeared to sell everything but the kitchen sink, but staff advised that they were almost cleaned out by holiday-makers and the weekend was only beginning.  So bring your own food to avoid paying a premium or missing out completely if heading to Burrinjuck.  Firewood and ice is also available.

Feeding the roos was a delight for young and old.  Some of the males were a little aggressive, but the kids held their own.  We did not feed the parrots, although we did see them in the trees above.  I understand that they come down to feed in the morning so we gave our bird food to the campers to use the next day.

We also went for a short bushwalk along the perimeter of the lake.  It was simply magical in the forest and I wish we could have gone further, but the rain started to set in.

 

We piled the very tired KTNTM into the car and made our way back to Canberra.  It was a great day for all at the awesome getaway that is Burrinjuck Dam.