Page 66 - Holidays with Kids - Volume 62 (January 2020)

CANBERRA, ACT

Sleep with a beast beautiful bushland and are so much fun to explore. From
Exhausted? Pack your bags for the quirkiest sleepover ever, Canberra, it’s a 45-minute drive to Tharwa, where you
a wild overnight safari at Jamala Wildlife Lodge at the must stop at Namadgi Visitors Centre to get a map of the
National Zoo and Aquarium. bush track to the site – don’t try to find it alone, people do
Checked in, my lot is running around shouting “simples” get lost. It’s a short 15-minute walk and easy enough for
as we’ve scored the family room overlooking a meerkat most kids to manage though you may need to toss in an
enclosure. There's nothing simple about Jamala though; occasional piggy back for little ones.
there is a room with a massive aquarium, one with sun
bears staring into your lounge, others where your bed is a Classic Canberra
glass wall away from a tiger or lion. Or you could be up a They’re the old favourites, but there’s always something
treehouse feeding giraffes. (depending on your kid's age new happening at Canberra’s most famous attractions.
and availability.) The Australian War Memorial has two new exhibitions:
There’s an African-style dinner included. Children’s Brothers in Arms illustrates the Vietnam War from a
meals are served alongside the adult entrees, so they can Vietnamese Australian point of view and The Courage for
leave for a guided night tour of the aquarium while you Peace is an exhibit that honours Australian peacekeepers.
enjoy mains. I’m almost tempted to scoff my chicken At the National Museum of Australia, Kspace is a blast
tagine to join them. Almost. It’s worth noting that Jamala is to the past. Using a touchscreen, kids can build their own
best for children over six years of age, though children time-travelling robot, then blast off to explore a mystery
aged four to six can also stay on specified family days. location in Australia’s past.
And for a stay that’s less wild but by no means mild, At the Royal Australian Mint, you’ve got to say hi to
look no further than the family-owned and -operated Titan. He’s the strongest robot at the Mint and can lift 1,000
East Hotel. Located between the vibrant hubs of kilograms. You can even make your own commemorative
Kingston and Manuka, East Hotel’s interconnected family $1 coin here.
accommodation consists of a one-bedroom apartment The National Gallery of Australia's Tim Fairfax Learning
set up for the grown-ups connected to a cool Kids' Gallery has regular programs for children of all ages; there
Cubby, a funky studio for kids fitted out with bunk beds, is a Mobile Studio that pops up all over the gallery and free
play table, toys, colouring table, play rug and bean bags. collectible drawing sheets, designed by guest artists.
Oh, and did I mention there’s an in-room Xbox 360 so the You can’t miss Telstra Tower for an amazing
kids can roar into adventures of the digital kind? 360-degree view of Canberra and the city’s highest cafe.
The telecommunication tower rises 195 metres above the
Brick by brick summit of Black Mountain and is the best place in town for
Just say Legoland and you’ll have them in the car. But spotting all of Canberra’s iconic buildings.
‘Legoland’ Namadgi National Park has no coloured plastic Now this story started with an eye roll. And I have to tell
blocks – it’s even better! Massive granite boulders, in you, I’m seeing it again. But this time it’s the good kind, just
nature’s primary colours, have tumbled over each other in before the kids’ lids close.

04

Canberra Report Card

Info visitcanberra.com.au
Stay jamalawildlifelodge.com.au
easthotel.com.au
Do canberraaquapark.com
vertikalsnowsports.com
mulligansflat.org.au
questacon.edu.au
quizzicalley.com awm.gov.au
enlightencanberra.com
telstratower.com.au
nga.gov.au ramint.gov.au
moadoph.gov.au nma.gov.au

64 Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website