Collector, NSW

Last weekend we toddled off to Canberra for a quick break from the constant Sydney rain. Its amazing what a little break from the routine can do — and so glad we got out and about! Having heard a bit about Collector from D’s browsing, it did seem very interesting. The place certainly seems to have a lot of history attached to it. We took the turn off into Collector but to our dismay on a Saturday morning about 11:00am Collector seemed totally deserted, forlorn! Except for an old rickety petrol station turned into a café – not terribly inviting. We kept driving through the small town and turned into one of the inner roads which lead us to a corner church with a huge annexed field mostly uncultivated with some ponies and horses about! There were signs of ‘Pumpkin festival’ on a wooden doors across the church. There were cockatoos squatted just about everywhere nibbling on the cold frosty grass. I walked alongside the wire fence of the large field and waved gently at one of the horses. Acknowledging my presence it walked towards me: klap, klip klap, clip clop, kopotikop. As soon as it was at an arms length the horse stopped and lifted its upper lip and exposed its grotty pinkish gum and ugly yellow tartared teeth — then flared its nostrils at me forcefully… followed by a horsy grunt with a blow and then another! Ah that putrid smell came wafting down my clean camera. I quickly paced back with my gear. Holy Moly! Here I was thinking all things country are meant to be friendly and nice. Back in the car we tried to explore a bit more but the town seemed dead! There were road closure signs along the way too. We had little choice but got back on to the motorway to Canberra.

Canberra, ACT

Once on the Federal Highway time goes real quick as u drive along. The views of Lake George is always fascinating though I’ve never seen water in that lake — ever! Of late though the area seems a lot more greener and we noticed the other side of the lake now has wind turbines that look really nice from a distance let alone its a great carbon reduction process. Its good to see natural wind energy being harnessed. We were soon in Canberra and headed for Ginger Catering in the old Parliament. Its a gorgeous café in the house! It sure is an old favourite of ours and the food never disappoints. But who knew we’d be getting the same pot pies again just like three years back! That same scrumptious taste that left me licking my lips and a sense of satisfaction that even superlatives don’t express. They must be doing something right! We knew we were in Canberra and also I must say there is something grand about pulling up in front of the Old Parliament House with the view of the old architecture behind and the manicured lawns and rivulets running around leading to the view of Mount Ainsley on the other. Live on olde world charm!

We still had a ton of time to kill before the hotel check in. So we went up to the top of Mt Ainsley. It was quite cold up there, about 4 degree C and add the wind chill factor as well. There was perfect synergy of sunlight on one side of Canberra while the other had the rain clouds dancing about in the horizon letting off a spectacular misty display from its shower cap against the Black Mountain Tesltra Tower. It was so cold my fingers were freezing and it was hard to operate the camera buttons and the sun had practically no effect at all. I took some shots and then we headed down to the suburb of Kingston.

While at Kingston, we walked around the block and then went into a little cafeteria there the Lemon tart look to hard to turn away from. Surprising the coffee was brilliant too. Life is short we pleased our inner man.

We took another walk around the block looking through shops and little cafe and possibly looking for places to come to for dinner — until we spotted a wine bar to kill more time — as you do and then headed off to Rydges Lakeside, London Circuit. In the evening we headed to a gorgeous place for dinner…. Thanks to my trusty iPhone App that never fails to recommend good eatery. It was a french restaurant called Aubergine in Griffith — a suburb about ten minutes drive out of London Circuit Canberra. Part of the reason we also went there is because every other place we did try to get in was full. Wow Canberra — I tell you Julia’s keeping the place busy. Unlike Sydney we got a spot right outside Aubergine. No parking stress in Canberra — and we were seated for a nice three course degustation! The food was simply beautiful. And the service was very attentive except for one thing! I did have a fillet of beef for my mains but had to use normal knife(without serrations) — in hindsight I don’t really know why I didn’t ask for one. The fillet of beef was beautifully tender — but still! The food was really yummy and we’d so recommend it. Check out the menu!

Bundanoon, NSW

Canberra came to an end all too quick, we left next morning after out brekky at Rydges. We came up to Bundanoon around lunch time and went back to the Red Violin. Still full from last nights beautiful dinner but sure could squeeze in a toasted sandwich and scones for D. Yeah the very same one! Yummy.

Shame it all came to an end all this quick. We were back in Sydney before we knew it but was good to be home sweet home!