TRAVEL: 'My Canberra tales. What are yours?'

My plans for world domination began at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra.

Here was, literally, a license to print money. A fascinating realisation that money doesn’t grow on trees … but it does spring forth from a building which doesn’t require watering or favourable soil conditions. Bingo. My youthful spirit was later doused when the kindly tour guide explained to us the basic tenets of inflation.

Canberra is full of little lessons like these. A city designed specifically to be Australia’s capital and, so it follows, the keeper of our many stories. You’d be surprised the amount of history we’ve packed in since the First Fleet landed, and that’s to say nothing of the tens of thousands of years of Indigenous culture that preceded it.

And the city of Canberra is putting on one hell of a show, to shed a whole new light on the attractions that have made it famous.

So let’s play a little game. What do Claire Bowditch, the family budget and Questacon have in common? The answer of course being … ENLIGHTEN.

It’s the event that will bring Canberra alive after dark. The lights, the sounds, the images, the experiences, there’s plenty to choose from and it’s all designed to reconnect you with the keeper of our many treasures.

I think enough of us know that Canberra is home to Parliament House (that place where ordaaaah, ordaaaah! gets shouted a lot and where lots of people don’t really listen to it) but there’s a smidge more to it than that, like special underground geological tours that will be held during ENLIGHTEN.

My first visit was in Year 5 and, I’ll admit, Canberra seemed rather like the Elysium Fields after 22 hours on a bus (this was before the days of low cost carriers). We’d gone with the promise of snow with a side order of the education we’d receive at the other places.

And here’s the thing: the other attractions are brilliant.

The Australian War Memorial is possibly the most potent of them all. Our identity as Australians was forged so much during war times, particularly with the ANZACs that this place feels rather a lot like coming home. You can’t help but feel it, even as a kid. Australia Day might officially be our national moment in the sun, but ANZAC Day means more and everybody should visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at least once. The stories you’ll find here are incredible.

During ENLIGHTEN stories of our past will be told from 4pm-5pm on March 2, 3, 9 and 10.

Head to the National Museum of Australia for all things fascinating. It’s a collection across the full gamut of Australian history. And Phar Lap’s heart is there. I was bowled over as a kid (and we didn’t even get Clare Bowditch!). On Friday, March 9 from 7pm you can soak up the powerful lyrics and humour of Australian singer songwriter Clare Bowditch and reunited 1990s band the Clouds who will perform in the Museum’s outdoor amphitheatre, by the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.

The Royal Australian Mint is reliably cool (I still have my special one dollar coin). It’s one of those things you never stop to think about when you hand over coins and notes day in and day out. Where the bloomin’ heck does it all come from, and how much is out there?

The Mint’s highly secure coin production factory floor is normally off limits to the public. But a special tour during ENLIGHTEN will take you onto the floor to meet expert staff who will explain the complex process of creating coins for a nation in what is an impressive operation.

Take a break while you’re in Canberra, if you must, and try the local produce. And the wine. I didn’t discover how good it was when I was 10 (you’ll be happy to note) but that unlocked achievement came later. It was worth the wait. The markets in Canberra are divine. The food is fresh, the air is crisp and the locals just get how to put the two together. Cafes abound and they’re good. And yes, there are wineries that will knock your socks off in the countryside around Canberra and beyond. Lose yourself among them, it’ll be a treat.

Oh, and if I may be so bold, go to Questacon. Whether you are 10 or ten times that age this place will blow your mind. Yes, science is cool. And this place oozes science. But in one of those funky relate-able ways like that one teacher in high school who let you blow things up as long as you promised not to tell your parents.

There’s special tours aplenty during ENLIGHTEN and it marks the perfect destination for inquiring minds.

In short, Canberra is kind of like a best kept secret. More than 360,000 people live there and they’ve got the national story at their fingertips. And the food. And the cycleways. And the scenery. And it’ll all be lit up with spectacular light shows during ENLIGHTEN so it’s never looked quite so marvelous.

But there’s no point being jealous when the flights are so cheap.

Have you experienced Canberra? Do you live there? Let us know below!

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