Canberra

This long weekend we visited Canberra, Australia's capital city. Canberra is 285km (177 miles) away from Sydney, so it took just over three hours to get there. We stopped off at some rural Australian towns on the way including Mittagong, Bowral and Berrima.

Some of the attractions we visited in Canberra were:

- Australian War Memorial

- New Parliament House

- Mount Ainslie

- Black Mountain

- Telstra Tower

- National Royal Botanic Garden

- National Portrait Gallery

- National Gallery

Here is a location Map:

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The view over Canberra from Mount Ainslie.

Chris at Mount Ainslie lookout.

Looking towards the Australian War Memorial, Anzac Parade, Old and New Parliament House.

Looking towards Old and New Parliament House with Lake Burley Griffin in the foreground.

The Australian War Memorial and gardens.

The Australian War Memorial.

The Australian War Memorial.

Poppys and the names of lost soldiers at the Australian War Memorial.

Poppys and the names of lost soldiers at the Australian War Memorial.

Stained glass window inside the Australian War Memorial.

Black Mountain and the Telstra Tower.

The observation deck of the Telstra Tower.

Looking away from Canberra at the countryside from to observation deck of the Telstra Tower.

Bruce taking a panorama shot of Canberra.

The National Botanic Gardens.

The National Botanic Gardens.

The National Botanic Gardens.

The National Botanic Gardens.

The National Botanic Gardens.

A Water Dragon.

Chris on the roof of New Parliament House.

New Parliament House.

New Parliament House.

Inside the House of Representatives.

Inside the Senate.

Bruce outside New Parliament House with Old Parliament House in the background.

A quick stop off on the way home at the Lake George lookout.

Royal Australian Navy Fleet Review

Things have been a little quiet lately, mostly due to our recent move. We're just about settled now and will upload some pictures of the place as soon as our new furniture arrives!

This weekend was the Royal Australian Navy's International Fleet review, held to commemorate the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet into Sydney. 

On 4 October 1913 the flagship, HMAS Australia, led the new Australian Fleet Unit comprising HMA Ships Melbourne, Sydney, Encounter, Warrego, Parramatta and Yarra into Sydney Harbour for the first time to be greeted by thousands of cheering citizens lining the foreshore. 

This was a moment of great national pride and importance, one recognised as a key indicator of Australia's progress towards national maturity.

Looking out at the Navy ships from the Arthur McElhone Reserve in Elizabeth Bay at sunrise.

Looking towards Darling Point from the Arthur McElhone Reserve in Elizabeth Bay at sunrise.

The view of proceedings from our picnic spot!

The harbour getting busy with boats!

The HMAS Farncomb, the first submarine to be constructed completely in Australia.

Navy ships docked in Woolloomooloo Bay.

Looking towards the Sydney CBD with the Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf and HMAS Tobruk in the foreground. 

Sailors lined up and waiting for Prince Harry's arrival on the review ship HMAS Tobruk

Native Callistemon plant.

The Navy band playing for Prince Harry's arrival.

The fleet review ship HMAS Leeuwin having just docked.

Quentin Bryce, the Governor General of Australian having just stepped ashore from the review ship HMAS Leeuwin.

Standing to attention whilst the Navy band plays the Australian National Anthem.

Prince Harry dis-embarking the review ship HMAS Leeuwin.

Prince Harry again.

Prince Harry looking straight at the camera!

Standing to attention whilst the Navy band plays the British National Anthem.

Tony Abbott, Prime Minister of Australia stepping ashore from the HMAS Leeuwin.