Whether you are discovering Canberra for the first time or enjoying a staycation in your own city there is so much to see and do this summer.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Christmas in Glebe Park

Glebe Park
8 to 24 December

Wander hand-in-hand through the Christmas forest and enjoy the dining and entertainment to celebrate Christmas in Glebe Park. Located right next door to the hotel, the park will be light up with festive light displays and will be a hub of activity including special events by the event’s charity partner Red Nose.

Summernats

Exhibition Park Canberra
4 to 7 January

For the rev head couples, the annual Street Machine Summernats Car Festival is Australia’s biggest horsepower party and will be thundering into Canberra in January. With crowds of over 100,000 expected, there will over 2500 modified vehicles on display plus concerts, burn-outs battles and more to get your motor running.

HIGHLIGHT EXHIBITIONS

Hyper Real

National Gallery of Australia
Until 18 February

Image: AES+F Inverso mundus 2015, seven-channel HD video installation: 38:20 minutes, sound, colour. Courtesy the artists, MAMM. Anna Schwartz Gallery and Triumph Gallery.

A truly unique and thought provoking exhibition, put this on your summer bucket list before it closes. A perfect adventure for a hot day when you need a respite from the heat or when you want to stimulate your brain and excite dinner conversation.

Starstruck: Australian movie portraits

Until 4 March
National Portrait Gallery

Image: Shirley Ann Richards, Lloyd Hughes and Elaine Hamill,  Lovers and Luggers, 1937, Courtesy Cinesound Movietone Productions, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

A collaboration between the National Portrait Gallery and the National Film and Sound Archive, Starstruck explores the striking portraiture from 100 years of Australian movies. Drawn predominantly from the NFSA’s collection, the show will feature imagery of beloved Australian films, as well as highlighting the early years of our film industry.

EXPLORE

If you enjoy a wine tasting or finding a new bottle to add to your collection at home, explore the beautiful Canberra district area and discover some stunning vineyards. Some of our favourite wineries include:

• Mount Majura Vineyard – 15 minute drive
  Famous for their 1994 Chardonnay, this vineyard produces a wide selection of varieties including Shiraz and Riesling which the region is well known for.
• Lake Hill Winery – 31 minute drive
  During your visit here stop by the Wine Bar & Café and try one of the “Vintage Vertical” food and wine pairings. You can compare a current vintage to an older vintage with paired foods to get a better understanding of how aging affects the character of the wine.
• Eden Road Wines – 33 minute drive
  Located in the high country, this winery might be young and small but is award-winning. If you get the chance, try the Long Road Shiraz which won the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy on its very first vintage.
• Lerida Estate – 36 minute drive
  This estate focuses on making small quantities with care which is why you may not have heard of them but it is definitely worth making the effort. Plus the winery itself is a beautiful place designed by Australian architect Glenn Murcutt and located on the slopes of the Lake George range.
• Clonakilla – 38 minute drive
  If you are a fan of a beautiful Shiraz then definitely plan a visit to Clonakilla. The first building was hand built in the 1970s and is where the current cellar door is now located. Their hero wine is the Shiraz Viognier and a must for your tasting.
• Helm Wines – 43 minute drive
  The father-daughter duo winemakers, Ken and Stephanie, are fourth and fifth generation descendants of German vinedressers in the 1860s. Ken specialises in creating Rieslings and Cabernets and Stephanie, who started making wine at age 9, has her own award-winning label The Stephanie Collection.

Start planning your Canberra summer getaway with your special someone now. View our summer accommodation specials here.

Image credit: Summernats image courtesy of Visit Canberra, ‘Hyper Real’ image courtesy of the National Gallery of Australia.