Category: Travel

Today, being Easter Sunday, started with seeing what the Easter bunny had bought. And then, of course, being allowed to eat chocolate BEFORE breakfast.

Today’s first destination was the Royal Australian Mint, but there was a miscommunicaiton and the Powell car ended up at a Parliament House so we had to wait for them to arrive. It didn’t matter at all as everything is so close.

There is no guided tour and nothing was working today (being Easter) so we wandered around and then watched a short film.

And for $3 you could watch a coin being pressed. Not too bad a sourvenier I thought, for just $3.

Then on to our second stop of the day – Parliament House.

There are guided tours here but we didn’t think it best to do with 5 kids so we explored on our own.

The House of Representatives….

The Senate…

And a copy of the Magna Carta…

Time for lunch in the cafe. I had a delicious veggie burger and fries.

We then headed out to explore outside.

We walked up the grass area, where you used to to be able to go to the top, and sat to enjoy the view.

The grass was so beautiful we all took off our shoes to fully enjoy it.

The girls then proceeded to cartwheel or roll down the hill.

And for a bit a trip down memory lane (and a laugh) here’s some photos from our last visit here in 2002. Christy was 6 months and Amy, 3 years.

Then our last stop for the day…

Not a great place for the girls (or us for that matter) but they did have this…

which the girls loved and a few things to do and see.

Tonights dinner was supposed to be a BBQ but the BBQ was filthy so we cooked indoors instead.

Another beautiful Autumn day in Canberra. When everyone was up, dressed and fed we headed to Questacon Science Center.

Where Kevin thought he’s take a photo of me doing what I do :-).

Then it was inside to play…

build….

watch…

explain….

do…

wait…. (poor Alyssa was feeling unwell this morning)

and of course laugh…. at the man with the pink panda bag :-).

Half way round we thought we’d break for lunch. Unfortunately there were no seats in the cafe so we left (we both have annual passes so can return later). After being unsuccesful in our hunt for a cafe in Kingston we decided we’d have soup back at the room – buying some foccasia from Pizza Hut. Of course, once the guys entered Pizza Hut they had to buy some pizzas. Just as we arrived back so did the cleaners so we moved outside to the balcony to eat our lunch. I really enjoyed the soup.

We then decided to take a one hour cruise on Lake Burley Griffin – which was a first for all of us.

It was very reasonably priced ($70 for all of us) which included a cold drink plus tea/coffee and the girls all got to drive the boat.

And it was wonderful seeing Canberra from the water.

We actually drove through the mist – which the kids thought was fun – even if they got a little damp.

When we disembarked (near the Science Center) we walked though the flags back to the car – stopping to take photos.

There was a great place to take a group shadow photo but everyone else had gone ahead, so it was just a friends shadow.

Then back to our apartment. Noel headed out for a run and the rest of us relaxed while the girls made cards for the Easter Bunny.

Later Leanne prepared a taco bar for dinner.

So yummy.

We had a very slow start this morning as Sarah had been sick all night so neither her or Leanne had gotten much sleep. The other girls chatted and played upstairs, Kevin & I used our laptops. Noel woke and we started having breakfast. Today was hot cross buns (and an orange). Then eventually Leanne & Sarah surfaced around 10am. Sarah was feeling better and pushed herself to go out – which in hindsight was probably not the best idea.

Around 11am we were finally all ready to leave

for todays destination – the Australian War Memorial – quite fitting with Anzac Day being on Monday.

Unfortunately when we arrived Sarah starting feeling poorly again and spent most of the time here sitting or lying on various lounges.

We checked out some of the exhibits…

Then watched a presentation/film on the Berlin bombing during WWII. But what the kids really wanted to do was hit the kids Discovery Zone. So Amy & the guys went off to explore some more and Leanne & I took the other girls to play. They had a lot of fun. Flying helipcopter…

Playing in the bunks on a submarine – they did this for AGES.

Getting dressed up.

Exploring the trenches.

This was a great area and I think were here for a good hour, maybe more. Unfortunately my feet were really painful again today (so hoped they wouldn’t be in the cooler weather) so I wasn’t up to do a lot of walking around.

Everyone was hungry by now to we decided to get lunch at the cafe.

Unfortunately the vegetarian options were very slim (only a chargrilled vegetable wrap – which I’m not fond of – and a spinach quiche – which I didn’t feel like) so Amy & I both ordered wedges. Something I very rarely do. Luckily they were very yummy.

We sat outside as inside was crowded and noisy. It was cool but lovely none-the-less.

There was still lots more to see inside but the kids were ready to leave so we headed out to see the Hall of Memory.

The four pillars  represent the four ancient elements: earth, air, fire and water. They represent the all the landscapes and climates where Australians have served and died.

And the roll of honor. These places always choke me up – so many deaths and so much heartache. There are over 102,000 names of Australians who died serving our country.

We then had a bit of a photo shoot.

And finally left just before 3pm.

Back at the apartment the girls run upstairs to their rooms to play and hang out, Kevin tried to have a snooze and the rest of us chatted and relaxed the afternoon , and evening away. I was in charge of dinner tonight – pasta with tomato sauce.

After a morning spent packing (again) we headed off to Canberra when Kevin got home from work around 1.30pm, after a quick stop at Subway and Gloria Jeans for lunch supplies. The drive down was quick, pleasant and rather noisy as the girls were very excited about seeing the Powells. Loved seeing the start of the Autumn colours on the trees.

The clouds the low and fluffy over Lake George.

Then just on 4.30pm we arrived in Canberra.

And our home for the next 5 nights.

I have stayed here before in a 3 bedroom apartment but the 4 bedroom was not quite as expected. When the Powell’s arrived the lounge with in a very interesting set up with the couches beside each other and the TV at one end. We switched the lounge and dining table so it much more sociable…. but you can’t watch the TV easily. As you can see the laptops were out almost the moment we arrived.

There are two double rooms downstairs (where the main living areas are) and the 2 kids rooms are upstairs.

While us adults chatted and enjoyed some tea the kids did some craft organised by Amy.

Then it was time for dinner – soup tonight – pumpkin (made by Leanne) and Leek & Potato (made by me). Here’s the gang all together.

We had an interesting night getting the kids sorted and playing musical beds with them due to illness and misbehaviour but eventually they all settled down and us adults got to relax and unwind.