Any Batemans Bay or Canberra recommendations?

[amy726]

DH is finally taking some holidays next month (first time since this time last year when we went to the States) and we are actually going out of Victoria! We are going to spend a week and a bit at my MILs house before driving up the coast and spending a night in Batemans Bay. We will head off to BILs in Canberra the next afternoon/evening and spend 3-4 days there.

Anyone who has been to either have any recommendations? Restaurants? Activities? (Preferably kid friendly - DS is 21 months old) Shops?

Thanks!

[dorothyinAus]

I went to Canberra to visit a friend before her husband was re-assigned to Alaska. We stayed in Forrest, which was walking distance for adults to Parliament House. We ate in Manuka, 4 blocks from our hotel on National Circuit. We were only there for a weekend, and visiting my friend was the priority, so the only touristy things we did were tours of the Parliament Houses -- the old one and the new one. They were very interesting, but I would definitely skip eating at the Queen's Terrace Cafe in the new Parliament House. I am sorry we didn't have time to eat at the Kitchen Cabinet at the Old Parliament House. We also saw an exhibit at the National Library, but we saw it on the last weekend.

My friend took us to Belluci's Trattoria, a local Canberra chain. We went to the Woden location, and she says the menu is slightly different at each location, but I can recommend that one as well. I can recommend Francisco's Mexican Cantina in a mall on Furneaux and Bougainville Streets in Makuna. DH and I found that one just walking around. It has been the best Mexican I have had yet in Australia, but very spicy.

I am sorry I'm not much more help. I don't have kids, so my activities are adult-ish. Parliament was great, but not where I would take a toddler. My friend's kids were 8 and 11, so her activities might not be much help either. I know the one thing we missed not seeing was the War Memorial. Both my friend and DH agreed it was a full day visit, and we just ran out of time.

[allibally]

Jun 25, 2012 2:56:27 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

I know the one thing we missed not seeing was the War Memorial. Both my friend and DH agreed it was a full day visit, and we just ran out of time.

The war memorial is gorgeous. I wish we could of spent more time there too at the museum. It was so peaceful at the memorial.

Hope you have a nice vacation Amy.

[kradleygirl]

Questacon might be a good place for your toddler. Plus it's also fun for the adults too. And definitely do the war memorial. Maybe even cockington green?


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[amy726]

Thanks guys. I'll write this down and check some of it out!

[Deleted]

I lived in Canberra for six years but don't have kids so I might not be much help to you. War memorial is brilliant, but probably dull for kids. Manuka has great places to eat, depends where you are staying. If its north then perhaps try the Turkish pide house in Jamison.

[americaninoz]

My inlaws live down by batemans bay, lovely beaches there and there's a cute bird park, not sure about accom as we always stay with them