Canberra question [Autumn Trees]

[parsonstrish]

I'm flying to cbr over Easter break, primarily to see trees in foilage, or at least starting. If it's not happening, want to prepare myself.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Canberra question

It's still a bit early for the autumn colours. The days are going to be high 20s and around 10 ish descending once the sun starts to go down.

'Prepare yourself' w' a jkt etc (I say etc as you are from Qld and will feel the cool), when going out early morning or after say 5pm.

 

[elbarto]

Re: Canberra question

If you're keen, go for a dip in the lake and see how many tentacles you come out with.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Re: Canberra question

I'm flying to cbr over Easter break, primarily to see trees in foilage, or at least starting. If it's not happening, want to prepare myself.

wait until Anzac day

 

[Keelan]

Re: Canberra question

Yes, best to wait until Anzac Day if possible. I live in Canberra, and no signs of foliage change yet.

 

[here2go]

Re: Canberra question

Rule of thumb when I lived in the PRC (Peoples' Republic of Canberra) - no heating until ANZAC. To do so would be bad luck. Also linked to the change in the seasons.

If you live in BNE, and want to see autumnal colours, perhaps a drive up the range to Stanthorpe on Queen's Birthday, book a cabin with a fireplace and organise a bus to go wine and cider tasting.
At 900m, Stanthorpe is usually colder than Canberra for most of the year too, and you can do an awesome return drive past Mary Kathleen falls on the way back or there and then up through Boonah back to Brisneyland.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Canberra question

Rule of thumb when I lived in the PRC (Peoples' Republic of Canberra) - no heating until ANZAC. To do so would be bad luck. Also linked to the change in the seasons.

If you live in BNE, and want to see autumnal colours, perhaps a drive up the range to Stanthorpe on Queen's Birthday, book a cabin with a fireplace and organise a bus to go wine and cider tasting.
At 900m, Stanthorpe is usually colder than Canberra for most of the year too, and you can do an awesome return drive past Mary Kathleen falls on the way back or there and then up through Boonah back to Brisneyland.

I think your first idea is a better one, come to beaudiful Canberra.

 

[here2go]

Re: Canberra question

I think your first idea is a better one, come to beaudiful Canberra.

Both are brilliant for different reasons. Stanthorpe is underrated as a wine-region because of where it is (ie across the border). Last time I went through there I had a lot of fun - except for the fact I had to be responsible as I had to be in Toowoomba that day. I just remember after living in Canberra for 10 years, the best thing was seeing "Welcome to Canberra" in the rear vision mirror, as I ducked over to Braidwood to get some cider, Captain's Flat for Art and a feed, or down to Bega for a swim on the fantasticly clear beaches.

Wish I could say the same for the NT. Go for a drive here, and you drive and drive. For a foodie, it's hell unless you know about bush tucker beyond the tropical farms of Darwin. Mrs Mac's Maggot Bags from the Bain Marie of Courage are pretty much all you get your hands on unless you catch it yourself.

 

[parsonstrish]

Re: Canberra question

Bummer, hotel booked, etc, flt. can be changed of course with fee change. Anzac wkend going to sunshine coast, maryborough and harvey bay.
live in nth qld, work west of townsville. looks like i will have to book 2nd wk. of may, are trees generally in foilage then? I'll plan on lots of walking, still lots of trees in gardens. Just w/out foilage this coming trip. Mainly pics I take o/s are trees. (bit of an obsession)
For those who live in Cbr, is montezumas still there?

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Canberra question

Montes has gone.

The walking will be great at this time of the year. It will be low-mid 20s or over Easter (was to be warmer but revised down). There is some early colour and with another 5 days to go, it may be even better. It's very hard to say which trees will be at what stage esp longer term in May. As 01 June is winter, i suspect May would be too late. The streetscapes and trees and the best in CBR, if you tell us which part of town you are in, we can make some suggestions.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Canberra question

The early trees that are colouring up now are the Pyrus ussairiensis (can't be bothered looking up the exact spelling).

 

[here2go]

Re: Canberra question

I slag off Canberra, but I'll be back there there within 20 months (sooner if circumstances allow), and will be glad to get back.

For trees, there's an Aboretum there now which hadn't opened before I left (so can't comment on it), and the Botanical Gardens is good. Can also recommend a trip to a place called "Yankee Hat" down in the south of the ACT in Namadgi National Park. LOTS of Kangaroos in an open "parkland" (it's a former sheep station) in a valley surrounded by scrub with Aboriginal Art Work at the end of a very gentle walk.
Close by are some other nice spots to catch snaps of different trees in various natural settings going up towards the snow gums.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Arboretum is well worth the time and investment

There needs to be a first class restaurant but for now the cafe is struggling to cope or was at least a few weeks ago

 

[elbarto]

Re: Canberra question

Rule of thumb when I lived in the PRC (Peoples' Republic of Canberra) - no heating until ANZAC. To do so would be bad luck.

My mother always goes by the ANZAC day rule, to do otherwise was to incur her wrath. But this is the first time I've headed of it being bad luck.

 

[parsonstrish]

Re: Canberra question

The early trees that are colouring up now are the Pyrus ussairiensis (can't be bothered looking up the exact spelling).

Many thanks, any trees that are even starting to turn will be great.
Staying at Hyatt, think this is close to nice gardens.

 

[here2go]

Re: Canberra question

My mother always goes by the ANZAC day rule, to do otherwise was to incur her wrath. But this is the first time I've headed of it being bad luck.

The heating thing is an urban myth, on par if you are not studying by the time the "fluff" flies, you will fail. No heating after Remembrance Day, even if it is sleeting outside.
My favourite "luck" myth though comes from Brisbane where I grew up - if you get hit by a Jacaranda flower, you will fail. Great fun watching international students do wide arcs around the large number of Jacaranda trees at UQ.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Canberra question

One saying (mentioned before), is that if you are driving toward your destination and can see it ahead, you are going the wrong way.

This is due to roundabouts, but now that most of the rest of the country has caught up, visitors can cope better with them.

 

[here2go]

Re: Canberra question

One saying (mentioned before), is that if you are driving toward your destination and can see it ahead, you are going the wrong way.

This is due to roundabouts, but now that most of the rest of the country has caught up, visitors can cope better with them.

The one difference with the rest of Australia is that you should be able to take a roundabout at least at 60km/h in Canberra. To go any slower is an embarrassment to your Y plate.

 

[Hvr]

Re: Canberra question

The one difference with the rest of Australia is that you should be able to take a roundabout at least at 60km/h in Canberra. To go any slower is an embarrassment to your Y plate.

Agree, the problem is that local Canberrans (i.e. those who were born and bred there) seem to have minus 20 vision. They seem to do 20 km/h less than the speed limit and think that their car will only work in the right hand lane.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Canberra question

And a word of warning for visitors, people here leap onto crossings without a sideways glance whereas a split second earlier they were seemingly just walking down the street.