Top spots to picnic in Canberra

words by ben stephens

Imagine this:

The sun is almost high in the sky, you look around, you find that spot and you begin to unfurl the picnic blanket.

This is the moment you know that you are a functioning human being.

You got out of bed, organised a cheese selection and even sorted out a bottle of alcoholic grape juice.

It’s 2017 and you’re crossing things off your list of things you must attempt.

This must make you feel good inside, right?

I am really stoked for you, so much so that I thought you needed a list of places to go to lay that blanket.

It’s a jungle out there, so here are a handful of top spots to picnic, with a personal cheese-paring to match:

Mount Ainslie Lookout
It’s worth the walk. The view from the top of Mount Ainslie takes stabs at stealing your breath away. Take a moment, deep breath, remember you just hiked a mountain. Once at the top, you have a sweet view of the capital city of Australia What a perfect place to open a little Aussie brie on some fresh lavosh – get cracking.

Looking out over Canberra from the top of Mount Ainslie, great day for it! #Canberra #MountAinslie #Australia #travelling

A post shared by Richard Staniforth (@rstaniforth) on Jan 3, 2017 at 9:18pm PST

Cotter Dam Reserve
This the mecca for family picnics. If you are looking for a spot away from the sound of children laughing, giggling and generally having a great time, this might not be your spot – especially on a weekend.
Mid-week though, you have the place to yourself, more or less.
A top spot to whip out that stilton and get a little blue on that cheese cracker. Yum.
Also, Cotter Dam is a fine piece of engineering in case your Netflix account is having issues with the connection. Explore the surrounds.

DAM, I love travelling this country!

A post shared by Nate (@seen_by_nate) on Dec 20, 2016 at 10:12pm PST

Point Hut Crossing
Just beyond the south-west burb of Gordon, you’ll find a little gem up in the hills. Point Hut Crossing has been hooked up with a whole stack of facilities from BBQ’s to toilets – you know, all the mod cons. It’s quite the place to escape the Canberra hustle and bustle and also a sweet place to get stuck into a nice bit of fresh honey off the comb and wedge of that Mersey Valley Cheddar. The combination will blow your mind – take a seat. Look at the birds. Maybe dip a toe in the water.

I think so many of my problems stem from the fact I don't accept the way things are as the way things have to be.

A post shared by Maddie Allen (@maddison.allen) on Nov 27, 2016 at 12:59am PST

The banks of Lake Burley Griffin
Locate the lake. There are about 12kms of grassy bank to take your fancy, so no matter the day, you’ll find a quite spot. A personal favourite is over near the National Museum of Australia. The grassy knoll over looking the Commonwealth Ave Bridge really makes you feel like a local. Now take out that sweet cheese knife and get you stuck into the camembert, but skip the cracker or lavosh; take a slice of fresh pear. Once again, mind blown.

Canberra highlight #lakeburleygriffin #canberra #blackmountaintower #lakes #fountain

A post shared by Paul Middleton (@paul.middleton.photography) on Dec 25, 2016 at 6:33pm PST

There you have it – four, or a nice handful of sweet spots around town to escape to with either a whole wheel of cheese or your special one.

If you need directions to any of these spots or where to grab that cheese list, speak to our fine team at reception.