H G travel
theseatofthenationis aninspiringdestinationpacked
withboutiquehotels,wonderfuleateriesandfunthings
todoforthewholefamily,writesAnnaJohnson.CAPITAL IDEAS
D
rivingintoCanberrais likeentering
anarchitect’sdrawing.everythingis
placedasdesigned.Happily,this
blueprintis changingandhotelshavebeen
leadingthewaytomaketheaCtwarmer
andmoretempting.
FromtheminuteyouentertheModernist
lobbyofEastHotel(easthotel.com.au)
inKingston,youfeelrelaxed.Snippets
ofRomanHolidayandLaDolceVitaare
projected onto a big screen, recycled timberlinesthehighceilingsandcomplimentary
bicyclesarelinedupforleisurelyrides
aroundthecity.Ourdoublefamilysuite
is laidoutlikea well-organisedapartment
withheart.Photographybylocalartists
adornsthewallsandtheadjoiningkids’
‘cubbyroom’thrillsthemwithbeanchairs,
bunkbedsandanXbox.Wehavebooked
a WeekendInCanberrapackage,which
includesticketstotheMonetexhibitionat
theNational Gallery of Australia (NGA)TheNationalGalleryofAustralia(NGA).
OPPOSITEClockwisefromtopleftTheNational
PortraitGallery.AlfrescoterraceatEastHotel.
AluxebedroomatEast,tastefullydecoratedand
supremelycomfortable.Theaward-winningPod
PlaygroundattheNationalArboretum,designed
byTaylorCullityLethlean.BrunchatMuse
bookshopandcafeatEast.Oneoftheprecious
artworks in the Monet exhibition at the NGA.