Our My Canberra series is about seeing our city with new fresh eyes.  We have sought out well known Canberrans, authors, HerCanberra readers and bloggers to share their favourite parts of Canberra. It has so much to offer, but sometimes it’s hard to find those fantastic places without knowing someone to recommend them.

Vanessa (known by my friends and family as Ness) is a born and bred Canberran, having called Canberra home for most of her life, 33 years to be exact. Apart from living abroad for two years in London and Whistler in Canada, Vanessa spent many of her childhood holidays and weekends at Durras on the South Coast—the very place that saw her love for the beach and being outdoors grow.

By day she works in the Public Service in Program Management for an International Scholarships program. But it’s by night that Vanessa’s personality really shines. Under the alias, Ave Nocturna (meaning night owl), she is a DJ with a love for listening and dancing to house music. With a passion for travelling, she has self-diagnosed her symptoms to the travel bug. Family and friends are also close to her heart.

A lover of food, (especially Thai and Mexican) and a good Tequila with soda and fresh lime, Vanessa is also a bit of a yogi and enjoys regular fitness classes at the gym. A woman on a mission,  she is also currently training for the Southern Highlands Tough Mudder taking place at the end of the year. But what is it that she loves about the nation’s capital?

This is HER Canberra.

Northside or Southside?

I grew up on the Northside and lived in Belconnen for most of my childhood, I moved to Gungahlin about 8 years ago. I love what the Northside has to offer; its close proximity to Dickson, the City, New Acton, Braddon, Gold Creek, Exhibition Park, Thoroughbred Park and Canberra Stadium (now called GIO Stadium). With easy access to Majura Park and the airport and only a short drive to Gundaroo, Bungendore and local wineries.

I love that it has a mix of beautiful established leafy suburbs and modern new ones with great facilities.

Favourite Cheap Eats?

Simply Pho in Gungahlin serves up some delicious Pho. My go to dish is the Vermicelli rice noodle salad.

Mr Papa serves up Peruvian street food and they are often found at local markets/festivals around Canberra. I first dined on their delicious food at the Canberra Multicultural Festival. Their ‘Chanchito – Pork Belly Sandwich’ is amazing! If you don’t want to wait for the next time there is a market or festival then you can order their Peruvian Street Pack to be home-delivered!

Favourite Mid-range Restaurant?

Would have to be the Thai Herb restaurant in Gungahlin. I would go as far as to say it’s the best Thai in Canberra. Such authentic delicious food, reasonably priced, big servings and great service. The Prawn Pad Thai and Lamb Shank Mussamun curry are amazing!

Elk & Pea is my go to for Mexican food. The Manchego & Chilli Popcorn is so addictive. But the Tempura Soft Shell Crab Taco, Ceviche, Peas & Q Salad and Jerk Chicken are my favourites.

Versatile Restaurant at Gold Creek and Soju Girl in the City are both owned by the 2617 Group and offer delicious, well presented, well-priced food in a modern setting.

I have been a huge fan of Morks ever since it was a quiet suburban restaurant/takeaway at Florey Shops. Now it has moved onto bigger and better things at Kingston Foreshore and still offers the same amazing Thai Fusion food and amazing service. I can’t go past their scallops and pig ear terrine, angel prawns and caramel pork belly….nom nom!

Photo: Rachi Perera of Le Bon Vivant.

Favourite Fine Dining?

The dinner tasting menu at the Lanterne Rooms, Campbell shops would have to be my favourite followed closely by Sage at Gorman House Arts Centre Braddon and Aubergine at Griffith Shops.

A special mention to some ‘just out of Canberra’ restaurants that also make my mouth water are Grazing at Gundaroo (fine-dining) & Torpeas in Braidwood (mid-range).

Best Coffee?

I don’t drink coffee, but my husband is a coffee snob and says that his favourite places to get a good flat white are at Red Brick Espresso, Curtin and Remedy, Lonsdale St Roasters, Kingston Foreshore.

I do enjoy the occasional soy chai latte and get mine from Tonic in the city and all the coffee drinkers at work rave about their coffee too.

I love a good cuppa and my favourite is Jasmine Pearls – Buddha Tears or Coconut Chai at Adore Tea Gold Creek. If you’re looking for a great place for High Tea they run them most Sundays.

Best Breakfast?

The Cupping Room in the city is my favourite. I am one of those annoying people who make up my own and would usually order the local open-range poached eggs with chlorophyll and truffle essence on gluten-free bread with guacacassa (a sauce made from fresh avocado and tabasco) and garlic wilted spinach. So good!

Autolyse’s mushroom bruschetta on sourdough toast is pretty good too.

Favourite Night Venue?

If you’re after a quiet beverage and cruisy then you can’t go past the George Harcourt Inn at Gold Creek. For something unique try out Molly in the City, if you can find it (their coordinates are on their website). The Loft at O’Connor is also one of my favourites for a relaxing beverage.

My favourite places to go dancing are Trinity Bar in Dickson; their ‘Trinity Teapot’ cocktails are scrumptious! & Meche, City. Their new outdoor terrace will be great when it’s warmer.

Transit & Zierholz are great venue’s to see live bands.

Watch this space: I hear Digress Bar will be starting up something exciting ‘music wise’ on Friday nights.

Best Shopping Spot?

I love eating healthy, fresh, local produce and my go-to spots would be the Capital Region Farmers Market every Saturday at Exhibition Park, Choku Bai Jo farmer’s outlet at North Lyneham Shops and for something a little different Trash & Treasure which is held every Sunday morning at the Jamison Centre car park in Macquarie.

Best walk?

Mount Majura is a good local northside bushwalk or a little drive away in the Namadgi National Park are Booroomba Rocks, which have amazing views of Canberra on a clear day.

Booroomba Rocks. Photo by In The Taratory.

“Must Do” Canberra experience?

For me, this really depends on what time of year it is and how long you have!

I love heading to all of Canberra’s festivals; Multicultural Festival, Forage, Hustle & Scout, Enlighten, Floriade, Truffle festival, Fireside Festival and Balloon Festival just to name a few.

I would always recommend for visitors to take a stroll around Lake Burley Griffin, visit the National Arboretum (I love their Bonsai Garden) and check out the area around Kingston Foreshore (including a visit to the Bus Depot Markets, sampling a Brodburger and visiting the Canberra Glass works). Wonder around the New Acton and Braddon areas and if time permits, head out to one of the local wineries to sample some of the region’s best cellar doors.

Visit one of the National Institutions, top of my list would be the War Memorial and the National Gallery of Australia where you can’t miss seeing the ‘Skyspace’ by renowned American artist James Turrell. Skyspace is open during gallery hours but special light-cycle sessions run at dawn and dusk, when the changing sky has the most dramatic effect.

And of course dine and drink their way through as many of our fantastic restaurants, cafes, bars, wineries and breweries as possible!

How I get away from it all…

Stock up on local produce and goodies and head out to Tidbinbilla or Namadgi for a picnic followed by a relaxing evening at the Dendy premium cinema.

Great kid friendly activities?

Kids (and adults) will love Flipout at Hume, which is a large trampoline playground. Questacon and Cockington Green will keep the kids entertained for hours and Kidcity is a great indoor play center.

Best thing about being a Canberran is….

Being able to enjoy its great proximity, relaxed and healthy lifestyle, and abundance of dining options (we have the most restaurants per capita in all of Australia!)

I love that everything in Canberra is only a short drive (nothing seems to take any longer than 30 minutes) and it is an easy drive to the South Coast, the snow fields (even closer if you just want to build a snowman), Sydney and in close proximity of beautiful wineries and mountain ranges.

It is a very well planned and pretty city with lots of trees, parks, nature reserves and picnic areas. A healthy lifestyle is easy to maintain with an abundance of fresh local produce, restaurants that cater for every dietary requirement and many different fitness activities.

My favourite article on Canberra is the recent article in Gourmet Traveller Magazine which is very exciting and shows what an amazing future Canberra has!

If you’d like to share YOUR Canberra, drop us a line at hello@hercanberra.com.au.