Its snowing today in Canberra. We're currently in Batemans Bay NSW and going to Canberra in four weeks and staying in a CP for 5 nights - don't want snow. Its the Foriade flower show there and we also want to see the great circus in the country and visit the war museum. Its freezing in Batemans - cant wait to get back to warm WA !!

Hi Bruce and Bev,

To get the most out of the War Memorial you will need at least half a day - a quick walk through won't do it. Make sure you take in the 'G' for George show and the Sydney submarine attack show.

Try and squeeze in a visit to the National Museum - all the things that you grew up with are now museum relics!

Also recommend a trip to the National Arboretum - while the trees still have a lot of growing to do the view is magnificent. Have a cup of coffee or light meal while enjoying the view. If you are into bonsais (is that the correct spelling?) you will drool over the display they have there.

Another little known tourist activity is a boat trip around Lake Burley Griffin - several operate there at times ranging from an electric(!) boat to a steam one. Mostly around midday. The skippers give a running commentary of various little known facts - such as the crushed rock between the two Commonwealth Avenue bridges came from a bombed out church in England (I forget which one).

In four weeks time the minus overnight temperatures should be almost gone. But when one is forecast put half a dozen pages from a newspaper over the windscreen - saves having to scrape the ice off.

Finally - don't get lost. There are only two straight roads in the place - Northbourne Avenue coming in from the north and Anzac Parade (which doesn't really go anywhere - just joins two roads). The curving roads make you lose your sense of direction and perception of distance. Also, the lack of corner shops, servos and other visible prominent buildings means there are no landmarks.

Murray