Best views?

There’s some excellent views along the top of Banks and Conder and you won’t pay the prices expected closer in to the city. I’m not very high up the hill but have sweeping views of Lanyon Valley and the Brindabellas beyond. Being a small-ish valley it feels like we’re nestled in the mountains, not just looking at them in the distance.

Of course, there’s downsides to living that far south. Depends on how much you want to trade-off location for views. It’s not really that far in to the city (30 mins outside peak times) and will be better once the roadworks are complete.

Sure, the ovals had a few shattered wheelie bins this morning, but from what I’ve read in other posts, that’s not a problem confined to the far south.

duckylucky said :

deye said :

One thing that surprises me is the number of places that are built that don’t, in any way, take advantage of the fantastic view! Case in point are the many houses build along Drake Brockman Drive (Higgins and Holt) that have poky little windows or scraggy buses blocking the view of the fields, vineyards and mountains. Ok, so it faces West and is bit of a pain in summer, but still…?

Last time I looked Drake Brockman drive ran east-west meaning the houses ‘look’ south. You will also find that the houses are on the lower side of the street, so without a double story house you wouldn’t really get a view.

Oh my pick for good views is Archdall Street Macgregor (they have some massive houses that do take advantage of the views), also some streets in Dunlop on the south/west side of the little hill (off Hugh McKay Crescent) have good views too. Views that without a change in the border or a development in NSW can never be built out.

duckylucky said :

Hi all

Thanks for the feedback. The plan one-day to buy a house with a view of the countryside and far off mountains… Canberra is pretty lucky to afford plenty of good opportunities.

To add further to the thread, I’ve always liked the views from the top of My Painter in Cook, around the Pinnacle in Hawker, and from Mt Rogers. I don’t fancy my chances of getting permission to start building up there.

One thing that surprises me is the number of places that are built that don’t, in any way, take advantage of the fantastic view! Case in point are the many houses build along Drake Brockman Drive (Higgins and Holt) that have poky little windows or scraggy buses blocking the view of the fields, vineyards and mountains. Ok, so it faces West and is bit of a pain in summer, but still…?

Yes a nice view is good to have but after a while you just take it for granted and you still have to put up with the negatives (usually a steep block and windy location) and as you say the best views in Canberra face west, Yuk. I think a good position at the end of a culdesac would be higher on my list.

duckylucky said :

…Thanks for the feedback. The plan one-day to buy a house with a view of the countryside and far off mountains…

Wallaroo Road (near Hall) and a few acres sounds like the place for you.

O’Connor cct Calwell and another vote for Fihelly St Fadden (or Macarthur). Top of the hill in Chisholm (Lucy Gullet Cct) is also good

Assuming ducklucky is looking for a place with views to buy, rather than just a place with views, one has to remember one important thing about view of the Brindys. If you can see the snow, you also get an uninterrupted blasting by winds off the snow. Better insulate your house damn well…

The hills to the east of the ACT have a pretty darn good view of the western ranges! (and a lot of canberra, too). Although a stupid ridge blocks my view of Namadgi. However, some compensation is afforded by equally excellent views to the east, and the Talleganda ranges.

Holder is one of the most prestigious suburbs in Australia. It was voted 2009’s most “Livable Suburb”. Whether it be visiting one of the several playgrounds or checking out the local supermarket, your bound to find something to do in Holder. Feel like dancing? Why not visit Holder’s local dance studio? You can dance all afternoon and then have dinner at the cafe two doors down.

And if thats not enough, there are several underpasses spread throughout the suburb, and some very accommodating footpaths. I know what your thinking. Is Holder a good place to bring my kids? Answer: Correct. It is. As I mentioned earlier, there are several playgrounds, not to mention two schools! The mighty Montesorri and the delightful St Judes. Which one is better? Oh please, that question is too hard to answer.

Interested in gymnastics? Well once you’ve finished dancing at the dance studio, why not head down to the gymnastics centre and train to be a gymnast? Personally I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to be a dancer or gymnast, but then my Nanna Mable says to me “Why not spend some time at the local dance studio practicing your dance, and then head down to the local gymnastics centre and train to be a gymnast? I said thanks Nanna Mable what a great idea.

I guess what I’m trying to say is what other suburb in Canberra has both a dancing studio and gymnastics centre? As well as all the other wonderful things I mentioned several underpasses, playgrounds etc.

If Canberra is the Capital of the ACT, then surely Holder is the Capital of Canberra.

WTH?

+1(!!)

deye said :

Are you looking for views to stop by and look at, or views where you can buy a house ?

Hi all

Thanks for the feedback. The plan one-day to buy a house with a view of the countryside and far off mountains… Canberra is pretty lucky to afford plenty of good opportunities.

To add further to the thread, I’ve always liked the views from the top of My Painter in Cook, around the Pinnacle in Hawker, and from Mt Rogers. I don’t fancy my chances of getting permission to start building up there.

One thing that surprises me is the number of places that are built that don’t, in any way, take advantage of the fantastic view! Case in point are the many houses build along Drake Brockman Drive (Higgins and Holt) that have poky little windows or scraggy buses blocking the view of the fields, vineyards and mountains. Ok, so it faces West and is bit of a pain in summer, but still…?

-Mulligans Flat Road, Forde (old Gundaroo Road)
-At the high points of the Forde. Once Bonner & Casey are opened they will give pretty good views.
Also in Tuggeranong Valley
-Sulwood Drive, Fisher/Kambah/Wanniassa
-Up behind Whiteley Crescent, Conder
-Woodcock Drive, Gordon
-A top of cliff on southern side of Mt Taylor (access via Manheim Street/Sulwood Drive intersection)
-Up behind Bissenberger Crescent, Kambah (Park at Venn Place end)
-Tuggeranong Parkway, Kambah (as you come over the hill from Woden)

Brodribb St. Wanniassa.

On a clear day, you can almost see Melbourne!

cobby st, holmes cres, and the higher parts of savige st (all in campbell) all have good views of the best of the city/lake and onwards to the brindies

When I win Tattslotto I’ll be approaching a few of the residents at Wongoola Close in O’Connor. Uninterrupted views from Black Mountain to Mount Majura, with Civic and Parliament House in the mid-foreground. That’ll do me.

When The Apartments are complete at the end of Marcus Clarke Street they will have views pretty hard to beat, looking over the lake and towards the Brindies.

The driving range at Gold Creek Country Club has lovely views towards the Brindabellas, too.

I-filed said :

The top views can have two downsides: putting out the garbage down a long steep drive (or rather, hauling the bin back up), and having to chock visitors’ wheels if they’re parked in the driveway …

Also challenging to negotiate the walk up/down after a few drinks.

I used to have a loooooong driveway, and used to lay the handle of the empty wheelie bin over the towball of the car when coming home after work, and slowly trundle down the driveway…

The top views can have two downsides: putting out the garbage down a long steep drive (or rather, hauling the bin back up), and having to chock visitors’ wheels if they’re parked in the driveway …

northbourne avenue has great views of the govvie flats; and my street has the best view of my house – what did you want a view of?

some of upper o’connor / lyneham boasts some lovely vistas.

baldilocks said :

To give the northside a vote, the top of Flynn and Melba, backing Mt Rogers reserve. Great views down over Lake Ginninderra, Belconnen to Black Mountain tower, and all the way down to the south of Canberra including to the Brindabellas. Also great view of the fireworks last two nights as well! Some of the highest spots in Canberra.

+1

Woodhill Link, Jerrabomberra. Uninterrupted views across the valley, Fyshwick, inner south, city and inner north, with Bruce Stadium visible on a clear day.

Further north, Barrett St Macgregor has nice westerly views to the mountains.

isabella dr coming up over the hill from the monaro highway between gilmore and macarthur.

The houses on the western edge of Hawker, eg Elsey St, have great views over the Brindabellas.

Mount Taylor – far and away the best views down south. A lovely walk that can be steepish in parts, but easily achievable by a motivated five-year old, so not too difficult. Wear sensible shoes, layer-up, take a water bottle and your camera; snow capped Brindies and the Tuggers valley in one direction, Woden and beyond out the other side. Gorgeous views of Canberra – not to be missed. The mountain at the back of Fadden Mount Wanniasa?) has beautiful 360 views too; we usually walk up from the back of Macarthur and follow the marked trails all the way to the top.

Skidbladnir said :

Mt Arawang

+1 Skid. I go up there at least once a week. Top place, great views

Are you looking for views to stop by and look at, or views where you can buy a house ?

To give the northside a vote, the top of Flynn and Melba, backing Mt Rogers reserve. Great views down over Lake Ginninderra, Belconnen to Black Mountain tower, and all the way down to the south of Canberra including to the Brindabellas. Also great view of the fireworks last two nights as well! Some of the highest spots in Canberra.

Well yes, Thumper is right.

But if you just want somewhere to absorb some South-Southwest-Western views:
Black Mountain, Mt Ainslie, Red Hill (all drivable to near the summit, along Black Mountain Drive, Mt Ainslie Drive, or Red Hill Drive respectively)
Tuggeranong Hill (Park at Callister Cres in Calwell, walk up it)
Mt Taylor (park at the carpark at the bottom at the very end of Waldock St in Chifley, walk up it)
Mt Wanniassa (part up at Sparkes Close in Fadden, walk up it)
Mt Urambi (park on Learmonth Dr, walk up it)
Mt Arawang (park on Namatjira Drive just as you start seeing houses in Chapman, walk up it)

There are probably a few neat places out the back of Higgins\Hawker\Holt, too

Garran has some great views from Brereton Street (south and west) – also the streets that run of it. And best of all, it is only a very short walk to either the trig viewpoint or the cafe/restaurant on the top of Red Hill for great 360 degree views of the city and surrounds..

Parts of Fadden (Bugden Avenue\Appel Cres, for example) have pretty good views across the entire Tuggeranong Valley, and out to the Brindabellas, which get snowcapped in winter.
(Google Maps Streetview of roughly where I mean, if it doesn’t point you South\West, just do it manually)

Otherwise, Fihelly St\Alland Place, also in Fadden.

Bugden Avenue, Fadden.