5 November 2015

Best of Canberra view-off – Lookouts

| Gabrielle Kneipp
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Mt Pleasant

Mt Ainslie is hands-down the best lookout in Canberra. Basically, this is because after hiking all the way to the top it makes you feel like doing a Leonardo di Caprio, “I’m the King of the World!” (Except that actually requires having to catch one’s breath, which takes a bit longer than I would care to admit). I went up there just to double check for this purpose and, yes, it’s definitely the best.

However, in fairness to the other lookouts of Canberra I chose two others for this week’s Best of Canberra: Mount Pleasant and Dairy Farmers Hill.

Mt Pleasant

Mount Pleasant is, in fact, quite pleasant, (sorry, I couldn’t resist!). Once you find your way through Duntroon and up General Bridges Drive (be sure and stop by the grave of General Bridges) there is a lovely area to look out from. It has a similar aspect to that of Mount Ainslie but comes up behind the Russell offices and has a much closer view of Lake Burley Griffin. It also overlooks the grounds of Duntroon. Watch out for ADFA recruits on the road as you drive down!

For a differing view of Canberra, I also went with Dairy Farmers’ Hill, near the Arboretum. Quite by chance, I went out on the stormy Sunday evening just passed. It was still calm when I arrived and the view is spectacular. You can take in Woden Valley and the far-reaching Brindabellas as well as the steady Black Mountain and accompanying Lake. I settled in and watched the storm roll in and it was spectacular. The clouds were dark with rain and lightning lit up the sky over the Brindabellas. I was captivated by it and didn’t want to leave until I was chased away by the rain.

Storm shot

With such an experience, I award this week’s best lookout to the Dairy Farmers’ Hill. Through the call out, I came across many other choice lookouts and I am looking forward to exploring them over the summer.

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Mt Pleasant is, umm, pleasant. Every Friday at either 1200 (or 1300 hrs) the Army used to fire a signal gun, fairly noticeable “booooom!” ehoed across the valley. Don’t know what the purpose of the exercise was, some sort of traditional thing. Don’t know if they still do it

Holden Caulfield12:14 am 03 Nov 15

Great work Gabrielle. A shame the clouds were blocking Telstra Tower, but it provides another excuse for a return visit.

You got Dairy Farmer’s Hill at a great time too, well done.

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