There’s still a residual winter chill in the air in Canberra at the moment, but the trees and the locals don’t seem to mind – each coming alive with blossoms and sun-soaked smiles that say Spring is in swing.
And that’s not the only reminder about the change in season. Floriade – Australia’s biggest annual celebration of Spring – has turned Canberra’s Commonwealth Park into a dream – a place of discovery, wonder, and (most importantly to this writer) one million flowers.
Red, orange, yellow, green, pink, purple, white – all these colours form pools of carefully planted flora surrounded by winding walking trails and market stalls.
And it turns out, those meticulously cultivated garden beds were designed based on physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology, and botany. From the birds-eye view granted by the Ferris wheel, the bright bulbs below turn into blocks of pigment forming intricate shapes and patterns that represent atoms, molecular structure, the human brain, and so much more! This falls in line with Floriade’s 2025 theme of ‘Science and Nature’.
Personally, one of my favourite science’s is mixology because you can drink your concoctions without fear of imminent death. I’m not saying you can’t drink anything that comes out of a beaker, but I’d be more inclined to drink something that came out of a cocktail shaker.
This led me to the Underground Spirits Cocktail High Tea Experience. In the Underground Spirits Gin Garden, I was treated to 90 minutes of Floriade Gin and Tonic, a teapot containing a botanical cocktail, and sweet and savoury treats from the artisans at L’epi Bakery. I indulged in all this from a cosy private gazebo that looked like a vintage birdcage while seated at a high table decorated with antique books and flowers.
Once I was finished, I did another lap of Floriade, taking in the noisy carnival games, watching dancers on the Tulip Stage, listening to the singers on Stage 88, perusing market stalls, dodging the trackless train, tasting wine, admiring the art at Grainger Gallery, and of course, stopping to smell the flowers.
Floriade was well worth the three-hour trip from western Sydney, and I’ll tell you how to make a weekend out of it.
Let’s start with accommodation.
I was able to walk to Floriade from A by Adina – a hotel that puts the best of the Capital right at your fingertips. The Studio Deluxe Room has an industrial chic feel to it, decorated in shades of black and grey. It features a luxurious king bed, a lounge, a little table to clink glasses over, a beautiful modern bathroom, and a large window that lends light to the room.
And right next door is the perfect spot for coffee and breakfast.
I stayed in Canberra for two nights, and each morning I started my day at Redbrick City. The café is wrapped in floor to ceiling windows that light up the black marble flooring. Redbrick’s high ceilings made the room feel fresh and airy, but the hanging lights and dangling floral centrepiece brought a cosy feel to the space.
Each morning the barista nailed my vanilla iced latte, and I can attest the chef knows exactly how to smash an avo and perfectly poach an egg.
Now, let’s talk dinner.
On my first night in Canberra, I walked 10 minutes from A by Adina to Carlotta, a new restaurant that shows diners a distinctly Australian celebration of Mediterranean flavours and hospitality.
It was alive with content chatter when I walked through the doors. I saw groups of girl friends catching up, couples talking quietly to keep conversations between them, an elderly group sharing a bottle of wine, and a big family cracking a laugh.
Around the room, the low light against the dark wood décor made the space feel intimate, and at the back of the restaurant, an exposed kitchen was separated from the seating area by a brown marble countertop.
I ordered the $88 Banquet Menu, and one of the highlights was the lamb shoulder. The meat had a smoky, coal flavour, while the salse verde and pickled onion on top brought freshness and punch to the dish.
For my second night in the Capital, I had Azuma Den in my sights. This restaurant showcases a delicious blend of Korean and Japanese cuisine. Everything on the menu is crafted around the hibachi grill, and every dish is touched by flame and shaped by skill.
I started this dining adventure with salmon sashimi, which was light, fresh, slightly sweet, slightly salty, and a little bit tangy. After that was the wagyu beef tartar taco which tasted sweet and had a spice to it that I could feel in my nose. The pork and ginger dumplings that followed were delectable, the flamed scallops were buttery and salty, and the sweet chilli fried chicken was to die for.
And now you know where to dine, I can recommend a couple more ways to ensure your Canberra weekend is filled with beauty and wonder.
You can visit the ‘In Bloom’ exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery to continue the weekend’s floral theme and discover how flowers are used in portraiture as a marker of identity.
You can also view Canberra from Lake Burley Griffin by hiring a Love Boat and self-captaining yourself on a stylish and comfortable one-hour cruise.
If you’re going to visit Canberra for Floriade, which I recommend you do, make a weekend of it.
Floriade runs until October 12, and you can find all the information online at https://floriadeaustralia.com.
Ally Hall joined the team 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She is a graduate of the University of South Australia.