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MIDWEEK MAGAZINE
More energetic
tourist methods
for ACT visitors
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CYCLING
by ARTHURJONES
A WEEK or so ago, I had visitors
from the Britain staying with me,
so I made myself ready for the usual
tour of the Embassies, Parliament, the
Black Mountain Tower and so on, but
as it happened, my friends were not in
the slightest bit interested in such archi
tectural gems.
When I pointed out that the view
from the top of the tower was consid
ered by most people to be quite spectac
ular, they asked if it was possible to
walk up one of the mountains — pref
erably on a bush trail — and then enjoy
the view.
After digging out some maps of Can
berra's Nature Reserves (put out by the
Department of the Arts, Sports, the
Environment, Tourism and Territo
ries, no less) they decided to try Mount
Ainslie.
When, two hours later, they got back,
I asked them what they thought of the
view, and the reply was that it was
okay, but they thought that the high
light of the trip had been the profusion
and variety of wild flowers that they
met on the way — plus, of course, the
odd wallaby.
That was surprise number one.
Number two came when I mooted
the idea .of a look at the National Gal
lery, the National Library and possibly
the House on the Hill.
Out came the maps again, and this
time I was asked if there was any possi
bility of hiring a boat on the Lake, as
they thought they could see those
buildings from the outside, at least)
from the Lake.
I was not sure whether there were
any boats available for hire (apart from
the water-cycles), so I suggested a trip
on the good ship "Lady Clare".
A quick phone call elicited the.infor
mation that the next trip was at 10.30,
and as it was already nearing 10
o'clock, I got the car out and off we
went.
I knew where the terminal was, but
was a little vague as to how to get there
by car, all previous visits having been
by bike.
After a- few traffic tangles, I found
myself on Parkes Way, and soon caught
sight of the jetty through the trees.
Getting to it, though, was another
matter, because in spite of seeing a
large sign announcing the presence of
Acton Park, there waS no turning that
led to it.
I was half way to Hovell Drive when
I finally managed to bump across the
median strip and wind my way back,
and as time was pressing, I had to pull
in at the side of the road and let my
passengers dash across the traffic
streams to get to the Ferry.
They made it alright and thoroughly
enjoyed the trip, but although I spent
most of the hour and a half roaming up
and down Parkes Way looking for a
turn-off, I had to eventually pull off the
road at the same spot and walk across
the road to meet them.
Incidentally, I was obviously not the
first person to do that, as the fence was
well and truly trampled down.
NOW, the point of all this is that not
all visitors want to be taken
around in coaches with a driver giving
a running commentary.
Quite a few want to walk or even
cycle, although the latter are few and far
between as it is usually not possible to
bring a bike with you on a 747.
Canberra used to be known as the
Bush Capital, and despite the activities
of the developers, it still is, up to a
point and there are not many cities
where one can find lakes (three of
them, now), bush walks, creeks and
even mountains within the city bound
aries.
I imagine that many visitors who.
have spent 24 hours cooped up in a
plane would not be exactly cock-a-hoop
at the thought of exchanging that for a
bus trip.
What they want is to stretch their
legs, and, incidentally, see Australia at
first hand, so perhaps the powers that
be might give some time to catering for
those who want to move around under
their own steam.
Incidentally, it would be useful to
have better sign posting (and accessibil
ity) for trips on the Lake or bush walks,
as although the latter may not be to
everybody's taste, surely the trip on the
Lake must be the most attractive of all
Canberra's charms.
It would also be an easier city in
which to ride a bike if all bike paths
were adequately signposted, and per
haps those who use the main roads
might be tempted to leave them if there
were signs announcing that there is ac
cess to a cycle path at, say, a hundred
metres.
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