We don't know if crowds are generally down on Mondays or if the virus had scared people away, but we saw less than 40 people there today. The zoo has fully embraced virus protection by providing hand sanitisers at entrances and exits to cafes and all walk-through animal enclosures. And at the main entrance a sign requested visitors to keep their distance from others!
The latest updates on the virus have prompted us to cut short our holiday and return on the Spirit of Tasmania tomorrow night. But today we spent time at the National Arboretum which features 94 forests across 250 hectares - one of the world's largest living collections of rare, endangered and significant trees from Australia and around the world. The surrounding hills are dotted with thousands of trees, many still in the growing phase including cedar, eucalypt, maple, cherry, pine, redwood, birch, palm... you name it.
The arboretum is also home to the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia which contains some of the largest and oldest bonsai we have seen. Bonsai is of course Japanese but Penjing is the Chinese equivalent. We also walked through the beautiful Gallery of Gardens, dedicated to various causes and sponsored by a number of garden associations.
Coffee at Sprout Cafe
The view from the Village Centre
Margaret Whitlam Pavilion used for functions and weddings
Gallery of Gardens
National Bonsai and Penjing Collection
It has been a wonderful holiday thus far, and we will definitely be back to finish it!
What a wonderful holiday and thank you for the photos. Love David.
ReplyDeleteI love Canberra, it is so easy to get about. We loved the birds at Golden Creek, Harry had great fun feeding them, they were perched on his head and hand. We also enjoyed the views from the Telstra Tower and black mountain.
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