There are a lot of people who will tell you that Canberra as a whole should be permanently placed on an Australia's "where not to go" list. They're wrong. But once you are here you won't want to waste your time on duds, so here are a few pointers on places to steer clear of.
Miniature houses, maximum rip-off
Cockington Green is a village of miniature houses and displays. I will concede that it is cute and if you have kids they might enjoy it; I did when I was as high as the buildings. However, if you're more than four-foot tall it is hard to be convinced that the $15 entry fee and 15km trek out to
Gold Creek Village is worth it.
The National Mint
The National Mint is best relegated to year six school trips and numismatic enthusiasts. There is very little to see and it's out of the way. The only pay off: the opportunity to buy a freshly minted $1 coin, for two bucks ... What? The capital boasts so many other great national institutions that bland ones like this one aren't worth your time. Instead go to the
National Library, the
National Gallery, the
Parliament houses … Okay, you get the point, there are plenty of others to choose from.
Mooseheads
The logo of popular nightclub
Mooseheads, emblazoned on Canberra buses, is "I (insert love heart with moose logo) Head". Its website boasts the place is the home of the classy cocktail known as "Smooth Pussy". Need I say more? It has several levels of sticky floors, bad music and sleaze. They do serve cheap drinks, and I doubt there's a local who can truthfully say they haven't ended up here at the end of a big night. But loving head is nothing to brag about. Also be wary of
Krave,
Shooters and a little further down the road
Unipub. If you do find yourself dancing the night away at one of these hotspots, stumble out and fall in love with the men who sell cheap slices of pizza on the streets around the clubs.
The CBZzzzzzz
If you need anything practical the newly-renovated
Canberra Centre has it all; supermarkets, department stores, delis, homewares, clothes, shoes, electrical and a gym. However you'll find the same things everywhere else in Australia.
If you're interested in something more Canberra, walk out behind the centre and up to Braddon for trendy design shops, Manuka and Kingston for boutiques and out to Queanbeyan for op shops. Also, Fyshwick is home to more than just porn and fireworks (though those can be found if you're interested) — it also has a range of outdoor and furniture shops, second-hand bookstores and a huge Salvation Army store which stocks both furniture and clothes.
Got any more places to avoid? Have your say using the comments form below.
Next: Near the beaten track
