Mount Ainslie is situated just behind the War Memorial and overlooks much of the Canberra Parliamentary Triangle, making it a prime spot for seeing the federal institutions and monuments of Australia. Also, it is crazily popular with walkers and joggers... and parents who would like to torture their kids with a long slow walk uphill!
... we were part of the last group! My wife had done this walk many times with her parents... and now, it was our turn to subject our kids to the experience! Our oldest was fine... but the youngest cranked out the whole walk up, making her the least popular person on the walk!
But we remained stoic and uncaring, ignored her and kept walking... and so, she had to follow, or just get left behind!
Leaving the small car park, we had a little path to follow before we started the climb. This bit was tolerable... no complaining yet!
Ah right... blackberries are a pain in the arse! I remember from our Dutch house how invasive they could be, and how it would take years and years to finally get them in check! I can't imagine how bad it would be in the wild! And as non-native chokers as well...
... and here, the slow climb started. Not strenuous by any stretch of the imagination... but constant! Just like the whining...
But there were parts that were a touch steeper! But slow and steady... and it is much easier when you aren't wasting breath on crying!
Can there be a more iconic Australian landscape image than this? I can imagine that this would be an oil painting of sorts... in fact, I'm sure that I've seen this exact picture! The muted greens of Australia...
Likewise... with the burnt skeletons of dead trees.
Looking out from about halfway up... down the line between the War Memorial to Parliament House! One leg of the Triangle.
... and in a different direction, over Civic, the main town hub for Canberra.
It is quite amazing that Canberra was built up from what was essentially a field of paddocks to become Australia's capital ciy. A planned city, and a compromise between the largest colonies around Fereration.
From the top, looking out to the airport...
... and what got my oldest girl most excited, the IKEA! Meanwhile, the youngest was still pooping out by herself... and she missed out on getting an ice-cream from the snack van that was waiting at the summit! Sucks to have parents like us...
A weird beacon, but it is for aerial navigation... apparently, it is possible to see from Sydney! Probably from the air in Sydney... mostly likely not the ground!
With the explainer!
