Canberra for two months

[Libra]

Have reposted my original query from the Travel section. Any help from anyone very much appreciated:

Am off to Canberra for two months for work. Just me - DH and our sons (teen and uni student) will be fine, although my garden may never recover from the neglect.
What essentials do I need to pack?
I realise it will be cold (three winters in one year, hurrah!), but I live in northern Scotland so am kind of experienced in not having a summer.
Any advice about the really necessary things to take with me would be very gratefully accepted. Will be working rather than travelling / holidaying.

[Kantha]

I lived in Canberra for a year albeit 20 years ago. It will be chilly/frosty but no colder than a UK winter. So normal winter clothes will suffice. Do pack some warm weather stuff too. The main difference that I recall is that it will be sunny a lot more than the UK in winter. Lovely frosty sunny mornings. Sunglasses are a must. If you ski you can drive down to the Snowy Mountains from Canberra in a couple of hours and hit the slopes, so kit for that if you think it might appeal.

Canberra as a place is not very pedestrian friendly. It is set up on a satellite system of mini towns separated by bush. I was a student so mostly used the buses that weren't brilliant. If you can have access to a car that would make your life much easier.

Have a great trip.

[Libra]

Many thanks. I will be commuting to the university so will be on those buses I am afraid!
Will make note to pack sunglasses - it is exciting to learn that I may still see the sun even if it is not that warm.
Not really a skiing person, but am hopeful that I might be able to get to some wineries.

[Kantha]

It will be almost always sunny even in winter. I used to enjoy the days when it rained for the novelty. I seem to recall that you get quite a big temperature range in an single day in winter: so sub zero first thing then pleasantly warm by the afternoon. I can't remember where the nearest wineries are to Canberra. You may need to go further afield (Hunter Valley in NSW for example).

Will you be at ANU or UofC? If ANU that's more central to 'civic' the shopping centre/CBD. If Uof C then you will be opposite the school that I worked at, it's in Belconnen, so not as central. Canberra's a small place so no where is too far away.

A nice place to hang out is in Manuka - cafés and little shops. This is the 'posh' bit of Canberra if it can be said to have such a thing.

[SavoyCabbage]

You won't be cold outdoors if you are from northern Scotland! My dd was there last week for school and they made the dc take hats and gloves and the like and it was 15 degrees on average.

My dd said her friends were shivering and she didn't need her coat due to her living in the UK half her life. Some people her have never experienced cold weather.

It's not winter yet but still.

Inside it might be a different story. I would take slippers and a dressing down. That sort of thing.

[Libra]

I will be at UofC but am staying in Braddon, which I think is a bit more central?
I was wondering if there was likely to be central heating - the apartment information goes on about air conditioning and balconies, but there is no mention of central heating, which worries me a bit.

[stolemyusername]

I'm in Canberra. Just starting to get cooler here overnight, but usually pretty warm/pleasant by afternoon. Braddon is right next to the 'main' shopping areas so plenty of places to eat etc.

Air conditioning is usually a split system meaning it will pump out hot or cold air depending on what you want.

Buses aren't too bad, and you are pretty central. Are you in the Bruce UofC campus, if so there will be regular direct buses.

Feel free to message me if you need any more info, or just someone to grab a coffee with

[Libra]

Many thanks Stolemyusername - I have PM-d you.

[MrsDe]

I would say tights. Bring tights! The ones here are rubbish and very expensive.

[crabb]

Plenty of wineries around Canberra. Known for "cool climate" shiraz and Riesling. See www.canberrawines.com.au/
Braddon is very central and is undergoing a bit of a hipster revival - lots of places to eat and walking distance to the central shopping area (Civic). It will probably all seem a bit quiet compared to what you might think a capital city would be!

[LahLahsbigband]

Older places in Canberra have rubbish heating, Australian buildings don't respond well to the fact that it does, actually, get cold occasionally! Canberra winters are cold but clear with blue skies a lot of the time. There is also quite a healthy wine industry in the Canberra region, so never fear .

[LahLahsbigband]

New Acton is pretty fancy too - nearer the lake, great cinema, couple of posh cafes/bars. Canberra offers more and more every time I go there.