quoll

You have to leave the hotel to see people LOL

There are usually plenty of people around but if your hotel was in Barton and it was the weekend, then, no you wont see too many, like the City of London is dead at the weekend as well.

it's far from dull, I dont know why people get that impression! Some times of year are better than others but you cant move in the place come Floriade, Canberra Festival, multicultural festival, Summernats, Folk Festival, Skyfire etc etc.

Bermudashorts

We left the hotel, I said we only saw people when we were in the hotel, i.e. the streets were deserted. Not sure if we were in Barton or not (never heard of it), we stayed at the Hyatt.

zultan

The Hyatt is kind of removed from the rest of the city...

louH

Lived there for a few years, it certainly was not for me. I found it dull, insular, cold, completely lacking in diversity (i could go on).

On the upside, good for cycling, a couple of great public swimming pools...give me a while, I am sure I can come up with at least one other positive......

Kate D

I've been there for a few weekends (in-laws live there). On paper, it's well designed, functional, wonderful art galleries, musuems, pedestrian/bicycle friendly, etc, etc. But it has no soul. None. A friend of mine described it as the Milton Keynes of Australia. That about summed it up: well designed, on paper there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. And yet, it still has no soul! To me, soul is an ambience, a coffee culture, a feel, an atmosphere, a chill out zone. Milton Keynes and Canberra somehow don't tick the boxes...

Sorry if you live in Canberra or MK...

DeadVim

Soul is somehow related, even distantly, to the consumption of what is, invariably, overpriced coffee?

Milton Keynes has a Bowl, I saw Guns And Roses there, happy days.

zultan

what exactly is a coffee culture? I am amazed at the obsession Canberrans have for coffee - and the number of different coffee bars they seem to frequent.

Also, I see your in Rhodes.. I was in Rhodes this week. Taxi from my house to airside at Canberra airport 22 minutes. Flight time from Canberra to Sydney 25 minutes. Time spent in taxi from Kingsford-Smith to Concord Rd, Rhodes? 1h 20m and a charge of $96. Madness!

Budawang

I never understood why more migrants don't come here. It has the highest incomes in the country, the most educated population, Australia's best university, an excellent public school system, a healthy climate, beaches and skiing within 2.5 hours drive, great infrastructure, beautiful countryside nearby, COSTCO, an easy weekend drive to Sydney, a growing population and lots of jobs. My frequent weekend trips to Sydney (for that big city fix) make me realise that I can have the best of both worlds.

The issue of the Australian Citizenship requirement does turn some people off, but this place has to be a paradise for tradies or anyone servicing all those public servants, pollies, diplomats and academics.

bcworld

From my visits it just seems very sterile and bland - purely personal opinion of course. I've always thought it could be a great place for clean living people who enjoy powerwalking around lakes at 5am. It's certainly not for me!

commonwealth

and certainly no gay clubs...

zultan

'cept this one: http://cubenightclub.com.au/

Budawang

Canberra's well know for its vice.

http://www.vixen.com.au/parties/party.asp?state=ACT

commonwealth

omg that's a swingers site! you will be banned for life!

Budawang

Nothing very saucy on it though.

DeadVim

Extremist views too ...