It’s mid-August, are you looking for advice on what to do next to keep busy until the warmer months come around?
Here is how we suggest you spend the rest of your August weekends in the capital.
Get Fancy Under Candlelight
If you haven’t been to one of the Candlelight concerts yet, you’re sleeping on one of the atmospheric highlights of the season. Picture this: a historic Canberra space bathed in the glow of thousands of candles, with a live string quartet playing everything from classic Hans Zimmer soundtracks to Taylor Swift. It is moody, warm, and the ultimate excuse to look civilized without having to stand in a freezing outdoor queue.
Warm Up from the Inside Out at Verity Lane
When the group chat can’t decide on dinner because everyone is too cold to think, just point them toward Verity Lane Market in Civic. It’s got that cozy, tucked-away food hall energy where you can grab a steaming bowl of ramen, some spicy dumplings, or a woodfired pizza, and wash it down with a heavy red at the bar. Plus, you’re safely shielded from that brutal Alinga Street wind tunnel.
Sniff Out the Last of the Truffles
We are at the absolute tail end of truffle season, Canberra. This is your final call to go tramping through the frosty dirt in Majura to watch incredibly clever dogs locate black gold. If you’ve never done a truffle hunt, it’s surprisingly thrilling. And let’s be honest, the real victory is the decadent, truffle-laden feast at the end. Get in before the season wraps up for the year, or face twelve months of culinary FOMO.
Embrace the Freeze on the Ice
Look, if you can’t beat the cold, you might as well lean directly into it. Dust off your thickest socks and head out for a spin on the ice. Whether you glide gracefully like an Olympian or spend most of your time clinging to the plastic penguin helper for dear life (no judgment, we’ve all been there), it’s a classic winter rite of passage. Just promise us you’ll secure a giant hot chocolate immediately afterward.
Sip Fireside Reds in NewActon
If physical activity in the cold sounds like too much work, we have a much lazier, highly sophisticated alternative. Head over to NewActon and claim a spot by the fire at Monster Kitchen & Bar. Sinking into a velvet armchair with a glass of local Canberra District Shiraz while watching the wind howl outside is peak winter cozy.
