Pan Pacific Melbourne: REVIEW

Pac Pacific Melbourne is now officially my go to place when in Melbourne.

And with good reason. It's central, welcoming, the beds are super comfy, the staff are next level lovely, and... on floor number four is where I spent my evenings unwinding from the day, before heading out on round two of exploring this cosmopolitan city.

You know when people ask you where you'd like to live if you didn't live in your city?

For me, my Melbourne has my heart. In fact, trip number two this month is imminent.

A pivotal part of any stay, irrespective of what you are doing while you are there, is the place your rest your weary head, and how it recharges you.

Pan Pacific now represents this for me. And I will be forever recommending it to friends who travel to Melbourne. Or, to my friends who live in Victoria and seek a staycation.

Just look at this beauty:

With expansive views across the banks of the Yarra River, in the heart of Melbourne, this luxury hotel houses 396 guest rooms and suites, the easiest parking facilities I have experienced at a hotel (no honking horns on a busy CBD street), an in-hotel bar and restaurant, and a 24-hour fitness centre.

The beds!

Do you judge a hotel by their beds and their pillow menu? Superficial me does!

It's not so shallow when you think about it - how you rest, and how luxe you feel when you start your day as a visitor to another city sets the tone for the rest of the day.

And Pac Pacific Melbourne does that for you. It rests the soul - and your tired feet - and I really believe it's worth the extra dollars when travelling so you leave feeling like, yes... that was a break, and that WAS a departure from my every day.

Just look at this bathroom view... (I take a bath when I stay at any hotel, and this one is quite literally next level...):

In line with the Aussie tourism slogan of 'Holiday Here This Year', Pan Pacific Melbourne started a campaign last year inviting Melbourne locals, regional residents and interstate travellers alike to enjoy a well-earned break in one of the city’s favourite hotels.

I can see why. It's centrally located to the biggest, and best value luxe shopping experience attached to it: DFO is a stroll away, actually adjacent to the hotel.

So, we are talking Furla to Armani to Cotton On to Windsor Smith. On your doorstep, no cabs or walking far to lug bags of luxury shopping. It's the little things that elevate your travel experience, isn't it? 

And... the restaurants! A minute walk away you are surrounded by Melbourne's best: cafes, restaurants, bars, and venues along the South Wharf Promenade, Melbourne casino and the City Centre.

I love to pop in to my eternal Melb fave Thai restaurant Bang Pop, and there are various drinking haunts right next door, so you don't have to go far for a fab feed and drinks. Skip the cab or drive, and have an extra drink, not a worry.

Of course, if you want to go even closer... take the lift to level FOUR inside the hotel!

Here you will find Pacific Club Lounge. Click HERE for more.

It's your private pit stop, with gorgeous views of the city skyline.

It's included in your stay at Pan Pacific Melbourne, and here is what you'll have access to:

• Pacific Club Lounge is open from Monday to Friday, 6.30am to 9.00pm and Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays, 7:00am to 9:00pm
• Guests age 12 years old and under are welcome at Pacific Club Lounge before 5.30pm. (Additional charges apply for children between the ages of six to 12 years old. Children below the age of six years old can access the Pacific Club Lounge at no additional charge).
• Bar services outside of cocktail hour and those not included in club priviledges are chargeable.
• (*All prices quoted are subject to 10% service charge and 7% government tax).

The large sectioned room gives you the privacy to read the paper and go back and forth on a buffet style brekkie, or enjoy the generous snacks and little plates of delicious morsels like octopus, gnocchi, a cheese board, desserts, and of course drinks. All complimentary, which is a generous part of your stay.

And the food in-house at Pan Pacific Melbourne is incredible, too!

In March 2022, Pan Pacific Melbourne announced the appointment of Deepak Mishra as its new Director of Food & Beverage & Culinary Operations.

David Tonkin, Pan Pacific Hotels Group Cluster General Manager – Melbourne, said of this exciting appointment:

“As Melbourne welcomes back an ever-expanding number of travellers and tourists from both here and abroad, Deepak offers us a wellspring of invaluable – and much needed, experience. He has led culinary teams at some of the industry’s leading hotels right around the world and has a proven track record of delivering innovative and impressive results. He’s the perfect person to redefine and invigorate our food and beverage offering.”

Born on the East coast of India, Deepak trained in classical French cooking, acquiring his professional skills from the Institute of Hotel and Catering Management in India and William Angliss Institute of TAFE/Culinary Academy Melbourne. Moving to Melbourne in the formative stage of his career, Deepak subsequently burnished his skills and culinary repertoire working in some of the world’s most vibrant countries including Singapore, United Arab Emirates and India. 

His new role at Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s flagship Australian property marks something of a return to the fold, having previously worked at both the PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport and Singapore’s PARKROYAL Collection on Pickering, now sporting a CV that has spanned across more than two decades.

Recognised for his innovative approach in presenting a diverse globally influenced cuisine infused with local flavours and ingredients, Deepak’s culinary creations are always passionately backed by his mantra of ‘Passion and Perfection’. His menus continue to push the boundaries while celebrating seasonal, local produce. All of this will stand him in good stead as he oversees the ongoing transformation of Pan Pacific Melbourne’s current food and beverage offering.

When you stay, ensure your daily ritual at Pan Pacific includes visiting Dock 37 Bar & Kitchen, where you'll experience Deepak's culinary skills.

And, just look at this beauty!

See more info HERE.

Described as a "contemporary dining experience at the 2019 Best Restaurant of the Year (Hotel Category), and awarded by the Restaurant and Catering Awards, it's enriched with divine dishes highlighting Australia's fresh local produce awaits you at Dock 37 Bar & Kitchen, one of the best wine bars in Melbourne."

You can explore the magnificent walk-through wine gantry, which is suspended above the bar, housing an exceptional cellar of over 500 wines. Wine buffs, this place is for you.

The bar also serves the perfect settingto enjoy delicious light meals accompanied by signature cocktails, and a large selection of beers and wines.

The menu offering includes a classic cacio e pepe, a cuttlefish ink pasta, a Gippsland Angus steak, a margherita pizza, and a lovely food partnership with local That's Amore cheese and Australian Artisan Salumi, which manifests with menu items including a locally sourced wagyu bresaola from Western Victorian wagyu cattle, and a delicious fiore di burrata.

Next time we're there, we are trying everything on the menu!

Including the tiramisu, and the handmade tartufo.

I love that they also have a 'feed us Nonna' menu! As an Italian Australian, I'd go for this. It's $65 pp and perfect for you and a buddy - some Italian faves included, with pizza and pasta to share and a cheeky dessert, and more.

The opening hours are:

Breakfast – full buffet:
Monday to Friday 6.30am to 10.30am
Saturday to Sunday 6.30am to 11.am

À la carte dinner: authentic Italian cusine 

Bar:
Monday to Sunday 4pm til late, with a bar snack menu available

In-room dining:
Find out more and view the In Room Dining Menus on this link.

Pan Pacific Melbourne have tapped into our desire to stay local, or at least travel within our fair country, with their tailored Urban Escape package.

It's the ideal couples’ or best friend's getaway, offering up a chance for you and your fun plus one to holiday like true city-siders. Enjoy a bottle of sparkling wine and artisan chocolate on arrival (loved this, my fave part of arriving), plus breakfast for two the following morning in the hotel’s restaurant or café.

Prices start from just $335 per couple, and the package includes:
- Overnight luxury accommodation
- Breakfast for two adults in the hotel’s restaurant or café.
- Complimentary bottle of Chandon Brut NV Sparkling Wine and artisan chocolate from the Ministry of Chocolate on arrival

There is also free WiFi, huge TVs in the main bedroom and living area, and savings on self-parking at DFO Shopping Centre located just next door.

This is applicable for stays from 26 October 2021 right through to 30 December 2022!

For more information or to book, visit this link.

Of course, getaways also lend themselves to school holidays, and I hand on heart LOVE nothing more than a hotel stay and exploring my city or a city interstate with my family, or with just my daughter and I.

Shopping and exploring and being silly and ordering room service are our thing when we have a mini stay - we live for it! I can't tell you how fun and bonding the whole experience can be, and next time we are hopping on a plane and doing it in Melbourne at Pan Pacific (again, DFO shopping next door, no jumping on trams or in cabs, perfect!).

In line with this, Pan Pacific Melbourne have introduced the Ultimate Family Staycation package.

You can choose treat the whole family to an unforgettable overnight stay in a two bedroom bay view suite?

During the day, you can visit South Wharf’s many attractions including Melbourne Aquarium, Eureka Skydeck and the new LUME Melbourne, and know that you'll just be a stroll away when the kids get tired. Heaven!

At night, settle into your suite, unwind and watch a complimentary in-room movie of your choice, while indulging in Connoisseur ice cream and a family-sized bucket of fresh popcorn to share!

Priced from just $585, the package includes:

- Accommodation in a two bedroom bay view suite for 2 adults and 2 children
- Breakfast for 2 adults in the hotel’s restaurant or café. Children under 12 years accompanied by a paying adult dine for free
- Complimentary 1-litre tub of Connoisseur ice cream and family sized bucket of popcorn delivered to your room
- One movie of your choice from the in-house movies on demand system

Free WiFi and complimentary self-car parking at DFO Shopping Centre, too!

This is applicable for stays from 26 October 2021 right through to 30 December 2022!

(All offers are subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply).

For more information or to book, visit this link.

And lastly, more of that view, and the surrounds of Pan Pacific Melbourne:

More about Pan Pacific Hotels Group:

Pan Pacific Hotels Group is a member of Singapore-listed UOL Group Limited, one of Asia’s most established hotel and property companies with an outstanding portfolio of investment and development properties.

Based in Singapore, Pan Pacific Hotels Group owns and/or manages more than 50 hotels, resorts and serviced suites including those under development in 31 cities across Asia, Oceania, North America and Europe.

Voted “Best Regional Hotel Chain” by readers in Asia from 2017 to 2020, Pan Pacific Hotels Group comprises three brands: Pan Pacific, PARKROYAL COLLECTION, and PARKROYAL.

Sincerity is the hallmark of Pan Pacific Hotels Group. The Group is known to its guests, partners, associates and owners for its sincerity in people and the sense of confidence which alleviates the stresses of today’s complex world.

Josie's Juice was kindly provided with a complimentary stay at Pan Pacific Melbourne.

Taste Food Tours: REVIEW

Want to live like a local and know the secret spots to eat and get your freshest groceries?

The long-running Taste Tours is your little foodie friend.

I experienced a Taste Tour for the first time around ten years ago, and I finally went back for more recently.

On a warm Sunday morning I headed over to the suburb of Cabramatta (which took all of five minutes; I am lucky to live 'out west') and I took heed of the cautionary 'leave enough time to find parking' tip, as Cabramatta is absolutely notorious for grid lock traffic and limited parking at any time, though especially on a Sunday when families are doing their food shopping, going our for yum cha, and enjoying their time doing Sunday things.

There are parking stations but even getting there is futile as the line up is huge, so my insider tip is to park in a residential street, and walk. It'll cost nothing, and you will be so grateful for your escape when the tour is over.

Onto the actual tour!

My best advice before you event start is: come hungry!

If your tour has a morning start, don't even bother with breakfast.

That's what I did and I was still SO FULL by the end.

The thing about doing a taste tour is that you get to absolutely immerse yourself in the suburb, the people, the culture, and the very heartbeat of the place you are visiting.

Want to know where to shop, to get the cheapest possible groceries?

Doing one of these tours means that you get the insider tips from people in the know.

And when your tour director takes you to visit all the food stops, you will meet the people behind the business and get the backstory like never before, and you'd likely not get the opportunity to do so if you were simply dropping in unannounced.

If you're that foodie in your friendship group and want to be able to recommend delicious food spots as someone who has genuinely experienced it, this is yet another reason to take part in a Taste Tour.

Here is more about the tour Taste of Vietnam - straight from their website:

• Enjoy classic Vietnamese dishes, banh mi, pho, banh xeo, Cafe sua da, sugarcane juice, and much more. Healthful deliciousness.
• Discover the sights, sounds, scents & shopping that are part of a bustling authentic Vietnamese market town experience, without the airfare.
• Generous local food specialty tastings at cafes, restaurants and shops. Food equivalent to a generous meal (or more). Arrive hungry!
• Knowledgeable local guide will share the colourful history & stories of Cabramatta, and recomendations for future visits.
• Medium easy walking through crowds. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available (just let us know ahead of time!)

What I have always loved about a Taste Tour is the variety of cuisines on offer, the value for money, and just how satisfied you feel post event - your belly is full, and each vendor feels validated and lovely... who doesn't want to tell their story, and have a captive audience listen and understand their whole journey.

Beautiful!

A Taste Tour is also an EXCELLENT gift for the person who has everything... or simply someone you know will appreciate a gift with a difference.My 'Taste of Vietnam' your in Cabramatta was 3.5 hours long, and costs: $99 for adults, $89 for concession, and a Youth ticket is $79 (for ages 12-18), while a child ticket is $55 (ages 5-11).

See all the current Taste Tours on offer here: www.tastetours.com.au

Reflections Holiday Park, Lennox Head: REVIEW

When you're traveling - especially with family - a hotel is nice, though a place to rest your head that feels and looks like a little home away from home is ideal, especially when it's a long road trip where you spend a substantial chunk of time in the car.

And while one of my kids is beyond the age of "are we there yet" (the other still asks, as his concept time of time is different to his sister's), it's nice to get out of the car and leave the iPad and headphones and snacks behind and surround yourself with a place that looks like a home.

My kids are indoor kids, more than the outdoors-y type.

They are home bodies like me, not necessarily adventure seekers, though will give a hike a go and subsequently love it.

On this trip I travelled with my son and daughter (12 year old twins, my son with autism), as well as some family friends... all in one car!

Yes, we survived it! In fact, I would go as far as saying we thrived on it. It turned out to be a fun, bonding experience, and three adults meant designated drivers could be swapped hourly if needed.

As a family, we'd experienced holiday parks several years before: we took a campervan for a run to a NSW holiday park, and plugged into power and our allotted spot, and enjoyed the facilities, though we'd not stayed inside a holiday park cabin, and after this experience we are now holiday park converts.

So what's the attraction?

The most obvious one is an immediate sense of community you feel when you drive in to a holiday park. In the case of the one we stayed at, you park your car right next to you door, unload, and you can prep a meal in your kitchenette, enjoy it on your deck, and smell the ocean while sitting on your outdoor furniture.

We stayed at Reflections Holiday Park, at Lennox Head and it was an excellent first proper experience of a holiday park.

This absolute gem is right near the beach (yes, actual walking distance to the beach) and is surrounded by residential streets, a coffee shop, and a base to have sand between your toes within minutes.

Lennox Head is a seaside village in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia, situated on the stretch of coast between Byron Bay and Ballina in Ballina Shire local government area.

It shouldn't be a drive through spot, instead an actual destination.

Arriving from a stop at The Farm in Byron, Reflections housed us in two cute villas, which we were told had just been renovated.

This stay came at the tail end of our one week journey through NSW and into QLD, and it was a welcome pit stop to before we headed back to Sydney.

Ample space, comfy beds, living and dining rooms/kitchen, and the friendliest staff. 

The morning we were to check out we grabbed a bucket, went for a stroll, and landed fresh pippies we caught ourselves.

We fried them up with chilli and garlic for a breakfast of champions we enjoyed on our sun drenched deck.

We'd take this kind of stay over a hotel when doing a road trip any day.

This Lennox Head location is dog friendly (they have dog friendly cabins), and there are BBQ facilities, a camp kitchen, laundry facilities, plus wifi, and a shop for basics.

In a holiday park you can: be on the ground, feel the green grass under your feet, open the sliding door and smell the fresh air.

You can't do that staying in a city hotel where can feel a tad isolated from the world (and sure, sometimes you want that), and putting on pants, taking the lift to go downstairs to get food or go for a walk can feel like a chore.

Reflections Holiday Parks in general are located next to some of the most iconic beaches, inland dams and landmarks across NSW.

The clever folks there have created these holiday spots in breathtaking locations, and the Lennox Head location as well as all the Reflections spots offer accommodation options ranging from sites, ensuite sites, beach tents and cabins, all close to, or adjoining some of our Australia's pristine reserves.

Hooked. We reckon you will be too!

Josie's Juice stayed as a guest at Reflections Holiday Parks Lennox Head.

For more information, click HERE.

Canberra: Family Trip TRAVEL REVIEW

Canberra!

Have you been to our nation's capital?

If not, you simply must.

If you have a terribly outdated idea that Canberra is 'boring' stop reading!

Actually, keep reading! It's the best thing you could do as a Sydney-ite as this Australian city has so much to offer, and it's under two hours away.

We, and by we I mean my family and a fellow blogger's family in tow, visited Canberra in October and fit in much as we could in a matter of days.

Think: Cockington Green Gardens, Questacon, Floriade, National Zoo and Aquarium, National Arboretum Canberra.

The National Arboretum Canberra is something to see! Not part of our schedule, we kinda stumbled across it while driving past.

It's here you can actually see "the forest for the trees", with its 94 forests of rare, endangered and symbolic trees from Australia and around the world.

We loved that we could drive up the breathtaking, winding driveway and park, then walk right into the Arboretum, grab a table (try to get one as close as possible to that fabulous view,  although each table has a 360 degree view of the vast expanse of trees), peruse the menu and grab a delicious bite to eat (there is something for all, young palates and more refined palates), then stroll to the large kids 'Pod Playground' just outside, or stay inside the awe inspiring Arboretum structure and have wine and dessert.

You can walk through, drive in, cycle about, or even horse-ride around the 250 hectare site. You’ll be gobsmacked at all its beauty, including the living artworks in the National Bonsai and Penjing collection. 

You can enjoy a free guided and self-guided tours, loads of interactive displays, outdoor sculptures, or pack a picnic to enjoy an outdoor meal with some of the most spectacular views in our capital city.

Download their 'augmented reality' app and listen to soundscapes, interesting stories about the trees, and holograms featuring stories about a fire fighter, harpist, landscape architect, Ngunnawal man, volunteer guide and bonsai artist.

Here is a video round up:

And now, the zoo!

The National Zoo and Aquarium is possibly THE best zoo I have been to.

It's just ten minutes drive from the city (EVERYTHING is easy to navigate and get to in and around Canberra), and it proved a big hit with big and little people.

The zoo itself is super easy to get around, and all its all in the way they've planned out the zoo - it's a clear path between sections and the most popular animals like the majestic lion and the funny meerkats - and you can enjoy the opportunity to help feed animals (including meerkats!), 

AND: it's Australia’s only combined zoo and aquarium. You guys, it's SO good. Families, singles, bunches of friends, first dates, grandparents' days out - it's perfect for all, especially because of way it's set out, and how easy it is to get from A to B.

The zoo and adjoining aquarium is only 10 minutes’ drive from the city, you can go behind-the-scenes at the National Zoo & Aquarium.

You can try: a Zooventure, Family or Walk on the Wildside tour. You can help feed animals, handfeed a giraffe or bear, and at kids over the age of 12 can do the Meet-a-Cheetah encounter and pat a cheetah.

You could also experience a stay overnight here! THE ultimate stay for animal lovers, we saw the precinct from afar and know that you are right in the middle of it all. So fun - imagine waking up to that. Here is more on that: http://www.jamalawildlifelodge.com.au/your-experience/

Seriously, get to the zoo as soon as you can! If the last time you went was as a child, and you're not sure you can find interest in looking at animals, no matter how cute, you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you'll enjoy it, just as we did.

Next up, Australian Institute of Sport, Cockington Green Gardens and Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre.

Best tip straight up: buy the 3 In Fun pass to get access to all three of the above - AND this means you save more than 25% on the usual price.

And guess what: the 3infun ticket also offers a FREE return visit to one of the participating attractions! Yes.

Yes, before you head to the mini manicured gardens, consider this: the 3infun ticket gets you all THREE attractions:

Australian Institute of Sport, the delightful miniature world of Cockington Green Gardens, or 200 (YES!) exhibits and experiences at Questacon - it's ALL available with ONE pass.

The 3infun ticket lets you save more than 25% on the usual price. PLUS, and I love this, 3infun is offering a FREE return visit to one of the participating attractions. So, go back and  revisit any of the three attractions for FREE!

For more on this 3infun ticket, click HERE.

Another tip: call ahead at Australian Institute of Sport and ask when they are able to host you. The AIS is open daily, but tour times are specific.

Listed on the site, the times are: 10am, 11:30am, 1pm and 2:30pm

Tours are closed only on Good Friday, Christmas and Boxing Day, and New Years Day.

The AIS is Australia's premier elite sports precinct, which attracts 200,000 visitors from Australia and overseas.  

Set amongst 65 hectares of native bushland, the AIS offers an insight into Australia's sporting past and shows what our nation is capable of from a sporting perspective.

Like seemingly everything in Canberra, it's only minutes from the CBD, with plenty of free car and coach parking.

Here you can get a sense of what it takes for a high perfomance athlete to make it, with a behind-the-scenes tour of the AIS, where the country's best athletes train.

It's located at Leverrier Street, Bruce and you call for more info here: 02 6214 1444, or go to: www.ausport.gov.au

Here's a video on what the AIS has to offer:

With the tour of the AIS - an award-winning guided 90-minute tour - you even might catch some of Australia's top athlete's in training!

Here you can also challenge yourself in Sportex, one of Australia's leading interactive sports exhibits, set amongst a unique collection of Australian sporting memorabilia - this is part of every AIS Tour. You can even give wheelchair basketball, virtual downhill skiing, rock climbing, football penalty shootouts and much more a red hot go.  

You can also dive into the world-class AIS aquatic and fitness centre which offers both 50-metre and 25-metre heated pools in an indoor complex, plus there is a fully equipped gym with the latest fitness equipment and a range of unique fitness and group training sessions, or you can even hire an experienced personal trainer at the AIS. Fees apply: check the website for times and session and pool availability.

Onto Cockington Green Gardens! One of my fave parts of Canberra!

No way is this miniature world just for littlies, instead it's most definitely for big and little kids.

Created by Doug and Brenda Sarah, Cockington Green Gardens is a family owned and operated attraction, with four generations involved in it’s operation over the past 35 years. It opened to the public in 1979, and has won an Australian Tourism Award and many local tourism industry awards. And you can see why! Step into the world of Cockington Green Gardens and immediately you are transported to another land - a whimsical, very green, perfectly manicured mini world of miniature trains and gardens and immaculately kept flower beds.

Step into Cockington Green Gardens and be seriously dazzled by the attention to detail in each and every section of every themed, manicured garden, completed with doll like elements which genuinely fascinate and engage people of all ages who visit. Our group was two sets of adults and fours kids if varying age, and we were all enthralled and engaged the WHOLE time.

Cockington Green Gardens always has something to see: it's constantly growing with the popular addition of the international display area, which complements the original English Village and the established gardens.

You can also pop into the Rose Room indoor exhibition, featuring ‘Waverley’ a 34 room Dolls House, or have a coffee in the Parsons Nose Garden Café, or bring a picnic lunch.

Don't forgo the cute miniature steam train ride, which goes right around the international display, giving you a complete, leisurely total view of the whole attraction. Awesome fun for young and old!

Here is more on Cockington Green Gardens: http://www.cockingtongreen.com.au

And of course, there is Floriade.

Floriade is now in its decades' long run in Canberra, and is a leisurely way to see flowers in season and clever and beautiful flower installations, for both young and old.

It is set on a huge expanse of land alongside the iconic Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra’s Commonwealth Park, and has been there since its beginnings in 1988, when Peter Sutton and his colleague, landscape designer Chris De Bruine, developed a proposal for a grand floral display to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary and Canberra’s 75th birthday.

Well! Hasn't it grown since! Josie's Juice went along to the very first Floriade that year with nature loving mamma in tow, and it has changed markedly since then, growing bigger and better each year.

There are stunning floral displays of exotic bulbs and annuals, which thrive in Canberra’s cool climate. Every single year, more than one million blooms (yes, over ONE MILLION!) are on show to create a stunning backdrop to a month-long festival filled with music, cultural celebrations, horticultural workshops, artistic displays, entertainment and recreational activities.

Floriade runs from mid-September to mid-October and attracts almost half a million attendees each year.

While Floraide has free entry for adults and kids, it's advised that families bring some money along for the kiddie rides and of course food, if you like. Or, BYO sandwiches and drinks.

So, where did we rest our heads?

We stayed at the Breakfree Canberra, which is situated at 2 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra.

An older style hotel complex, it has all you need for a family stay with all the amenities you need, lots of room, the opportunity to cook for yourself and your guests, centrally located and a short stroll to shops, Floriade (when it's on in Spring each year - allow for around 15 minutes from your hotel), and cafes and restaurants.

The hotel has a partnership with Bicicletta Restaurant (around five or so minutes away) and here you can  eat your hotel brekkie (there is no other restaurant offering at the hotel), and it is DELICIOUS and has that 'thing' many restaurants around this precinct have: the cool factor. Anyone who rattles of that antiquated notion that Canberra is uncool should be MADE to come here. Cafes buzzing with excellent coffee, a park with shipping containers set up as food truck heaven, and just a cool vibe.

Back to the hotel. Reasonably priced (click HERE for rates), here are some photos of the different room variations the hotel offers:

 And some snaps from my @josiegags Instagram account:

The view from our hotel, Breakfree:

And read more HERE.

To see more and read more about what Canberra has to offer, click HERE.

Want to know where Canberra's most Instagrammable locations are? Visit Canberra has a link for that too! CLICK HERE.

Make Canberra your next family, couple, or solo destination. We think you will love it!

Josie's Juice blog was a guest of Visit Canberra, looking after our passes for each precinct. Josie's Juice was a paid guest at the Breakfree Hotel, Canberra.