The Canberra Balloon Spectacular is a popular hot air balloon event that takes place annually each March in Canberra, Australia to celebrate Canberra Day. This event is one of the largest hot air balloon festivals in Australia, and it attracts thousands of visitors each year from around Australia and the world.

This year’s event took place between Saturday 11 March 2023 and Sunday 19 March 2023.

The Balloon Spectacular typically takes place over a period of nine days, and it features a range of colourful and unique hot air balloons from around the world.

This year’s feature hot air balloon was Buster the beagle, designed in the shape of a beagle dog, with floppy ears and cute face with his tongue hanging out and one tooth showing.

The balloon is owned and operated by Cameron Balloons, from Bristol, United Kingdom.

Buster the beagle has been used in various events and festivals around the world and can hold up to four passengers.

The Kiwi Balloon Team was there flying the happy smiley face.

The balloons take off from various spots around the city and float across the skyline of Canberra and provide a breathtaking view of the city. The event usually takes place early in the morning, with the balloons launching just before sunrise. The main launch site is the Patrick White Lawns beside the National Library of Australia. You can watch the balloons launch while listening to live music and eating breakfast provided Lions Clubs of Canberra or other food and drink stalls.

There are various vantage points around the city to view the balloons. The most popular locations include the lawns of the National Library of Australia, Telstra Tower, the National Museum of Australia, and the Arboretum. If you are lucky enough to get hold of a kayak or canoe, you can view the balloons from Lake Burley Griffin and may even be lucky enough to interact with a balloon or two as some of them lower to skim across the lake.

If you plan to fly in one of the balloons, you should book well in advance as places are booked out early.

This year I had the opportunity to experience the stunning display of colourful hot air balloons as they floated across this beautiful city.

You can purchase some photos from this event from the Shop photos page.

Sunday 24 February 2019 at Stage 88 near Regatta Point in Canberra was the setting for a fabulous day of friendship, music and fun. The temperature rose to the early 30s and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

There were two sections: the major section for everyone to put their picnic blankets and chairs and the smaller area for standing and dancing.

The line up was:

• Moving Pictures
• Chocolate Starfish
• Jon Stevens
• Screaming Jets
• Baby Animals
• the Angels, and
• Suzie Quatro.

The images above were taken an iphone 6 because I couldn’t take my Nokia in to the concert.

I recently had a fantastic opportunity at the National Zoo and Aquarium with Canon Collective to check out some of Canon’s zoom lenses. Using the 100–400ml and the 600ml lenses I was able to get some close images of the animals.

Thank you Canon Collective for another fantastic opportunity.

Raven / crow

Meere cat

To celebrate Waitangi Day the New Zealand High Commission hosted an event in Canberra/Queanbeyan, featuring the ACT Maori Performance Inc kapa haka group on Saturday 3 February 2018.

The official date for Waitangi Day is Tuesday 6 February 2018.

Along with good kiwi-style cooking (including hangi packs and afghan biscuits), there was beautiful singing and performances and fun activities for the kids including a lolly scramble.

The ACT Maori Performance Inc group performed some of the old favourites.

There will be another opportunity in the next few weeks to experience more Maori music at the Seventh Australian National Kapa Haka Festival at Exhibition Park, Canberra on 9 and 10 March 2018.

Waitangi Day is celebrated each year in New Zealand to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February 1840. This day is a public holiday in New Zealand.

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra, Waitangi National Reserve, New Zealand

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra, ACT Maori Performing Arts Inc kapa haka group

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra, ACT Maori Performing Arts Inc kapa haka group

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra, ACT Maori Performing Arts Inc kapa haka group

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra, ACT Maori Performing Arts Inc kapa haka group

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra, ACT Maori Performing Arts Inc kapa haka group

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra

ACT Maori Performing Arts Inc kapa haka group

ACT Maori Performing Arts Inc kapa haka group

ACT Maori Performing Arts Inc kapa haka group

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra, ACT Maori Performing Arts Inc kapa haka group

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra, ACT Maori Performing Arts Inc kapa haka group

Waitangi Day 2018, Canberra

ACT Maori Performing Arts Inc kapa haka group

ACT Maori Performing Arts Inc kapa haka group

On Thursday morning I received an amazing message from one of the Canberra Times journalists Sherryn Groch advising me that my image was on the front page of the Canberra Times. I feel very honoured and blessed that my image has appeared here. Thank you Sherryn Groch and Canberra Times for this great opportunity.

My image also appeared in the Canberra Times electronic version on Wednesday, along with my story. To read the full story of my little adventure taking these images, please go to my blog titled Great light show happening in the nation’s capital tonight.

On my way home tonight I saw a couple of little rays of lightning flash behind Parliament House in Canberra. So, I rushed home, grabbed my camera and tripod and set off to Parliament House.

When I got there, the sky was getting darker, but there were no flashes of lightning to be seen.

I decided to wait in my car for a while, and eventually saw some blanket lightning flash across other parts of the sky.

I decided not to waste the trip as the sky was quite lovely behind the flag.

So I got out of my car, grabbed my camera, lenses and tripod and sat in the middle of the damp grass (it must have just been watered because it was a very hot day) in the middle of the front of Parliament House.

Within five minutes I was eaten alive by mosquitos, which is weird because I’ve never seen mosquitos around there.

After nearly an hour and in the darkness I decided it was time to move on as there wasn’t going to be any more lightning tonight, and it was getting very windy. My camera was having difficulty taking still photos as the strap was swaying in the wind.

I got in my car and drove 500 metres or so to the little road behind Old Parliament House that looked up to the new Parliament House and decided to see if I could take some more photos with my car door protecting my camera from the wind.

I am sure glad I did.

During the next hour or so, I managed to grab a few photos over Parliament House.

I could tell it was going to be a big storm though. It sounded like a monster creeping up. He had with him one of his best friends, the light show which was getting brighter and more fierce.

I decided at just the right time to move on and go home. As soon as I put my camera in the car, drops of rain started falling on the windshield. I couldn’t get home quick enough to escape the monster and see what images I had managed to capture. Here are some of them.

I hope you enjoy them.

Parliament House, Canberra

Parliament House, Canberra

Lightning striking Parliament House, Canberra, Australia by Theresa Hall

Parliament House, Canberra

Parliament House, Canberra

On a recent visit to University House at the Australian National University last month, I discovered some very colourful wildlife living very happily around the venue.

There were large gold fish in the pond and some beautiful rosellas just outside. I nearly missed the rosellas. There were two of them. They were both sitting in a tree at around the height of my shoulders and happily nibbling on the fruits the tree was offering. They were both very happy for me to take their photos as they posed for me.

Fish, University House, ANU, Canberra

Fish, University House, ANU, Canberra

Fish, University House, ANU, Canberra

Rosella, University House, ANU, Canberra

Rosella, University House, ANU, Canberra

Rosella, University House, ANU, Canberra

Rosella, University House, ANU, Canberra

If you would like to purchase any of these images, please contact me.

On Saturday 6 January 2018 Paul Seaman’s son Jack competed against 30 other qualifiers in the Burnout Masters at Summernats in Canberra. He qualified for a one in ten spot at the Burnout Masters finals to be held on Sunday 7 January 2018.

Jack is from Wagga Wagga and is a member of the Riverina Thrashers.

Details of Jack’s vehicle:

• vehicle—1973 Holden HQ one tonner
• number plate—LOOSEQ
• engine—400ci small-block Chev, 6/71 blower
• power—1020hp.

Here are some photos of his achievement:

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

Jack Seaman, LOOSEQ

On 4 January 2018 some of the Summernats’ chosen ones cruised from Exhibition Park down Northbourne Avenue into the city of Canberra and then back to the home of Summernats at Exhibition Park.

Every year on the first day of Summernats this cruise takes place.

Here are some images of the vehicles that took part in the cruise.

More to come.

Summernats cruise – 2happy

Summernats cruise – thelma

Summernats cruise – ykx79p

Summernats cruise – 77specl

Summernats cruise – icrz2

Summernats cruise – my01hj

Summernats cruise – 34koop, vintage orange vehicle driving up Northbourne Avemue, Canberra, Australia by Theresa Hall.

Summernats cruise

Summernats cruise – bazzas

Although Summernats 2018 doesn’t officially start until later today, driving around the city last night offered an amazing view of what to expect over the next four days in the nation’s capital, Canberra.

Here are some images that I took last night while driving home through the city.

77781h – Holden ute

76485h – Ford Mustang

0781sr – Austin Lancer

yenko8

tuf72q – GTS

falky

48heap – Chev ute

hornie1e

hornie1e

hornie1e

hornie1e

To purchase any of these images, please contact me.

Celebrations in the nation’s capital on New Year’s Eve 2017 certainly offered a variety for locals.

There were a variety of bands and djs around the city offering a wide choice in music.

The local bars and clubs also offered their own style of music.

Basically, Canberra was pumping. Everywhere you turned, there was something to participate in by either just being there and experiencing it to actively dancing and getting involved.

Here are some images from the evening.

London Circuit, Canberra

London Circuit, Canberra

London Circuit, Canberra

London Circuit, Canberra

London Circuit, Canberra

London Circuit, Canberra

Cube nightclub, Canberra

Canberra

London Circuit, Canberra

King O’Malley’s, Canberra

Fireworks – king size doona cover

Brushed polyester printed topside. Soft cotton/polyester white underside. Concealed zipper opening and internal insert ties for easy assembly. Machine wash cold on gentle cycle. For best results, use a mild detergent. Doona insert not included. King size: 264cm x 224cm. Includes postage.

A$230.00

Fireworks – clock

Modern printed polypropylene face without plexiglass. Bamboo wood frame painted white. White hands. Quartz clock mechanism (AA battery not included). Built in hook at back for easy hanging. Postage included.

A$65.00

If you visit Canberra, one of the places to visit is the arboretum. It was created after a bushfire ran through part of the city in 2003. The land previous to the bushfires contained mainly pine trees.

The arboretum contains more than 48,000 trees over 250 hectares (620 acres) of mini woods, lanscaped gardens, picnic spots, playgrounds and public art. There are around 100 mini forests containing rare trees from around the world and there is a special space for a bonsai garden.

It is a beautiful place to visit.

Here are some images that I have taken around the arboretum.

Inside one of the buildings at the Arboretrum, Canberra, Australia.

Canberra

Eagle nest sculpture at sunrise at the Arboretrum, Canberra, Australia.

Wide brown land by Theresa Hall.

Canberra

Looking over the Arboretrum, towards Telstra Tower, Canberra, Australia.

Canberra

Wide brown land, clock

Clock with natural bamboo frame and white hands. Includes postage. Quartz clock mechanism (AA battery not included). Built in hook at back for easy hanging.

$65.00

Raven in front of moon

Natural bamboo frame with white hands. Includes postage. Quartz clock mechanism (AA battery not included). Built in hook at back for easy hanging.

$65.00