On the long drive from Sydney to Canberra in the ACT lies one of the best sights in NSW. Where the line between the blue sky and the water of Lake George blur to what looks like a a renaissance painting.
Lake George is a beautiful spot just 40 minutes drive north of Canberra. It’s also an ephemeral lake, meaning it fills and empties without warning, leaving behind a vast, flat stretch of grazing land. In my 20 years of driving to Canberra it’s looked different every time I’ve been down there.
It was named by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1820, but Aboriginal people had been living in the area for thousands of years, calling it “Weereewa,” or “place of bad waters”. In the 1960s, the lake was even a popular spot for swimming, boating, and sailing, with paddle steamers and regattas drawing crowds from all over.
There’s not too much action out on the Lake these days, but it’s still a great piece of Australian history.
There’s a few great spots to pull over and stretch your legs or to take a picture before you hit Canberra. But just be on the lookout for some classic Australian wildlife as I got a little to close to this little guy for my liking.
I’m not sure if he was just enjoying the scenery, but I moved quicker than Carl Lewis to get back to the safety of my car once we made eye contact.
But it’s a great location and well worth pulling over before you hit the National Capital.
Til next time!
Chris
Chasing Light by Chris Lane 