IT IS early spring at Canberra. Earlier, the train that I took from Sydney passed shallow gorges, farmland and a length of hills cloaked with trees that were just starting to bud.

Standing at the edge of Lake Burley Griffith, taking in the sight of the mirrored waters and the crisp air, there is just something so incredibly pristine about the scene that it finally makes sense why this spot was chosen in 1913 to be Australia's capital.

City of blooms
The first time I was in Canberra was for Floriade, Canberra's annual celebration of spring. From mid-September to mid-October each year, Commonwealth Park staggers under a bewildering exuberance of colours, as families, nature lovers and out-of-towners revel at the Southern Hemisphere's largest flower and entertainment festival.

This year's Floriade "themed Carnivale" will feature blooms and themes picked from around the world, complete with Japanese gardens, fields of demure Dutch tulips, a whiff of Italian blooms, and carnival rides and activities for young and old.

From past to present
At the National Museum of Australia, I watched generations gather for an engaging interactive tour through the country's past and its many-coloured cultural landscapes.

The five permanent galleries showcase Australia's emotional heart - its indigenous peoples, national symbols and environmental history, using state-of-the-art multimedia displays.

Science in motion
Onwards to Questacon at the National Science and Technology Centre, I indulged my inner child. Children oohed and ahhed as animatronics engineering brought dinosaurs to life. I was grateful I had skipped breakfast as I did a free fall down a near-vertical slide.

With simulated roller-coaster rides and lighting bolts to tackle, by the time I arrived to experience a simulated earthquake, I was caught in the grip of an adrenaline rush.

Shine in sports
For those who have always dreamed of being the next Michael Phelps or Ian Thorpe, there is no better way to experience this than a visit to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).

The AIS is the training ground for many of Australia's elite athletes. The world-class facilities include an interactive sports exhibit where Olympic champion wannabes can engage in virtual rowing and rock climbing. If water sports are more your thing, then I suggest a tour beneath the AIS pool for a whole new perspective on swimming.

Mouths to feed
And for the last stop of my lightning tour of Canberra, I headed to the National Zoo & Aquarium. Generally, I find that exploring zoos and museums have one thing in common - fatigue sets in quickly. However, this zoo is commendably pint-sized, and for that reason, there is no sense of urgency to rush through everything. At many exhibits, handfeeding is encouraged. I had a massive bear gently licking honey from my hand - an activity that brings no end of joy to children. And do not miss Esther the tigon, the unusual offspring of a male tiger and a female lion.

Hard to say goodbye
In the end, in spite of all the urban legends that there is not much to do in Canberra, reality proves to be otherwise. From any perspective, it is an immaculate city. The attractions are many and varied, the avenues are wide and lined with beautiful arching trees, the dining scene grows from strength to strength, and getting around, thanks to almost traffic-free streets , is a breeze.

There is, I thought with deep content, plenty to like about Canberra. And as my train slowly cranked out of the station, I decided that, like General MacArthur, I shall return.

Jason Hahn is a freelance writer.