AFF Gathering #14 in CBR on 4 - 6 December 2020

**This event is now fully booked! For those who've already registered, this thread contains important information & updates about the weekend. We look forward to seeing you soon.**

Canberra has been chosen as the AFF Annual Gathering destination for 2020, occurring over the weekend of the 4th to 6th December; this will be the second time the event has been held in the final month of the year. The average temperature range for December is 11.9ºC to 26.3ºC. The average rainfall is 53.2mm with 7 rainy days. It is Australia's eighth most populous city (as of June 2018) representing 1.83% of Australia.

Canberra has previously played host to an Annual Gathering, as the fifth city chosen in the fourth year (2011). On that occasion, 13 attendees made the journey. Canberra is not the first city to play host twice, with Melbourne previously taking that honour as the first (2008) and eighth (2014); Adelaide as the second (2008) and twelfth (2018); and more recently Sydney as the third (2009) and thirteenth (2019).

Helping to organise this year will be @support & @Mattg.

If you're attending, we recommend downloading the Check in CBR App. Due to COVID-19, please be mindful to practice good hygiene and social distancing where possible. If you are unwell, please do not attend.

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Schedule

Here is the itinerary for the weekend:

Friday 4th December
To start the weekend, we'll be holding a dinner at Southern Cross Yacht Club, Yarralumla. You are welcome to arrive between 6.30pm-7.30pm for drinks at the bar, and dinner will be served from 7.30pm-9.30pm. There will be a fixed 3-course menu (we can account for dietary requirements), and the cost is $59 per person. Drinks will be available for purchase from the bar on the night.

Saturday 5th December - morning activities

Saturday Activity Option 1 - Parliament House tour
We'll meet at Parliament House and join a 30-minute public tour of the building. There is no cost for this activity - you'll just need to make your own transport arrangements to/from Parliament House. You must be at Parliament House by 10.15am, in preparation for the tour which will take place from 10.30-11am. We'll meet outside the main entrance, before the security checkpoint.

Saturday Activity Option 2 - visit to Australian War Memorial
Join other AFF members for a visit to Australian War Memorial. Please note that tours are not currently available, so you'll be visiting as a guest. There is no cost for this activity - you'll just need to make your own transport arrangements to/from Australian War Memorial. Meet outside the main entrance at 11.30am.

Saturday Activity Option 3 - Full-day winery tour
This will be a full-day winery tour with a maximum of 10 people, running from around 9.30am until approximately 3.30pm. You'll be picked up from Pepper's Gallery Hotel in Civic in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle and visit 3 wineries in the Canberra region. The cost is $190/person and includes lunch at Olleyville as well as a professional guide for the day. Note: This tour includes visits to wineries in NSW and it is recommended that you eat breakfast before joining the tour.

Saturday 5th December - evening
On Saturday evening, we'll be holding a dinner at Kingston Hotel. Before the dinner, there will be an optional one-hour Frequent Flyer Points Masterclass + Q&A session hosted by AFF editor Matt Graham from 6-7pm. This event is sponsored by Frequent Flyer Solutions and attendance is free, but you'll need to register.

After this, the main dinner will commence at 7.15pm. There will be a guest speaker at this dinner. Members will be able to order and pay for food & drinks on the night - no pre-payment is required.

Sunday 6th December
On Sunday we're offering a sightseeing tour to some of Canberra's best outdoor spots.

Sunday Tour - Mt Ainslie, Lanyon Homestead & Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Departing from Pepper's Hotel at 9.45am on Sunday morning, we'll visit Mt Ainslie for panoramic views over Canberra before heading to the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in the south of Canberra, where you'll see some of the local wildlife including koalas and we'll stop for a short walk. Along the way, we'll visit Lanyon Homestead for a homestead heritage tour and lunch at the Barracks Café. We'll return to the airport by 4.45pm & the city at around 5pm. The cost is $80/person excluding lunch. This tour will remain entirely within the ACT and we recommend bringing a bottle of water with you.

 

[Townsend]

For the more expensive dinner may I suggest one of the private dining rooms at the Lanterne Rooms or Chairman and Yip. Some of the best asian food anywhere. The Ottoman Restaurant is great as it caters for all tastes, albeit is a little pricey, and it to has a private dining room.

I am a little vague about the descriptors of whether people are going. Am I right in thinking that Platinum is definite, gold probably, silver probably not and bronze no chance?

 

[Mattg]

I am a little vague about the descriptors of whether people are going. Am I right in thinking that Platinum is definite, gold probably, silver probably not and bronze no chance?

This is correct.

There's also copper for "no idea yet".

 

[I love to travel]

Copper for me at this stage

 

[JessicaTam]

This is correct.

There's also copper for "no idea yet".

Or more correctly:

I am not sure if I can come or not. I might have to work or may need to go to Singapore or maybe Darwin. But if I am in town I might come along at the last minute if I am not doing something else. Or maybe not.

 

[I love to travel]

Or more correctly:

I am not sure if I can come or not. I might have to work or may need to go to Singapore or maybe Darwin. But if I am in town I might come along at the last minute if I am not doing something else. Or maybe not.

You forgot " or I will try and add this onto a work trip to Canberra to save the airfare" option

 

[kookaburra75]

For Friday night, the Hotel Kurrajong is worth a look. They have a function room, plus can arrange a number of different food and beverage packages. It also provides a glimpse into Canberra's history with character and stories - and possibly a ghost or two.
MrsK and I are currently staying here for a couple of night to escape the heat and smoke at home, and the service and rooms are as good as ever

 

[Hoatzin]

I'm out for this one sadly as I will be in Argentina adjusting to the time change. What are the odds that the gathering will be in my home town while I will be away? Oy vey....

Then again most of the kingo dinners fall when I am away, so not entirely unexpected

 

[knagelli]

I know its too early , but as I am in the process of reserving flights/hotel for this one , Any suggestions on where to book the hotel.

 

[Drakecula]

How did I miss seeing this? Count me in!
For options for tours - the NLA does a free tour on Saturdays at 2pm. I'm biased of course, but the NLA is a great place! And you could combine it with a walk along Lake BG afterwards, towards the NGA and check out the sculpture garden.

Dinners, hmm, I don't get out much, nor do I get out in large groups. But I suppose clubs or hotels would have the kind of function rooms you might need? A group I've been in used the function room at Hellenic in the City for trivia nights and other type of events. There's a bar in there, and food I think gets brought up from downstairs? I could find out more information if you'd like, or find a contact person for you to talk to.

 

[Lynda2475]

So Ive never flown into CBR before (always taken the bus), i notice some flights SYD-CBR are Qantas Link and some are Sunstate On Behalf Of Eastern.
Aircraft seems to be a De Havilland DHC-8 300 Series or Boeing 717 - so experts which si the more comfortable flight??

 

[AIRwin]

Aircraft seems to be a De Havilland DHC-8 300 Series or Boeing 717 - so experts which si the more comfortable flight??

I prefer B717...

 

[I love to travel]

So Ive never flown into CBR before (always taken the bus), i notice some flights SYD-CBR are Qantas Link and some are Sunstate On Behalf Of Eastern.
Aircraft seems to be a De Havilland DHC-8 300 Series or Boeing 717 - so experts which si the more comfortable flight??

717 by a mile

 

[knagelli]

I was planning to drive from MEL but is it best to fly or drive is fine ?

 

[Lynda2475]

There hasnt been an update for a while - is this a dead certainty to proceed? If so will book flight on DSC today.

 

[Doug_Westcott]

Definitely will proceed

 

[Lynda2475]

Ok well colour me platinum now, flights are booked arriving Friday arvo, leaving Sunday evening.

Havent been to Canberra for yonks, any hotel recommendations?

 

[kookaburra75]

Ok well colour me platinum now, flights are booked arriving Friday arvo, leaving Sunday evening.
Havent been to Canberra for yonks, any hotel recommendations?

What are your preferences & budget? We have a few favourites, but being locals we don't usually stay in hotels since the arrival of Uber - but a few suggestions below where we've stayed or know people who have

• Hotel Kurrajong has a lot of history and very nice rooms. Restuarant is good, and there is Vincent, a brilliant place to eat just over the road
• Burbery Hotel/Apartments - very plush and comftoable. There is an excellent coffee/breakfast place Maple+Clove just next door, and the Realm Hotel's bar as well
• QT - funky, but the service in the bar/restaurant can be a bit ordinary at times
• Peppers Gallery - an old set of buildings when it was the Single Womens quarters and then MIgrant centre back in the day. The Parlour Wine Room is next door and has a really good menu and meals

 

[knagelli]

What are your preferences & budget? We have a few favourites, but being locals we don't usually stay in hotels since the arrival of Uber - but a few suggestions below where we've stayed or know people who have

• Hotel Kurrajong has a lot of history and very nice rooms. Restuarant is good, and there is Vincent, a brilliant place to eat just over the road
• Burbery Hotel/Apartments - very plush and comftoable. There is an excellent coffee/breakfast place Maple+Clove just next door, and the Realm Hotel's bar as well
• QT - funky, but the service in the bar/restaurant can be a bit ordinary at times
• Peppers Gallery - an old set of buildings when it was the Single Womens quarters and then MIgrant centre back in the day. The Parlour Wine Room is next door and has a really good menu and meals

Thanks for the suggestions. Even I have to make my bookings and was planning to stay somewhere others are booking .

 

[Lynda2475]

Thanks @kookaburra75 wil check those out. I think I had short listed QT and Peppers earlier. I was thinking 4 star, something walking distance to a decent cafe for breaky/coffee and not too far from whatever activities areplanned. But we dont know what those are yet LOL.

 

[blackcat20]

Thanks @kookaburra75 wil check those out. I think I had short listed QT and Peppers earlier. I was thinking 4 star, something walking distance to a decent cafe for breaky/coffee and not too far from whatever activities areplanned. But we dont know what those are yet LOL.

Luxury Escapes currently has the Peppers for $349 for two nights.