Walk Canberra around Lake Burley Griffin
Canberra is Australia's planned capital, built around an artificial lake with its national institutions along the shore. FOG starts the map dark and clears only what you walk, and the lake loop draws a big shape on the map.
The lake
Lake Burley Griffin sits in the middle of Canberra. A path runs around its shore, and the central basin loop, using the Commonwealth and Kings Avenue bridges, is about five kilometres. Along it stand the National Library, the National Gallery, the High Court and the National Portrait Gallery.
The Captain Cook Memorial Jet shoots water high above the lake, and the National Carillon stands on an island.
The axis
Canberra was planned by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin around a land axis that runs from Mount Ainslie to Parliament House. Anzac Parade leads from the lake to the Australian War Memorial at the foot of the mountain.
A track climbs from behind the War Memorial to the summit of Mount Ainslie, with views straight down the axis to Parliament House.
Coverage
Canberra is spread out, with suburbs separated by bush. Focus on the lake and the city centre, Civic, north of the lake.
Winters are cold and frosty, summers are hot and dry. Spring brings Floriade, a flower festival by the lake.
The character who walks with you
FOG puts a small explorer called Wander on your position. Pick one of five paths (two are free, three come with FOG Unlimited) and every two levels on a path hands you a new piece of gear, earned only by the ground you cover. Twenty five pieces in all, and none of them can be bought.
Under the character it is a plain, permanent record: every street you walk in Canberra is cleared and stays clear, the app works in the background, and the map is stored only on your phone with no account and no cloud. You can export it as GPX at any time.
Questions people actually ask
How long is the walk around Lake Burley Griffin?
The central basin loop over the two bridges is about five kilometres. The full lake is much longer.
Can you walk up Mount Ainslie?
Yes. A track climbs from behind the Australian War Memorial to the summit.
Is there a subscription?
No. Exploring is free and FOG Unlimited is a single purchase. There is never a subscription.
Start with a dark map.
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