The ideal 'dreamy' weekend spent in Canberra - waking up to hot air balloons and falling asleep in a vineyard

An early morning breeze swooshed through Canberra's Nara Peace Park at 6.45am, just minutes before sunrise.I felt much lighter, happier and a tinge of nerves as the large basket I was standing in lifted slightly off the ground and floated peacefully into the sky.No, this wasn't a dream. READ MORE: Inside Canberra's very own 'little Italy'Rather, I was taking part in the inaugural lift-off for the 2025 Canberra Balloon Spectacular.Usually, nothing other than a 6am flight can get me out of bed before sunrise. But the prospect of enjoying a spectacular bird's eye view of Canberra from 300ft above Lake Burley Griffin did it in this case.Canberra's beauty is often unsung."There's more than they're telling us," is the capital city's official tongue-in-cheek slogan.Nobody who has taken part in the hot air balloon festival, whether from the sky or gazing up from the ground, could argue Canberra is anything but magical.READ MORE: Aussie mum's survival tips for caravanning for a year with three kidsThe Balloon Spectacular takes place every year, a prized notch in Canberra's event belt and further proof the city punches well above its weight when it comes to tourist attractions.This year, the first day of the festival put on a breathtaking show.It was a perfectly sunny day and a memorable experience for those of us in the basket and Canberrans down below.As our giant balloon bobbed along in the sky, our pilot Anton allowed the basket to kiss the surface of Lake Burley Griffin – a fun surprise for the kayakers drifting along the water. Some of the brave kayakers chased our basket as we sank to lake-level.If you're not keen on balloons, renting a kayak during the festival is also an incredible way to experience it.We sailed through the sky and were offered a once-in-a-lifetime panoramic view of Canberra, which cemented my new home city as one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited.After we made a faultless landing in Weston, the group toasted our magical experience with champagne – just as the French pioneers of the hot air balloon intended.It was all wrapped up just after 8.30am and the rest of my day sprawled ahead of me full of exciting potential.Have a tipple at Canberra Cellar DoorHidden gems can be found almost everywhere you turn in Canberra.The Canberra Cellar Door is one of them; a pop-up wine tasting which features the region's best wine.The ACT and surrounds are home to some of Australia's best wines thanks to our cool climate and there's only one way to taste a variety of them.From a peppery shiraz to Canberra's signature chilled riesling, this pop-up - hidden in Canberra and Region Visitor's Centre - is a great way to kick start your wine tour. An iconic restaurant with a viewLunetta is nestled at the top of Canberra's Red Hill, a chic escape where you can dine with a sweeping view of the city.It only opened in late 2024 and the observatory shape ensures almost every diner has a fantastic panoramic view.The restaurant features delicious modern Italian cuisine and has a trattoria on the ground floor with a more luxury dining experience at the top.I dined on the perfect evening when the skyline was lit up with fireworks for the annual Skyfire event. But on any given night, the brilliant daily sunset is enough to make it a memorable meal.You do need to book in early though. We only managed to score bar seating as it was a busy Saturday evening.The martini and pasta alla vodka with a twist was a highlight of the menu.READ MORE: World's 'most mindful' destinations revealed for the ultimate zen holidayStay at a vineyard just 15 minutes awayNot many capital cities in Australia can boast about having sprawling vineyards and wineries just a short drive away.Mount Majura Vineyard feels like you've escaped to Bordeaux or Sienna but it's just 15 minutes away from where I live in Kingston.On the edge of Canberra, Majura has a welcoming cellar door which does tastings every day of the week.If spending an afternoon gorging on cheese and sipping fancy Canberra wine isn't enough, you can actually stay the night in a tiny cubby on site.Cubby and Co has built three tiny homes at the top of the hill with picturesque views of the vines beneath it. They're secure and secluded and you'll only have the rabbits and kangaroos for company.Our cubby, named Dinny, had a pair of lovely camping chairs we could nestle into as the last rays of Canberra sunlight kissed the hills of Mt Majura.Nothing compares to waking up to a pink-hued sunrise awash over the vineyard after a glorious night's sleep in Dinny.There's only three cubbies and they book out fast – so grab a reservation.Immerse yourself in culture at the Pompeii exhibitionYou're never short of cultural activities in Canberra, there's always something fascinating to check out at the National Museum of Australia or National Galley.The Pompeii exhibition at the museum, running until May, allows you to step back in time and experience what it was like the day Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE.The exhibition features a dramatic recreation of the eruption, along with plenty of artifacts and stunning frescos to marvel at from the once-bustling ancient city.Pompeii is run in collaboration with the Parco Archeologico di Pompei in Italy, so the experience is as authentic as it gets.This writer travelled as a guest of Visit Canberra.