Discover Australia at the Zoo and Botanic Garden or visit Concorde

THEY'VE had a hard time recently, but our Aussie cousins will be embracing their culture on Wednesday.

Join them in anticipation of Australia Day with a weekend of discovery at Edinburgh Zoo and the Royal Botanic Garden.

An Australian themed weekend kicks off at the zoo today with an "Aussie Trail" around the collection of Australian wildlife, running from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.

The theme continues tomorrow at the Botanics, when the country's plant species are examined. The free event includes trails and activities and runs from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.

If Australia's too far flung, then climb on board Concorde at the National Museum of Flight in East Fortune to celebrate its 35th anniversary.

Workshops, science shows and a Concorde quiz are planned this weekend and as a birthday treat, anyone born in the same year as the jet - 1976 - enters the museum free.