Darwin - a perfect short break - Day 1

 Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, is the perfect spot for a short break, especially if you are looking for warmer weather during the winter months.

In July we flew to Darwin and had four nights (three days) to enjoy the many delights before taking The Ghan back to Adelaide, and on home. Darwin is a modern, open and clean city and we immediately felt comfortable.

On the morning of day 1 we did a loop of the Big Bus Hop On-Hop Off route taking in the main attractions and getting a feel for the lay-out of the city.

Then we continued on to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory where there was a huge crowd of school children ... time for a lunch break. There was a spectacular art exhibition, the Telstra  National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, and we spent ages there looking at the many and varied styles of art presented. Here are a few of my favourites.

We also had a short visit to the museum section which included Sweetheart, the largest saltwater crocodile ever captured. Sweetheart was 5.1 metres in length and weighed 780 kilograms.

From the Art Gallery and Museum it was back on the Big Bus to the Military Museum and the Defence of Darwin Experience. This interactive experience tells of the Bombing of Darwin by the Japanese in 1942. There was a massive amount of information to view but I didn't take any photos inside.

Riding back into the city on the Big Bus and some more views of the landscape, vegetation and attractions.

Walking home from the bus stop we spotted our first street art installation, close up. Darwin is noted for its street art festival, but more on that in a later post.

That evening I had made a booking at a restaurant called Moorish. Apart from great reviews, it serves Spanish and North African flavours and specializes in tapas. Just what we love.

The wait staff were excellent and explained the options for how we could enjoy a selection of tapas. What a superb evening we had with six tapas and a dessert, all washed down with sangria.

 

 

Benalla Street Art Festival 2025 - part 2

Benalla Street Art Festival 2025 - continued. A week later we had visitors so we walked the new street art route and I was able to take photos of the completed works. It is always sad to see old favourites disappear but a joy to see the new colours about town. As I was once told by Juddy Roller, having your work painted over is the nature of street art.

Gus Leunig

Aurora Campbell

Creature Creature

Yan Yan Candy Ng 

Adnate and Drez

MEGGS

Claire Foxton

Spencer Harrison

HWJ

The Growling Grass Frog 2025 mascot as designed by Mimi Leung and painted by the community of budding young (and old) street artists.

Benalla Street Art Festival 2025 - part 1

 The 2025 Benalla Street Art Festival was held on the week-end of 11-13th April.

I wasn't able to be there until Sunday afternoon so these photos show the progress of the ten artists as seen mid afternoon. Some work was complete and others were still in progress.

1. Gus Leunig at the Benalla Art Gallery

2. Aurora Campbell at the water park & Info Centre

3. Creature Creature at Bertalli's bake house

4. Yan Yan Candy Ng at Fruits N Fare

5. & 6. Adnate and Drez on the old SEC building at The Shed

7. MEGGS at The Shed

8. Claire Foxton at Polished Agencies

 9. Spencer Harrison had three panels at the Skate Park.

10. HWJ at GOTAFE

People's free community art wall at The Hub with design by Mimi Leung.

See part two of the Benalla Street Art Festival 2025 when all the fabulous street art was completed.  It was another very successful event and large crowds have visited to see this very popular art form.