Photos from the Real AUSTRALIA

Outback Festivals of the Northern Territory: The Beer Can Regatta

The Territory is an easygoing place and the Australian humour really takes over at the madcap festivals that are typical of life in this place. Mindil Beach in Darwin is the scene of the yearly Beer Can Regatta, where participants make good use of the thousands of aluminium beer cans by making boats in all shapes and sizes from them and then proceed to hold mock battles in the shallow sea there. Children, too, participate, although they may only use softdrink cans!

For almost 30 years now, the Combined Lions Clubs of Darwin have been promoting the annual Beer Can Regatta on Darwin's famous Mindil Beach. Funds generated during the day are donated to various charities in the Darwin region each year. The main event is a race between boats built entirely out of beer cans. Now very much a family day out for locals and a rapidly becoming spectacular for the tourists to Darwin who line Mindil Beach cheering as the home made boats of cans wallow, flounder and sink. The fleet includes all kinds of canoes, speedboats, and giant Viking warships with fire hoses and top secret weaponry.

For those who don't like to get wet there are competitions such as Henley-on-Mindil, a series of races along the beach with bottomless boats. Tug-of-war, Iron person and thong (foot-ware not under-ware) throwing and other wacky activities round out the one day event. For sideshows, don't miss the Mindil Beach Markets which go into the night following the regatta.

For more information contact Beer Can Regatta Assoc., GPO Box 1496, Darwin NT 0801. Or email beercanregatta@hotmail.com.

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