Culture, art and heritage

Australia is full of creative characters. Interesting art abounds.

Some of that art is displayed in fantastic outdoor settings that are perfect for exploring when touring the country.

From colourful cows to striking sculptures, we’ve compiled a great bunch of outdoor art exhibitions that you should check out on your next BIG4 break.

Keep your eyes peeled for these crafty creations…


1. Moooving Art, Shepparton, VIC

Take a drive or stroll around Shepparton and you could be forgiven for thinking that your eyes are deceiving you. The city and its surrounds are dotted with more than 90 brightly coloured fibreglass cows, which form part of the ever-changing Moooving Art exhibition. These bovine beauties are a nod to the area’s dairy industry and make for a great photo when exploring this northeastern pocket of Victoria.

Visit when…staying at BIG4 Shepparton Park Lane Holiday Park or Shepparton Holiday Park and Village.

2. V-Wall, Nambucca Heads, NSW

From little things, big things grow. The V-Wall is a forever-expanding outdoor art exhibition that you can add your touch to. Painted rocks featuring messages from visitors and locals alike stretch for hundreds of metres and make for an interesting and unique sight. Better still, you are encouraged to leave your own mark and share your thoughts about this beautiful part of the state.

Visit when…staying at BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks - Nambucca Heads, Ingenia Holidays White Albatross or Valla Beach Holiday Park.

3. First Coat, Toowoomba, QLD

Dozens of vibrant, thought-provoking murals are dotted throughout Toowoomba and make for enticing exploration. The murals form part of the annual First Coat festival (May). Outside of this time, grab a brochure from the Toowoomba Visitor Information Centre: it details the locations of these colourful creations to help guide you around.

Visit when…staying at BIG4 Toowoomba Garden City Holiday Park or Toowoomba Motor Village.

 

4. Hosier Lane, Melbourne, VIC

Located in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, Hosier Lane is a tourist magnet thanks to its legendary street art. The walls’ works have been created by both international and local artists, and the area abounds with colour. Guided tours are available if you want to learn more about the famous street art. Don’t forget your camera!

Visit when…staying at BIG4 Dandenong Tourist Park, BIG4 Melbourne Holiday Park or Crystal Brook Tourist Park.

5. Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, Port Macquarie region, NSW

Never have koalas been so colourful as they are in Port Macquarie and its surrounds. This picturesque city is home to the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, which features 50-plus, 1m-tall koala creations that are sprinkled throughout the area in a similar fashion to Shepparton’s Moooving Art exhibition. These colourful sculptures are the work of talented local artists, and by gum they make for a great photo. Free trail guides available from the Glasshouse Port Macquarie visitor centre will help point you in the right direction.

Visit when…staying at Ingenia Holidays Bonny Hills, Jacaranda Holiday Park or Leisure Tourist Park.

 

6. Perth art walks, Perth, WA

Combine culture with a pleasant stroll by planting your feet along one of the designated Perth art walks. These trails take in statues and sculptures, murals and mosaics, and much more as they pass leading Perth attractions and gift gorgeous views of the Swan River. The Art City Public Art Walk and the East Perth Public Art Walk are ideal for those visiting the Western Australian capital. Meanwhile, taking the Federation Heritage Art Walk in Mandurah is a great activity when heading further south to the South West WA region.

 

7. Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, VIC

Spotted in the Melbourne suburb of Bulleen, this creative attraction features an extensive collection of works and has an interesting past. However, it makes our list for its fascinating sculpture park and plaza. Inspired by international sculpture parks, this great space contains a series of funky, eye-catching, and thought-provoking pieces that command plenty of attention.

Visit when…staying at BIG4 Dandenong Tourist Park, BIG4 Melbourne Holiday Park or Crystal Brook Tourist Park.

But wait, there’s more…

While they are more remote, these attractions are worth a peek, too.

  • Utes in the Paddock, Ootha, NSW: The name of this attraction doesn’t deceive. Several colorful Holden utes with various additions and modifications are placed on all manner of angles that make for a great sight, an hour's drive from Forbes.
  • Inside Australia, Lake Ballard, WA: Inside Australia is billed as the largest outdoor gallery in the country and comprises more than 50 metal sculptures scattered within a salt lake. It's the work of renowned British sculptor Antony Gormley, two hours from Kalgoorlie.
  • Living Desert near Broken Hill, NSW: Living Desert Reserve is an area rich in Indigenous history and diverse flora and fauna and is home to an engrossing set of sandstone sculptures.

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