A major financial boost to the Darwin International Film Festival looks set to transform the event into the international festival of the north.
When you think of a centre for Australian arts and culture, the city of Darwin probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind. That could all be about to change however, with the Darwin International Film Festival getting a sizable cash injection from the local government.
A world-class event
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Adam Giles said, “The Territory Government is committed to the ongoing development of Arts in the Territory and we’re proud to provide, in addition to Screen Territory funding, $150,000 through FestivalsNT to the Darwin International Film Festival over the next three years.”
The DIFF, which takes place at Darwin’s Deckchair Cinema, screens a rich variety of films from comedy to documentary, drama to foreign language films, both from Australia and all across the globe. The event also includes screen workshops which in the past have featured actors, directors and filmmakers from around Australia.
General Manager of Deckchair Cinema Hannah Brodie-Hall said, “The security of this three-year commitment from FestivalsNT gives us the opportunity to grow Darwin International Film Festival beyond what we have been able to achieve in its last five years and we’ll have lots of new developments in the next few months and into 2016.”
Of course, while Darwin is just now beginning to grow into an arts focused centre, the region has long been known for its striking natural environment. So if you’re planning to head along to the world-class DIFF in September, we’d suggest picking up an Australia Motorhome Rental and taking the time to visit one or two of these beautiful places in the surrounding area.
Paradise within your grasp
Less than two hours drive southwest of Darwin, Litchfield National Park has proved popular with visitors for years now; the park draws in over 260,000 campers, trampers and holidaymakers annually. And for good reason: it’s closer to Darwin than Kakadu National Park and fairly easy to get to - a sealed road runs from Darwin City through the small township of Batchelor into the park. But easy access is far from the only reason for nature lovers and adventurous souls to venture into Litchfield.
One of biggest draws for those escaping to Litchfield NP are the numerous beautiful waterholes. From the waterhole fed by a double plunge waterfall at Florence Falls to the ever popular Wangi Falls plunge pool, the park is full of pristine places to cool off while soaking in scenic cascade views. Something to be aware of if you’re planning to get your toes wet in Litchfield: during the rainy season (November - April) several of these waterholes are off limits, as the increased water levels attract saltwater crocodiles - not your ideal swimming companions.
For those who’d prefer to stick to dry land, Litchfield boasts an impressive range of bushwalks, ranging from short 1 to 3 kilometre jaunts to longer treks that will take at least two days to complete. Tabletop Track, a 39km bushwalk that takes hikers along trickling creek lines, crystal clear pools and untouched pockets of tropical rainforest, is perfect for those keen to get a real taste of what the park has to offer. There’s also the option to walk different sections of the track, so if 39 kilometres sounds a little daunting you can still get right amongst the flora and fauna of Litchfield without wearing yourself out.
A few things to remember:
If you’re wanting to camp in the park itself, Wangi Falls is the only campground that permits campervans, but there are also a good handful of commercial camping grounds just outside Litchfield that are perfectly set up for campervan holidaymakers.
With the increased funding to the Darwin International Film Festival, this year’s event looks be bigger and better than ever before - well worth a trip to Northern Territory’s rising arts capital and its surrounding wilderness paradise.
Darwin is a highly regarded location to experience in Australia, but there is far more than just the Northern Territory capital! Check out our great packages for a Campervan Hire from Melbourne, campervan hire Tasmania, Perth and Sydney. Or why not head over the NZ? New Zealand Campervan Hire is a great choice.
