Darwin Beer Can Regatta 1977
The Darwin Beer Can Regatta isn’t no ordinary boat race. As the name suggests, the boats used for the big competition are actually constructed out of empty beer cans (or soft drink cans). I don’t know what this says to you about the local culture of the Darwin area, but to me it spells out F-U-N!The Beer Can Regatta was started in 1974 and continues each winter to this day. It is sponsored by the Darwin Lions Club, meaning all the funds raised will go to local charities and institutions that do good in the community. The day is marked as a family event with various activities throughout the day for adults and children alike. How about a thong (flip-flop in Aussie lingo) throwing competition, kayaking and novelty hat judging to fill in the day? The Darwin Beer Can Regatta has all of those in the program!
This year’s event will take place on Sunday August 8, 2010 at Mindil Beach in Darwin. It runs from a scheduled 10am to 5pm. The event date changes yearly as they like it to always run on a Sunday.
Tickets are not needed to be a part of the event. Entrance is accepted upon the donation of a gold coin, which means you must put in a $1 or $2 piece of change.
To enter the boat building competition, you must register at the registration tent by 9am on the day of the event. It currently costs $50 to register, and the rules found in the “Boat Canstruction Guide” (found on their website) must be followed to be accepted. At the beginning of the day, the boats are tested on the water to make sure they will function in the race.
Darwin is a little secluded being in the far tropical north, so the best way to reach it other major areas would be a flight within Australia. Be sure to read over this rundown of a Darwin airport arrival and getting to town.
Plenty of places to stay are available on Mitchell Street, the main social strip in town. You can search for other great ideas in our booking widget (top-right of this page) or on the Australian hotels or hostels pages.
Photo by kenhodge13
