Lismore - Back Alley Gallery

You may recognise the heart sign from some of the Lismore flood news reports. At it's height, only the heart was visible. You'll find it not far from the entrance to the alley.

When we lived in Lennox Head some years ago now, we regularly visited the Lismore Art Gallery. Sadly it's still not back in action after the flood.

However you can still see some fantastic street art at the Back Alley Gallery.

Located in Eggins Street at Lismore, I'm sure you'll be impressed with the artist's talent.

Lismore was really quiet the day we visited. There are plenty of signs warning pedestrians about the uneven paths, where flood waters have lifted the ground levels.

The Back Alley is probably not a place I'd go on my own, and the day we were there a young local guy asked us if we were OK and if we needed any help to find our way. How lovely, the kindness of strangers, it was really appreciated.

I'm a bit of a vintage sci fi fan, so this one was a favourite.

This one reminded me of an album called Vulture Culture by The Alan Parsons Project, I played over and over when I drove around in my hot pink VW. click here for their Eye in the Sky song

Newcastle

All these years we've been driving straight past Newcastle, and I never realised that so much lovelieness was just a short drive off the main highway. It's certainly on our list of stop offs now.

The circular wading pool at Newcastle Ocean Baths
The wading pool used to have a map of the world in the base a local told us

...getting a bit arty with my photography don't you think?

The view of Newcastle Beach from our room

Ocean Baths - art deco buildings - how gorgeous

Ready for our morning coffee (really nice coffee)

AND... a doggie friendly cafe too! (we loved that - always on the lookout for poochie friendlies)

The Bathers Cafe had lots of lovely treats for a light lunch and affordable too and a lovely view and dog friendly - how great is that - and really NICE staff (a big five paw rating from us).

We were fascinated by the little dome structure at the end of the baths and came up with all sorts of fantasies about where it led. Underwater cave entrance that leads to the nearby fort... or this, an underwater cave entrance that leads to the nautilus... much more interesting than a pool drainage pump don't you think?

We had a lovely wander around the foreshore and managed to stay dry as the ocean bumped up against the retaining wall...

Sculpture by artist John Petrie to commemorate the grounding of the Pasha Bulker br>

Video footage of the Pahsa Bulker aground - the waves certainly pound in at this beach - as this boat and it's crew member's discovered.

The street art is amazing...

...Art by Matt Adnate
the sheer size of most of the works alone is a bit awe inspiring

This is a video of Matt painting in Hosier Lane in Melbourne, but it will give you an idea of the scale of Matt's murals

Hit the Bricks brought some of the top street artists to Newcastle in 2013

More info about Hit The Bricks click here

We had a great wander around looking at the art

How would it be if there were certain spaces where street artists could legally paint? Do you think that would work? Would it help to curtail tagging and graffitti? Or is it the forbidden aspect that is enticing?