In a recent issue of the Virginia Quarterly Review, writer Jesse Dukes took a fascinating trip to real-life Tatooine: the desert sets in Tunisia left over from Star Wars. Now photographer Rä di Martino has taken the pics to match.

The Germans have Oktoberfest. Melburnians have the Great Australian Beer Spectapular. We may not have the lederhosen, but with 100 taps and over 200 different beers (100 of which are brewed especially for the festival) no one’s complaining.

For 11 literary-packed days from May 23 to June 2, Melbourne's Emerging Writers' Festival will celebrate, support and cajole the words out of the nation's fledgling wordsmiths.

Since its inaugural festival in 2009, VIVID Sydney has quickly established itself as the best reason to get out of the house as the city descends into its antipodean winter. 

Beer geeks speak their own language, so it stands to reason they have their own week. 

You wouldn't expect to find talks about designer suburbs, presidential campaigns, conceptual art and the soft power of Tasmania at a writer's festival. But the 2013 Sydney Writers' Festival thwarts expectations. 

Damien Mander is using unmanned drones for good. Four years ago the ex Australian soldier turned his training to stop rhino poachers. He had this to say before his talk at TEDxSydney tomorrow.

If you thought TED was all about the talks, think again. With a music program that spans beat-boxing, blues, classical and Egyptian oud, as much thought goes into the sounds as the talky bits.

In France they call April 20 'Disquaire Day', but for us English speakers it's Record Store Day – an international day to celebrate records and the places we buy them.

Convict ballads with Tim Rogers, Fantasia with the Tassie Symphony Orchestra, a Pusher trilogy, The Drones and satan... Winter is coming to Hobart in a very awesome way thanks to Dark Mofo.