Let's take a moment to be honest with one another - when someone mentions the Western suburbs, an art gallery probably isn't the first thing to come to your mind. In fact, we'd wager that it's not even in the top 20 things you'd think of. Right now, you're probably thinking "Do we even have art galleries out west?!" Well, the answer is yes and in the words of our boy Kevin Hart, you gon' learn (all about them) today.

You may be surprised to find out that there are galleries-a-plenty throughout the west and they aren't even the dodgy kind! In fact, a lot of them are of a pretty darn high standard. The Fairfield City Museum and Gallery for example, is the recipient of multiple awards from both local and state government bodies and the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, which underwent major renovations not too long ago, boasts an international standard exhibition space and incorporates 20 hectares of parklands into the gallery grounds. The Campbelltown Arts Centre is home to the annual Fischer's Ghost award which offers up to 40, 000 buckaroonies in prize money and attracts submissions from well renowned artists from all over Australia - not too shabby!

In addition to housing both temporary and permanent art collections, all the art galleries featured below also hold music, theatre and dance events. Regular work shops for the community are also run regularly and studio spaces can be hired for those who want to have a go at flexing their creative muscles. So, the next time you're itching to get in touch with your creative side, turn towards the direction of the setting sun and give some well deserved love to the cool art spaces we have on offer out here.

For more information, check out some major Western Sydney art galleries below:

Campbelltown Arts Centre

1 Art Gallery Rd, Campbelltown NSW 2560

For More Information on Exhibitions & Workshops: 

http://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/CampbelltownArtsCentre

Image: Screen Central

Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
1 Powerhouse Road Casula NSW 2170 (Entry via Shepherd Street Liverpool)
For More Information on Exhibitions & Workshops: 
http://www.casulapowerhouse.com/

Image: Museums and Galleries of NSW

Bankstown Arts Centre

5 Olympic Parade Bankstown NSW 2200

For More Information on Exhibitions & Workshops:  http://www.bankstown.nsw.gov.au/index.aspx?nid=323

Image: Axolotl

Fairfield City Museum and Gallery

634 The Horsley Drive Smithfield NSW 2164

For More Information on Exhibitions & Workshops: ://www.livingmuseum.com.au/

“Summer has come and passed,

The innocent can never last,

Wake me up, when this SEMESTER ENDS…”

Trust me, I know. This semester couldn’t be any longer… And it couldn’t finish any sooner either. With all these assessments and exams creeping around the corner, may as well push me in front of a bus. At least I’ll suffer the pain more quickly (and avoid having to do any work). And while you’re at it, invite all the members of my group project to my funeral so they can let me down, one last time… LOL jokesssss. What I propose is a more safer (and sane) solution to rest and refresh your mind. It’s taking a mental health day. A day off fo yourself when you feel like you’re taking on a lot of stress at once, whether it’s studies, work, or just life in general. If your body and your mind is aching for some relaxation, serenity and inner peace, what you need is a day where you just sit in a quiet place where you can breathe in fresh air away from work and from all the people around you. A day of escape.

Personally, some of the best days of my life have involved me just sitting down and looking out over a picturesque landscape, where I can just let go of all the struggles and worries that face me. And so, we’ve compiled the best, quietest, lookouts where you too can break away from reality for a moment in time. Breathe in the beauty of this world, and simply give yourself that mental break you need.

Mount Portal Lookout, Glenbrook

Perched atop the lower ridges of Blue Mountains National Park, Mount Portal lookout offers magnificent views of the junction between Glenbrook Gorge and the mighty Nepean River. You can really see where wilderness of the mountains meets civilisation.

Burragorang Lookout and picnic area, Nattai

Talk about being able to see for miles. High above Warragamba Dam, on a Blue mountains escarpment, Burragorang lookout and picnic area is a spectacular viewing point for nature’s great beauty.

Great river walk, Hawkesbury

The Great River Walk offers stunning scenery along the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and is perfect for having a calm stroll, or bike ride. There are various lookouts and sites of interest along the walk that are simply picturesque including one overlooking the river’s mouth at Broken Bay to its headquarters at Lake Bathurst.

The Rock lookout, Mulgoa

Situated in the historic Mulgoa Valley, a short track of a few hundred metres leads to ‘The Rock’ with superb views of the Nepean River. Surrounding is the swampy heath of the Eucalyptus forest to Riley’s mountain where more views of the surrounds can be enjoyed.       

Nepean dam, Bargo

One of the most peaceful places of the list. Enjoy the impressive views of the lake upstream and gorge downstream, spotting out the long line of Roman Cypress trees and beautiful flora that follow the line of the spillway.

Images Sourced: National parks, Macarthur Meanderings, Screencentral, Screencentral, SCA

Is this you, bored at home on a lazy Sunday with not a thing in hell to do? Some people spend their Sunday’s lying outside, or relaxing out by the pool. While others chill out at their local westfields, hoping the $5 rack sale at Supré still stocks those leopard skin tights all the mounty county gals seem to sport. And then there’s those that use their Sunday’s to go out and do something a little more unexpected. Like buying a McFlurry with both mnm’s AND oreos. Oh, you risktaker you. Livin’ life on the edge you are!

But if you’re like me, and you don’t seem to feel the thrill of sitting under the shade of a Koolabah tree, you’re ready for an adventure that’ll get some blood rushing through them veins! We’ve found some fun-filled activities that’ll make you completely forget about Supré’s clearance sale, but instead turn your stale Sunday 360 degrees complete with no regrets.

Whitewater rafting

Where: Penrith Whitewater Stadium, Cranebrook

Website: http://www.penrithwhitewater.com.au/pages/home.asp

Wanna know what’s a paddlin’? Regarded as one of the wildest and most beautiful whitewater rivers in Australia, this crazy adventure will get you totally wet & leave you screaming woooooo-hoooooooooo! With 14,000 liters-per-second of raging whitewater, flowing over a moveable obstacle system, this rafting experience has proven to be one of the most challenging and exciting rides for even the best paddlers in the world.

Wakeboarding

Where: Calebs Wake Park, Penrith

Website: http://www.cableswakepark.com.au/

Wtf’s wakeboarding you ask? Think of skiing on water, or ‘skurfing.’ Heqtiqqqqq, bet you thought that never existed! Attached to an electronic cable ski, you’re propelled to slide over the lake on a board, with ramps, kickers and sliders to manoeuvre around and have some sick moments of air-time if you’re down. Hang tight though, I guarantee this activity will definitely make you feel like you’re living life to the extreme!

Flying trapeze

Where: Circus Arts Sydney, Olympic Park

Website: http://circusarts.com.au/sydney/

I wanna see you be brave! Lol, so challenge yourself today by taking a high flying trapeze class. Swing way above the Earth and experience the true thrill of flying, as you learn to master trapeze tricks such as the knee-hang, the back flip to the net, and the flying catch, just like them crazy circus acrobats do. It may seem terrifying for all you first-timers, but rest assured it’s totally safe and you’ll come out of it with your heart beating a million miles a minute!

Laser Skirmish

Where: Battlefun, Pennant Hills

Website: http://www.battlefun.com/

Lookin’ for an ultimate combat adventure battle that’s both fun and intense, without actual pain and bruises? Bc we ALL know you bruise like a peach. At the battlefun laser skirmish outdoor arena, players get kitted up with army camouflage clothing and are provided with a choice of guns from the armoury before they set out into the bush and muddy battlefield terrain with log barriers, cool forts and bunkers. Great excuse to shoot at that one friend you secretly hate!

V8 Car Racing

Where: Sydney Motor Sport Park, Eastern Creek

Website: http://www.sydneymotorsportpark.com.au/ 

Strap yourself behind the wheel and drive the fastest you’ve ever driven, in a powerful 450 hp V8 race car, and feel the excitement and g-force of performance racing. This challenging circuit delivers a mix of long straights, tight and tricky corners, rising curves, hills and flats. Be prepared to take it to the max with a no limit drive often reaching 200 kph! P.s. I can’t guarantee how thrilling this activity is. All members of the WestThings crew are still on their L’s so got turned away upon entry LOL

Images sourced from: Apocalypstick, Penrith WhiteWater, Scoopon, Timeout, Battlefun, Adrenalin

Stalagmites or stalactites?                                                                                                           

Soz not all of us did Earth and Environmental Science during our HSC. I know for a fact, some of our readers haven’t even heard these words before… But for all you cave experts who've had the opportunity to go on an excursion to the Jenolan Caves, Blue Mountains, you’ll agree with me that stalagmite and stalactite formations are more than cool – they ice cold. And It’s startin’ to get real hot now that Summer’s just around the corner, and what better way to cool down and do a bit of spelunking with your fambam or your best gal pal, by going on one of Jenolan caves’ spectacular cave tours.

Eleven of Australia’s most impressive limestone caves are open to the public everyday of the year, with magical lighting, underground rivers and crazy cave formations. Knowledgeable tour instructors guide the group through a range of tours. From exciting adventure cave tours for the thrill seekers out there where you need to squeeze, crawl and climb through winding, ancient passageways, to the twilight tours between 8-10pm where you wear a helmet and headlamp, and hear Jenolan’s mysterious and spinetingling stories of the unexplained by torchlight.

Chill out this summer, get to know your stalactites and stalagmites, and venture into these amazing 340 million year old caves that’re also listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Be able to impress your gal with your interest and knowledge in rock hard calcium formations ;-) And even for the locals, it’ll be an incredibly majestic experience.

Website and more information here: www.jenolancaves.org.au

Lucas Cave Timeout

Chifley Cave Macquarie Tours

Imperial Cave Macquarie Tours

Orient Cave Flickr

River Cave Flickr

The fascination of flying is one I’m sure has crossed your minds. Ever since you were young, you've watched cartoon superheroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, or even the Powerpuff Girls, soaring over the clouds, fighting evil & saving the lives of innocent civilians from above. Admit it, we all know you’ve secretly pictured yourself flying over greater Western Sydney in your dashing superhero costume and accompanying cape, bringing justice to the world whether it's saving a tiny kitty in a tree, or breaking up a fight at Centrelink, Mt. Druitt.

Unfortunately, this post isn't a a reveal of a top secret recipe that'll transform you into the next Blossom, Bubbles or Buttercup. Contrary to popular belief, we at WestThings HQ don’t actually have an underground laboratory where we mix superhuman concoctions out of sugar and spice and everything nice. And no, there’s no purple beaker containing chemical X, that’ll help you majestically gain the power of flight. I heard if you drink red bull though, it'll give you wings? Lol, but what us WestThings crew do know, is a place where we can go when we want to feel how it is to fly with zero gravity beneath us. A place where we’re not spiralling from the Earth’s stratosphere, but instead, soaring like masters of the sky.

iFly downunder. Indoor skydiving.

This place in Penrith is for all of those (like us) that live for the thrill and exhilaration of skydiving, but are too pussy to step out of a plane 14,000 feet above the Earth. It’s for all those adrenaline junkies out there that fear the failing parachute, and want that comfortability of safety attached to their lives. It’s for (according to their website), children as young as 3 to your great, great-grand parents of 103. So take a step into one of the world’s largest glass flight chambers where massive wind generators lift you effortlessly into flight on a cushion of air. And for a moment of heavenly, weightless, bliss, feel like you’re a superhero, higher than everything beneath you.

Images, Gif and Video sourced from: iFly Downunder Penrith, iFly YouTube Channel, Giphy,