Hobbies

Wendy Coppola wanted a large artwork for her blank wall, so she made one herself out of Lego.

Avid culture consumers Brodie Lancaster and Alexei Toliopoulos share their tips on reading and watching more, without losing sight of enjoyment.

The surf break of Burkitts Reef at Bargara, in Queensland's Bundaberg region, was previously obstructed by large rocks. Then Greg Redgard and his mates turned the "unrideable" beach into a surfers' playground.

The Adelaide student loves trains, but he is even more passionate about the community he is building as he takes the sounds and sights of South Australian rail to the world.

In the smartphone era, many people have a podcast in their ears, their friends at their fingertips, and information up to their eyeballs. So when it comes to receiving news, a handwritten letter from a friend might seem old-fashioned.

Entering the sea strapped to more than 80 kilograms of weights, metal and canvas dating back to the early 1900s may not sound like fun for most, but for this group of divers, it's the best way to spend a weekend.

Depending on the size of the model or diorama it can take weeks – or even months — to sand, assemble, glue and paint a miniature. For these scale modellers the process offers a chance to unwind. 

Hundreds of coin collectors were up early to try and get their hands on the first minted coins for 2024 at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra.

Female motorcyclists are outnumbered by their male counterparts in New South Wales, but the gap is becoming smaller each year, which some have credited to riding groups and social media.

John Langley still makes and sells hundreds of fishing lures each year.

Know how to bait a hook and sweep a line? In regional Victoria, teenagers want mentors to teach them how to do it.

Pauline Boyle became an independent yarn dyer by accident. When she couldn't find the wool she wanted in craft stores, she thought she'd "just have a go" creating it herself.

A group in country WA build and ride life-sized toy trains.

Cheryl Norris says she doesn't feel like a prisoner in her own home now she has a space to craft in. It was set up by a couple who moved to the Riverland after a flood in their hometown.

Cooktown's Don Woods took up horse archery five years ago. Now he's representing Australia at the International Horse Archery Alliance (IHAA) World Championships in Mongolia.

When people meet Rudi McEwin with dirt on her face at outback campdrafts they'd never pick her former hobby was figure-skating, but she says there are more similarities between the sports than you might expect.

Retired Brisbane nurse Alison Barton has collected over 150 rare and vintage Barbie dolls.

The sapphire miner is known in central Queensland for his famous gem collection, but cars are where the self-proclaimed revhead's true passion lies.

One of the surprises from the recent Barbie movie is that Allan, Ken's friend, has become a superstar. Sydney doll collector Lynda Wake describes how the Barbie doll phenomenon is affecting the doll market and what new collectors should be aware of before they become custodians for the future.

Natalie Moreman discovered a sense of comfort and relief in pottery during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she was not alone in her attraction to this ancient art form.

Angel Cropley screamed the first time he was helped onto a horse. Now he's preparing to navigate the Great National Trail.

It started with model aeroplanes as a teenager. Then he piloted gliders. Now, retired dentist Andre Viljoen has built his own jet aircraft to see Australia's best sights.

Grant Schwartzkopff is renowned in the Riverland for his iconic sports photography, but the self-taught shutterbug was never after acclaim. It was a much-needed distraction during a tough time.

Steve Keddie started making model aeroplanes as a child using kits. He now creates spectacular, lifelike models from scratch that take seven months to build.

Steve Keddie spends months painstakingly hand-crafting his pieces. His collection of miniatures reflects the variety of aircraft on display at Shellharbour, in one of Australia's most comprehensive aviation museums.