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The Sydney Opera House and the Adelaide Oval are Aussie icons, but did you know you can organise an on-stage proposal at the Opera House or climb the roof of the cricket ground? These are just two of a number of behind-the-scenes, prestigious experiences that will wow and delight your Australia-bound clients, and we share more below...
Cultural Attractions of Australia was formed three years ago to bring together 19 of Australia’s most iconic cultural attractions that celebrate the country’s diverse arts, historical and sporting venues. Through the collective, many offer VIP, curated, behind-the-scenes, pre-bookable experiences that offer a fantastic way for international tourists to immerse themselves in Australian culture. Here are some highlights, grouped by client passion type.
There are several experiences within the collective which will appeal to clients with a love of fine dining, such as High Tea for Two in the opulent surrounds of Mona’s Ladies Lounge, where they will feast on decadent nibbles, surrounded by several priceless Picassos and dancing butlers.
Another unforgettable gourmet add-on is a private dinner in WA Museum Boola Bardip’s heritage-listed space, Hackett Hall under a 24-metre, 124-year-old blue whale skeleton, named Otto. After a tucking into a seasonal menu highlighting Western Australia’s local produce, guests enjoy an after-hours tour by a WA Museum curator.
Where: Mona (Museum of Old & New Art); Berriedale, Hobart, Tasmania
Cost: $500 per pair
When: 11.00am and 2.30pm Saturday & Sunday
Where: WA Museum Boola Bardip; Perth Cultural Centre, Perth, Western Australia
Cost: $500 per person
When: From 6.00pm daily by prior arrangement
Ideal for groups: Minimum 20 / Maximum 30
The collective offers a range of behind-the-scenes sporting experiences. The Adelaide Oval offers a Legends Tour that will take your clients on a bespoke journey behind the scenes to celebrate the people, the events and the controversies that were overcome to make the Oval an icon. It’s also possible to climb the stadium’s roof on the Wonders of Adelaide Oval RoofClimb and take in the city’s key landmarks and breathtaking skyline.
A visit to Melbourne isn’t complete without a visit to the hollowed grounds of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Experience the Premium Access Tour and step behind closed doors for an exclusive, fully guided tour where you’ll visit areas of the legendary MCG others could only dream of seeing.
Where: Adelaide Oval; North Adelaide, South Australia
Cost: $290 per person
When: By appointment, Monday to Friday. Departures 9.00am and 2.00pm on non-event days.
Where: Adelaide Oval; North Adelaide, South Australia
Cost: $260 per person
When: Daily by appointment on non-event days.
Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground; Richmond, Victoria
Cost: $150 per person
When: Select dates or by prior arrangement
Opera Australia gives Sydney visitors the chance to be part of the action with the A Not So Modest Proposal experience. Your client could give the object of their affection the surprise of their life, when the seemingly random invitation to come up on stage is in fact a well-planned ruse that is leading to an on-stage proposal. They can ride the romantic momentum of a night at the opera – includes two tickets to Great Opera Hits, a curated proposal on stage at the performance and a congratulatory bouquet of flowers.
Where: Sydney Opera House
Cost: $2,500 for two
When: January – March, selected dates
The Qantas Founders Museum has created an unforgettable experience for the young and young-at-heart to learn the history of Australia’s national airline, Qantas, which began in Longreach, Queensland in 1920. The experience starts with a 3.5 hour guided tour of the Boeing 747, Boeing 707 and newly restored Super Constellation display. During the tour your clients will see the ‘black box’ flight recorders, learn how to ‘arm the doors’, sit in the pilot’s seat, inspect the cargo hold and take a walk on the wings of the Boeing 747 and 707 – the only place in the world to do it!
Those interested in the history of aviation should visit the Australian War Memorial to learn about the Royal Australian Airforce and how military aviation was first pioneered during the First World War and uncover their ongoing and evolving contribution.
Where: Qantas Founders Museum; Longreach, Queensland
Cost: $200 per adult
When: Monday to Friday by prior arrangement March – November.
Where: Australian War Memorial, Campbell, ACT
Cost: $75 per person. Children under 5 are free of charge
When: Daily
This selection offers something special for every art connoisseur. Imagine an evening like no other with an after-hours up-close encounter with the Art Gallery of New South Wales’s vast collection, hosted by a senior curator, followed by a five-course dinner with matching wines.
Or enjoy an unforgettable, luxury experience at the National Gallery of Australia, including an exclusive after-hours tour, iconic masterpieces, and a bespoke dinner with curated local wines.
For a ridiculously lavish experience, be flown by private jet from Sydney or Melbourne to enjoy a private dinner at Mona’s infamous private museum with Tasmanian collector and maths nerd, David Walsh.
Where: Art Gallery of New South Wales; Sydney, New South Wales
Cost: $4,650 per person
When: 7.00pm – 10.00pm by prior arrangement. Private experiences can be arranged for min 2 pax up to 10 pax
Where: National Gallery of Australia; Canberra, ACT
Cost: $1,300 per person.
When: By prior arrangement. Ideal for groups: Minimum 12 / Maximum 45.
Where: MONA (Museum of Old and New Art); Berriedale, Tasmania
Cost: $50,000 per person
When: By prior arrangement. Allow two days for the experience
Feel enriched and awakened with an evening of First Nations art, music, native food, dance, culture, and storytelling at the Queensland Art Gallery I Gallery of Modern Art, including a private tour and specially curated dinner inspired by native flavours.
Or your clients can step into 30 years of stories and 65,000 years of culture when they go behind-the-scenes at Bangarra Dance Theatre. They’ll meet with associate artistic director Frances Rings or head of design Jacob Nash, who will share their insights followed by canapes and cocktails and the rare opportunity to watch a rehearsal or finished performance on stage.
The Yiribana experience will enhance their understanding with an after-hours tour of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection, followed by a five-course dinner featuring indigenous ingredients.
Where: QAGOMA (Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art); South Brisbane, Queensland
Cost: $4,199 per person
When: 6.00pm – 10.00pm. Private daily by prior arrangement. Minimum 10 / Maximum 25.
Where: Gadigal Country, Eora Nation, Sydney, New South Wales
Cost: $3,000 per person
When: 4.30pm June – July, 12.30pm Monday – Friday by prior arrangement. Minimum 4 / Maximum 10.
Where: Art Gallery of New South Wales; Sydney, New South Wales
Cost: $4,650 per person
When: 7.00pm – 10.00pm by prior booking subject to availability. Minimum 2 / Maximum 10.
Sail on Duyfken for an unforgettable sailing experience on one of the rarest ships in the world. Departing from the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, your clients will cruise past Barangaroo, Circular Quay, the Opera House, Garden Island and other famous sites on Sydney Harbour. Duyfken is a stunning replica of the first European ship to reach Australia in 1606. The expert crew at Australian National Maritime Museum provide short commentaries about Duyfken’s unique history at various points on the cruise. On board, your clients can relax and enjoy a gourmet snack box and drinks while enjoying the sea breeze, listen to stories of life on the ocean and watch the crew replicate 17th-century sailing.
Where: Australian National Maritime Museum, Pyrmont, Sydney
Cost: $120 per person (scheduled program) $3200 private charter (up to 24 people)
When: 2.00pm – 5.00pm 3 hours. Tailored for private charter. Subject to availability. Closed Christmas Day.
The collective offers a selection of premium, high-end experiences ideal for those celebrating special occasions. Enjoy an exclusive and private evening at Australia’s oldest and most visited art museum, National Gallery of Victoria. The gallery will be your clients, exclusively for the night, to enjoy art, music, fine dining and wine, in front of NGV’s most famous masterpiece, The Banquet of Cleopatra by Giambattista.
The Taste of Opera is a private opera recital and a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can be combined with a tour, dinner or private event. Begin with a guided tour where your clients will discover the captivating history of one of the world’s most iconic buildings the Sydney Opera House. After the tour, guests will be escorted to a surprise opera recital, an unforgettable experience by one of Australia’s talented opera singers, accompanied by a pianist in one of the beautifully designed spaces.
Where: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Cost: Min spend $39,000 for up to 8 people. $3,500 per person for additional guests.
When: Register your interest for future events
Where: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Cost: On application as this is a tailored product.
When: By prior arrangement
Cultural Attractions of Australia is proud to have three World Heritage-listed sites in the collective. Australia’s most recognised cultural institution, the Sydney Opera House is inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List as a masterpiece of human creative genius. The Opera House is turning 50 and has put together a year-long festival celebrating the past, present and future of Australia’s favourite building.
Built in the 1850s by British convicts and decommissioned as an operating maximum security gaol in 1991, Fremantle Prison in Perth, Western Australia is the largest convict-built structure in Australia and the most intact convict establishment in the southern hemisphere. It is currently the only World Heritage-listed building in Western Australia. Join Fremantle Prison’s experienced guides on the exclusive Prison Art Tour as they reveal the experiences of prisoners expressed through art. View convict-drawn frescoes and religious works, European landscapes, Aboriginal landscapes in the renowned Carrolup style, dot paintings, graffiti and tattoo art.
Port Arthur Historic Site, located 90 minutes’ drive south-east of Hobart, Tasmania, brings Australia’s early convict history to life. It is recognised by Unesco as the best-preserved convict settlement in Australia and among the most significant convict era sites in the world. Learn about how the fate of tens of thousands of men, women and children was hinged on social class, trade, integrity and interpersonal aptitude.
Where: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Where: Fremantle Prison, Fremantle, Western Australia
Cost: $22 per person
When: Public tours depart daily every hour
Your clients will be transported back in time with this selection of experiences. They can explore 19th century life in the aforementioned infamous prison settlement of Port Arthur with an expert led tour of its unique buildings. They will hear the stories of some of Port Arthur’s most notable individuals before tucking into a lunch of the region’s amazing produce.
Or they can experience the excitement of Ballarat’s 1850’s gold rush days at Australia’s largest outdoor museum at Sovereign Hill, including an overnight stay in convenient on-site accommodation in the Governor’s Room.
They can capture Australia’s democratic spirit with a unique tour offering behind-the-scenes access to Australian Parliament House along with a dining experience usually reserved for visiting dignitaries. The exclusive tour includes expertly hosted talks, and access to rarely seen private, official and ceremonial spaces.
Where: Port Arthur Historic Site; Port Arthur, Tasmania
Cost: $300 per person
When: Departs 11am daily, 48 hours notice to personalise the tour
Where: Ballarat, Victoria
Cost: From $170 with twin share accommodation
When: Tuesday – Sunday
Where: Australian Parliament House; Canberra, ACT
Cost: $330 per person (weekday) $440 per person (weekends)
When: Daily
To inspire, promote and actively advance Australian cultural experiences in global and domestic markets, driving added value to the visitor economy.
Cultural Attractions of Australia brings together 19 of Australia’s most iconic cultural attractions, which celebrate the country’s diverse cultural, historical and sporting influences and how the nation has been defined by its history.
Attractions range from Unesco World Heritage-listed sites to hallowed sporting arenas, galleries, museums and performance spaces. They collectively represent Australia’s narrative and journey as a country, and have capacity to deliver inspired learnings and insights, along with authentic connections.
We are part of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences Program and we offer a one-stop source of the best cultural experiences on offer in Australia. Our experiences are premium with a value for money approach, giving cultural enthusiasts the opportunity to explore their passion often with unprecedented access to people, stories and spaces that go beyond simply visiting the attraction they are housed within.
They are all landmark attractions that have an international profile or they are the must-see attractions that international travellers will include in their Australian holiday itinerary.
They all showcase Australia’s cultural story expressed in sport, arts, culture, music, history and heritage.
Agents can book using their usual distribution channels and there is a Cultural Attractions of Australia website that provides more detail about the attractions and the curated experiences. culturalattractionsofaustralia.com
