Travel update: ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred latest travel information for South East QLD and Northern NSW
Port Arthur Historic Site, Port Arthur, Tasmania © Port Arthur Historic Site
Australia's best historical and cultural experiences
From World Heritage sites to the iconic structures you've long dreamt of seeing, these are Australia's greatest historical and cultural treasures.
1
Visit the icons
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales © Keith Zhu/Unsplash
Sydney Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
The Burrawa Climb with BridgeClimb, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, New South Wales © BridgeClimb
Australian Parliament House, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © Martin Ollman/Tourism Australia
1
Visit the icons
You've seen them on postcards; now it's time to see our iconic structures in person. One such icon is the Sydney Opera House, whose white sails are known around the world. Just opposite the opera house is the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which you can climb with BridgeClimb. Over in Canberra, you can learn about our local political systems or simply take in the architecture on display at Parliament House.
2
Visit an Aboriginal art gallery
Waringarri Aboriginal Arts Centre, Kununurra, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia
Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, Western Australia © Japingka Gallery
Janbal Gallery, Mossman Gorge, Queensland © Tourism Australia
2
Visit an Aboriginal art gallery
Australia is home to some of the oldest and most impressive artworks anywhere in the world. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of First Nations art, and maybe even purchase a piece as a memento of your travels. At the Waringarri Aboriginal Arts Centre in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, you'll find the works of over a hundred Indigenous painters, printmakers, wood carvers and boab engravers.
3
Explore World Heritage sites
Uluru, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory © Tourism Australia
Whitsundays, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland © Tourism Whitsundays
The Bungle Bungle Range, Purnululu National Park, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Southwestern Victoria © Visit Victoria
3
Explore World Heritage sites
Australia is home to a whopping 20 sites on the World Heritage list – fossil sites, ancient rainforests and the world’s largest coral reef, just to name a few. If it's memorable landmarks you're after, there's no going past Uluru. Found in Australia's Red Centre, the ancient monolith has some 500 million years of sacred history. Explore Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and learn about the formation's spiritual significance from the Anangu people.
4
Wander world-class art galleries
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria © Tourism Australia
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © Tourism Australia
Aboriginal Memorial, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © Tourism Australia
4
Wander world-class art galleries
Australia’s major cities are home to incredible modern, classic and ever-changing exhibits. At our oldest gallery, Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria, you can browse over 75,000 works of art, spanning sculptures, prints, drawings, paintings and more. Hobart’s Mona is also not to be missed – the sometimes controversial works housed here will fascinate, captivate and maybe even disgust.
5
Explore ancient rock art
Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory © Tourism NT
Venture North Safaris, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/James Fisher
Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) Rock Art Site, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Peter Eve
5
Explore ancient rock art
Ancient rock art provides an important window into Australia's long and rich Indigenous history. Some of Australia’s rock art dates back nearly 30,000 years, offering an incredible look into life of early settlements. Kakadu National Park is one of the best places to see these spectacular outdoor galleries. A tour with Venture North will help you better understand the storytelling behind these artworks from First Nations communities.
6
Attend an art festival
Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide, South Australia © Blunderland
Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide, South Australia © Meaghan Coles
Parrtjima Festival, Alice Springs, Northern Territory © Tourism NT
Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania © Adam Gibson
6
Attend an art festival
Australia's art festivals promise a good time. There's a festival of more than 1,400 shows, a mid-winter feast that pays homage to mind-bending rituals and an exhibition of Aboriginal artworks that lights up the outback. Adelaide Fringe is the most well-known of Australia's arts festivals, and each year, it brings over 8,000 artists to South Australia for four dynamic weeks. From cabaret to comedy, the festival always has a packed schedule with something for every art fan.
7
Visit a convict site
Port Arthur Historic Site, Port Arthur, Tasmania © Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority
Fremantle Prison Tunnels Tour, Fremantle, Western Australia
Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW
7
Visit a convict site
When Australia was colonised by the British in the 1700s, criminals (or 'convicts') were brought over to the colony and put to work as labourers. Australia's convict sites help tell an important part of the country's story. Visit Port Arthur in Tasmania to see Australia's best-preserved convict settlement and learn about the people who both built the structure and served time there.
8
Go behind the scenes
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
8
Go behind the scenes
Go a step further than most by taking a backstage tour through the halls of the Sydney Opera House. The architectural treasure is, foremostly, a performing arts centre, and the Sydney Opera House Backstage Tour will bring you behind the Stage Door, where countless performers have prepared to make their debut. From tech equipment and stage set-up secrets to stories about the performers who have graced these theatres, the tour offers an entirely different (and rare) cultural experience.
9
Catch a live show
Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane, Queensland © Tourism Australia
Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales © Daniel Boud
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
Federation Square, Melbourne, Victoria © Always Live
9
Catch a live show
From internationally acclaimed musicals to local Aussie bands, live performances in Australia are a treat for all culture lovers. No matter the city you're visiting, you'll find plenty of performance options at your fingertips. When in Brisbane, visit the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), where you can spend the evening enjoying ballet, opera or orchestra before taking a walk along the river.
