Meeting Attractions + Experiences - Cultural Attractions of Australia

If you’re exploring the possibility of incorporating one of the Cultural Attractions of Australia attractions as a venue or a customized experience to enhance your conference program, the information below offers helpful insights and comprehensive information.

Adelaide Oval

Established in 1871, the Adelaide Oval is one of Australia’s most prestigious sporting venues which hosts cricket, Australian Rules football, concerts and major events, with capacity for over 53,000 spectators.

Situated in the South Australian capital, the stadium enjoys a prominent CBD location in the city’s picturesque riverbank precinct and is within easy walking distance of the convention centre and city hotels.

The Adelaide Oval has over twenty different venues, indoor and outdoor, which range from intimate boardrooms to venues for over a thousand. They present a diverse array of options for business event gatherings, whether for meetings and conferences, incentives or for memorable functions and events. In combination with its unique experiences, the Adelaide Oval promises business events with impact.

The portfolio of experiences on offer for business events include the following:

RoofClimb (by day or night) takes you on a guided walk across the stadium rooftop and can include a ‘heightened’ yoga session with a difference
The Adelaide Oval Legends Tour celebrates the life of cricket’s greatest batsman, Sir Donald Bradman, with a curated tour by an expert guide through Sir Donald’s private and personal memorabilia collection
The Adelaide Oval Cricket Tour and the Adelaide Oval Stadium Tour provide exclusive access to behind-the-scenes areas with expert guides offering captivating insights about this historic venue

A range of enhancements are available to tailor these activities to deliver bespoke experiences for participants.

Art Gallery of New South Wales

The Art Gallery of New South Wales was founded in 1872 and occupies a magnificent centrally-located parkland site in Sydney near the CBD. It is one of Australia’s flagship art museums and amongst the country’s largest arts institutions.

In December 2022, the Art Gallery doubled its footprint as a destination for art and culture across two buildings connected by a public art garden. The expansion created a prominent new destination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, with a larger dedicated space to showcase the Art Gallery’s internationally renowned collection.

The Art Gallery has a range of versatile event spaces for business events, whether for conferences or incentives, cocktail events, dinners and award nights. These include various indoor and outdoor function spaces, galleries, restaurants, and tiered-seating theatres and an auditorium.

Six unique and flexible event spaces are available in the original landmark building, now known as the South Building, whilst an additional five event spaces are available in the stunning new contemporary building, the North Building.

The Art Gallery has a range of enjoyable, fascinating and immersive experiences for event guests. From guided tours through our new building, cultural experiences celebrating our first nations people in our Yiribana Gallery, to hands-on and immersive experiences including art, drawing and digital workshops, there’s something for every guest to enjoy.

Two different after-hours experiences have been developed by the Art Gallery to deliver an evening of art, creativity, fine food and wine and are ideal for exclusive business event groups.

These three-hour evening experiences provide in-depth curated encounters with the Art Gallery’s extensive art collections and are designed as high-end small group options for a minimum two to a maximum of ten guests.

‘A Night at the Gallery’ is hosted by one of the Gallery’s senior curators and includes a champagne welcome followed by a five-course dinner. Guests enjoy up-close encounters with the Art Gallery’s vast collection and enjoy an after-hours tour of the inspiring building.
‘The Yiribana Experience’ will enhance appreciation of the Gallery’s impressive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection and is fully escorted by an Indigenous host. The five-course meal features indigenous ingredients and is set in the Gallery’s breathtaking new building.

Australian National Maritime Museum

Navigate a day of fun and exploration at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney.

Stroll along the waterfront and climb on board our fleet of historic ships. Learn about Australia’s early explorers on Captain Cook’s tall ship HMB Endeavour or go below deck and experience what life is like at sea in our submarine HMAS Onslow.

Visit our galleries and experience our historical artefacts that bring alive Australia’s deep connection to the sea, past and present. Our knowledgeable guides offer regular daily tours of the museum galleries and fleet.

Australian Parliament House

Located in Australia’s capital city, Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Australia’s Parliament House boasts striking contemporary architecture and occupies an impressive 33-hectare site on Capital Hill overlooking Lake Burley-Griffin.

Opened in 1988, Parliament House was designed to encourage public access and involvement, while responding to the Australian climate, landscape, vegetation and the unique light quality.

The huge building comprises more than 4500 rooms, many open to public viewing. Special features include a 196-square-metre mosaic, designed by Aboriginal artist Michael Nelson Jagamara, a stunning art and furniture collection and the extraordinary Great Hall Tapestry.

A range of versatile event spaces cater for intimate dinners for 20 through to large gala events for up to 1000 guests. These venues include the Great Hall, the Mural Hall, the Queen’s Terrace, the Alcoves, private dining rooms and a theatrette seating 288 people.

For business events, Parliament House offers a hosted four-hour experience, ‘More than Politics’, which delivers exclusive behind-the-scenes access.

Available for a minimum of two persons up to larger groups, it includes a memorable dining experience usually reserved for visiting dignitaries. High Tea will include seasonal offerings prepared by the in-house chefs with a contemporary twist.

The tour features expertly hosted talks, and access to usually off-limits private, official and ceremonial spaces.

Should the parliamentary schedule permit, it may be possible to also watch a sitting of Parliament from the Public Gallery.

Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial combines a shrine, a world-class museum, and an extensive archive. It is widely recognised as one of the most significant museums in the world.

The Memorial commemorates members of Australia’s Defence Force who have died in war or on operational service and those who have served our nation in times of conflict.

Located in Australia’s capital city, Canberra, the Memorial was opened in 1941 and is situated as a direct geographical counterpoint to Australia’s Parliament House.

The magnificent heritage building offers two venues for business events. Poppy’s Café seats 40 guests plus for cocktail functions and Aircraft Hall provides an opportunity to stage an event amongst an array of historic objects, catering for 180 guests dining or 300 guests for cocktails.

Several exclusive experiences at the Australian War Memorial enable business groups to enhance their event:

A Place to Remember is a private tour of the Commemorative Area escorted by an expert guide. It is suitable for two to six participants. Moving insights into the bravery and sacrifice of the 103,000 names on the Roll of Honour are provided. The tour also includes the Memorial’s galleries.

The Soul of the Nation tour commences with a private escorted tour of the Commemorative Area. It visits the breathtaking Hall of Memory, providing an opportunity to view one of the largest and most captivating mosaics in the world, before moving through the galleries. A Memorial curator provides private exploration of a unique collection of memorabilia, which can be shaped by guests’ specific requests. These could include rare and beautiful letters, photographs and diaries, as well as iconic and rarely displayed artworks. This tour is available for two to six participants.

There are three key areas: the Commemorative Area, which includes the Hall of Memory and the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier; the museum and galleries, which hold an extensive collection of art, relics, photographs and film and a Research Centre, which provides digital and physical access to a world-class collection of archives and war records.

Bangarra Dance Theatre

Bangarra Dance Theatre is a company of professional Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander performers. Step into over 30 years of stories and 65,000 years of Culture when you come behind-the-scenes at Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison in Western Australia is the largest convict-built structure in Australia and the most intact convict establishment in the southern hemisphere. UNESCO World Heritage listed as part of the Australian Convict Sites, the Prison was built by convict labour in the 1850s and was decommissioned as an operating maximum security gaol in 1991.

Located in the port city of Fremantle, it is approximately half an hour from Perth, Western Australia’s capital.

The six-hectare site includes cellblocks, a gatehouse, perimeter walls and cottages. A range of experiences hosted by experienced Guides deliver fascinating and educational insights into the daily life of convicts and prisoners. They include viewing museum displays in the Gatehouse complex and visiting themed exhibitions in the Prison Gallery. Tour options include:

Prison Art – an exclusive tour of prisoner artworks which dates back almost 140 years. They include art on cell and exercise yard walls, frescoes and religious works, European and also Aboriginal landscapes, dot paintings, graffiti and tattoo art. For groups of 10-12 guests, the tour is 1.25 hours in duration.
Convict Prison Tour – learn about the Prison’s convict history from construction in the 1850s till the end of the convict era in 1886, how inmates built their own prison and ultimately helped shape the future of Western Australia. Exclusive tours for a minimum 10 and maximum of 35 guests per group.
Behind Bars Tour – gain insights into the Prison’s history as a maximum-security gaol from 1887 until 1991. This 1 hour tour includes a walk through the Main Cell Block and exercise yards where you’ll learn about the realities of life ‘on the inside’. Exclusive tours for a minimum 10 and maximum of 35 guests per group.
True Crime – this fascinating tour reveals the real-life stories of some of the Prison’s most notorious inmates. From bushrangers, thieves and murderers to bank robbers and clever escape artists. Exclusive tours for a minimum 10 and maximum of 35 guests per group.
Torchlight – join your guide on an escorted private 1.5 hour tour as the Prison walls echo eerily in the dark with stories of loneliness, suffering and injustice. For groups of up to 35 guests per timeslot.
Tunnels – Don a hardhat, slip into overalls and descend via a ladder system to 20 metres below the Prison to explore a labyrinth of tunnels built by prisoners. During this 2.5 hour tour, guides lead the way through the tunnels before you board replica convict vessels to further explore submerged passageways only accessible by boat. Maximum 13 guests per timeslot.

Venue Hire

In addition to its guided tour program, Fremantle Prison offers unique venue hire options for afterhours functions and events. With a variety of character spaces to choose from the Prison is the perfect backdrop for gala dinners and cocktail style events with a difference. From 50 to 300 guests.

Melbourne Cricket Ground

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is regarded as one of Australia’s premier sporting stadiums. Nestled in Yarra Park, an approximate 10-minute walk from the heart of the city, the ground hosts international cricket, Australian Rules Football and many other sporting events each year. The MCG is managed by the prestigious Melbourne Cricket Club(MCC) which was founded in 1838 and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia.

As the largest stadium in the southern hemisphere with a seating capacity of 100,024, the MCG had had a long and distinguished association with the game of cricket since 1853. It was the birthplace of Test cricket in 1877 as well as one-day international cricket in 1971 and has hosted Australian Rules football since 1859. It was the main stadium for the 1956 Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games in 2006. Appropriately, the MCG is home to the Australian Sports Museum.

The MCG is situated in close proximity to CENTREPIECE, a conference event venue located at Melbourne Park, with delegates able to take a leisurely five-minute stroll across to the MCG for a lunch, dinner, networking or team-building event incorporating one of the MCG’s signature experiences.

In addition to the hallowed turf arena, the MCG has a suite of over 20 event spaces for every size business event gathering. MCG events can incorporate optional VIP sports personality appearances and the various exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences are ideal for business events. They include:

The MCG Premium Access Tour is available for small groups of two to six guests. This two-hour all-access experience escorted by a MCC tour guide includes a walk on the hallowed arena turf, a behind-the-scenes look at the prestigious MCC plus an extended visit to the Australian Sports Museum.
The MCG Tour includes a number of highlights such as a visit to the MCC’s renowned Long Room, player change rooms, the media centre, the MCC Library and includes the ‘must-do’ walk on the arena.
The Australian Sports Museum features an impressive display of memorabilia associated with some of the country’s biggest sporting heroes and highlights. A visit reveals that this is no ordinary museum as it features the very latest technology to create amazing and interactive new experiences. This space is also available for private hire for evening events.

Mona (Museum of Old and New Art)

Mona is Australia’s largest privately owned museum and art gallery. It is the experiment of its owner, Tasmanian gambler and collector David Walsh. We need art, he says. But for what?

The museum is home to David’s private collection, showcasing everything from ancient Egyptian funerary objects and modernist masterpieces to a waterfall of words and machine that mimics the human digestive system.

Perched on the River Derwent’s banks, not far from Hobart, the Mona site is also home to the Moorilla vineyard and winery, several bars and restaurants, Moo Brew craft brewery, luxury accommodation pavilions, library, cemetery and tennis court.

The best way to visit is to jump aboard Mona’s super flash fast ferries—camouflaged, decked out with bars, sheep / tigers to sit on—which depart from the Hobart waterfront.

National Gallery of Australia

It’s a world of creativity, identity and courage, the national gallery takes the world by a storm with big ideas, brave exhibitions and bold innovations.

With an annual calendar of stunning major exhibitions, an unsurpassed national collection, a dynamic program of public programs and live art events, the National Gallery of Australia is home to the visual culture and spirit of Australia.

A masterpiece of modern architecture, the gallery is located just minutes from the airport and city.

See the National Gallery of Australia’s statement and processes regarding COVID-safe practices for visitors here.

National Gallery of Victoria

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is the oldest and most visited gallery in Australia.

Situated over two magnificent buildings in the heart of Melbourne – NGV International and NGV Australia – the NGV hosts a wide range of international and local artists, exhibitions, programs and events; from contemporary art to major historic exhibitions, fashion and design, sound and dance.

The NGV holds the most significant collection of art in the region; a vast treasury of more than 70,000 works that span thousands of years and a wealth of ideas, disciplines and styles.

National Museum of Australia

Australia’s stories come alive at the National Museum of Australia, on the shores of Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin.

The Museum’s stunning architecture provides an extraordinary place to explore the rich and diverse stories of Australia and its people.

The Museum tells the comprehensive story of Australia from 65,000 years ago to the present day through compelling objects, ideas, events and displays, focussing on Indigenous histories and cultures, European settlement and our interaction with the environment. The Museum’s exhibition program brings the world’s cultures to Australia and presents Australia’s history and culture to the world.

With its waterfront café and quality gift shop, a visit to the Museum is a great way to learn about Australia’s land, nation and people.

Opera Australia

No trip to Sydney is complete without witnessing a live performance in its most famous building, so prepare for the most impressive night you’ve ever had.

You can dress up (but you don’t have to), have a glass of champagne looking over the harbour, and enjoy an exciting performance in the Sydney Opera House.

The opera season features the world’s most favourite operas from the hit composers like Puccini and Mozart, as well as hit Broadway musicals. With over 600 performances each year, all feature famous, well recognised music, as well as moving stories and spectacular sets and costumes.

Port Arthur Historic Site

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site, located 90 minutes’ drive southeast of Hobart, brings Australia’s early convict history to life.

Port Arthur is the best-preserved convict settlement in Australia and among the most significant convict era sites in the world. For more than forty years, until its closure in 1877, Port Arthur was a penal settlement as well as a military and industrial centre, encompassing mining, farming, timber cutting, boat building and many other trades.

Today the Port Arthur Historic Site covers 100 acres of gardens and grounds, with more than 30 historic buildings and ruins to explore, the site combines history and scenic beauty with innovative interpretation to tell the stories of the harsh discipline and determined industry of the settlement. It is the place to discover Australian history and explore the origins of contemporary Australian culture.

Queensland Art Gallery I Gallery Of Modern Art (QAGOMA)

The Queensland Art Gallery I Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) is one of Australia’s most dynamic art galleries.

Located in a riverside location just minutes from the heart of Brisbane, Queensland’s state capital, the two architecturally-acclaimed gallery buildings form part of the Queensland Cultural Centre. In close proximity to many of the city’s accommodation offerings, it is also within walking distance of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and the South Bank Precinct.

The galleries offer an ever-changing program of Australian and international exhibitions with a strong focus on contemporary Australian, Asian and Pacific art.

More than ten spectacular spaces available for hire across the two galleries including the magnificent roof-top terrace with panoramic views of the city skyline to the prestigious Watermall where guest are surrounded by art. Indoor and outdoor function spaces are available for meetings and dining, ranging from small functions to cocktails for over 1000, from the award-winning QAGOMA Catering & Events team.

QAGOMA offers two signature client experiences through Cultural Attractions of Australia, which focus on the culture of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples:

The First Artists Evening Indigenous Experience for Groups is a three-hour early evening program and an ideal way for 30-50 business event guests to reconnect socially or perhaps be rewarded. The evening includes a special Indigenous welcome, interactive tour of the Indigenous Australian Art Collection, a hands-on creative activity, all complemented by bush-food inspired canapes and Australian wines.

The First Artists Exceptional Indigenous Art & Dining Experience is a very exclusive and interactive evening conducted over four hours which totally immerses guests in cultural offerings. Unique insights are provided through an impressive Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony; an immersive tour of Indigenous Australian artworks – sharing the important stories they tell – followed by a magnificent dinner infused with native ingredients, plus live Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performances. And, for the whole evening, the Gallery is exclusively yours.

This is a premium small group experience for a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 25 guests.

Sovereign Hill

By day, Sovereign Hill is where history comes to life. It’s just like stepping back in time – from the hustle and bustle of Main Street, to the excitement of the Red Hill Gully Diggings, where visitors can pan for real gold! Watch a spectacular $160,000 gold pour or catch a horse-drawn coach and tour the town.

By night, be part of Sovereign Hill’s new sound and light show, AURA. Explore space, delve into the Dreamtime and re-live Australia’s most important rebellion – all while travelling under the night sky. Convenient on-site accommodation is available.

Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House, located on the foreshore of spectacular Sydney Harbour and adjacent to the city’s CBD, is Australia’s most-recognised cultural institution and is regarded as one of the world’s most famous and distinctive buildings. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a masterpiece of human creative genius and stands as a symbol of modern Australia, alive with stories past and present.

As one of the most innovative and spectacular venues in the world, Sydney Opera House is the perfect place to host your quintessentially Sydney event. Combine a function at Sydney Opera House with one or more of these unique experiences to create your own Extraordinary Experience:

Tour & Taste of Opera: A Private Opera Recital – A guided tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House which includes a private opera recital that can also be combined with a dinner or private event. Begin with a guided tour where guests will discover the captivating stories of one of the world’s most iconic buildings, after the tour guests are escorted to their‘surprise’ 20-minute opera recital performed by one of Australia’s talented opera singers in one of the iconic spaces of the Opera House. The Taste of Opera performance can be elevated with an optional private function featuring signature cocktails and canapés, or a tailored 3-course dinner held in the Yallamundi Rooms or another of the iconic event spaces. This experience is available for a minimum of two to a maximum of 200 guests – event duration increases if combined with a private function.
Sydney Opera House Tour – From the glistening sweep of the sails to resplendent views of the harbour, this tour delivers “wow” factor at every moment. Guests explore beneath the sails and uncover the stories and secrets of the Opera House with the expert guides. The Tour features a visit to a new purpose-built venue fitted out with a 270-degree projection and surround sound to showcase unforgettable moments from past Concert Hall performances. Tours accommodate 46 guests per tour, and multiple, consecutive tours can be organised to accommodate for larger groups.
Sydney Opera House: Tour and Dine – Discover the extraordinary stories of the Sydney Opera House and then relax by the harbour to enjoy a meal and drinks at either the Opera Bar or the House Canteen. The guided one-hour tour takes you inside theatres and foyers, which are otherwise off-limits, and lets you in on insider secrets. Then enjoy either lunch or an early dinner beneath the sails of this iconic building.
Sydney Opera House: Taste of the House – Wine and dine around the Opera House’s restaurants and bars for a progressive long lunch experience. It commences with a cocktail-making class at the Opera Bar, complemented by a seafood tasting plate. A visit to Sydney’s newest market food hall follows for a salumi plate, schmiddy of beer and some fine views whilst enjoying a chef-led class on how to master a salmon poke bowl. A leisurely lunch is served at Portside Sydney complemented by some of Sydney’s best harbourside views. Last stop is under the sails at Bennelong Restaurant for a signature dessert paired with live jazz music. This four-hour tour is available on the last Sunday of each month and is available for a maximum of ten guests.
Sydney Opera House: Architectural Tour – This tour provides fascinating insights into how in the mid-1950s, Australia and a man from Denmark, Jørn Utzon, created a sculpture on Sydney Harbour that changed the course of twentieth-century architecture. Learn how visionaries, idealists, architects, engineers, pragmatists and artists all contributed to this architectural and engineering masterpiece. This tour is is available for private groups on request.
Sydney Opera House: Badu Gili Wonder Women – Watch the sails of the Sydney Opera House illuminate hourly at sunset* with Badu Gili: Wonder Women, a projection celebrating the work and stories of six female First Nations artists. The six-minute display is a collaboration between the Opera House and the Art Gallery of New South Wales to mark the Gallery’s 150th anniversary.

Opera House venues provide spectacular harbour views and unique vantage points to appreciate the iconic architecture from the inside, and a range of function spaces are available for Business Events. These include the renowned Concert Hall and the Joan Sutherland Theatre foyer areas which can cater for up to 500 guests dining or 1000 for cocktails. The Utzon Room can accommodate 100 diners or 200 in a cocktail format, whilst the Yallamundi Rooms can seat 180 guests for a lunch or dinner or 400 for cocktails.

There are also a variety of restaurant and bar options – The Opera Bar, Portside, Bennelong, and House Canteen.

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