The founding members of Cultural Attractions of Australia launched 22 premium experiences and a comprehensive new website today.
This industry-led collective of iconic Australian arts and cultural attractions have joined forces to present the best of Australia’s cultural offering to the world. The collective includes Adelaide Oval, Arts Centre Melbourne, Australian War Memorial, Australian Parliament House, Fremantle Prison, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Mona (Museum of Old and New Art), National Anzac Centre, National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Opera Australia, Port Arthur Historic Site, Qantas Founders Museum, Sovereign Hill, Sydney Opera House and WA Maritime Museum.
Each of these institutions has developed one or more premium experiences, most of which are newly created for Cultural Attractions of Australia and all of which ensure unrivalled insight, access and attention for guests.
These 22 unforgettable experiences, ranging in price from $140 to $50,000 per person, are now available for booking, with details overleaf and full information at culturalattractionsofaustralia.com
In Canberra, the Australian War Memorial offers a personalised tour and behind the scenes exploration of the unique collection of letters, maps, photographs and diaries. At Australian Parliament House, visitors are guided through the art and furniture collections and are invited to lunch like a visiting dignitary. The National Gallery of Australia’s exclusive after-hours tour of iconic works in the national collection is followed by an unforgettable degustation dinner where each course reflects an artwork.
While in Tasmania, Mona’s three experiences include a full-on James Turrell immersion, a Rockstar Afternoon of art and pleasure or a private dinner with owner and maths nerd David Walsh which includes private jet transfer, feasting and a hit of tennis with him (although his staff discourage this). Port Arthur Historic Site invites guests to put themselves in the shoes of some of Port Arthur’s most notable individuals going ‘behind the prison bars’ and to dine in this infamous, World Heritage Listed prison settlement as night falls.
In Western Australia, a day in Fremantle encompasses personalised, behind-the-scenes access to the artistic heritage of theFremantle Prison’s convict etchings, Aboriginal landscapes, dot paintings, graffiti and tattoo art. In the afternoon, Australia’s sporting, naval and whaling maritime history comes to life at the WA Maritime Museum, finishing with sunset drinks overlooking the Indian Ocean. Further south, in Albany, the National Anzac Centre overlooks the harbour from which over 41,000 men and woman left for World War One and tells their stories, creating a deeply personal tribute and connection.
In Sydney, performing arts lovers can dine under the sails of Sydney Opera House with a private recital and tour. Or be fitted with wig and costume and arrive via the stage door of Sydney Opera House for their on-stage debut in an Opera Australia performance.
Melbourne has culture covered with Arts Centre Melbourne’s exclusive access to the Australian Performing Arts Collection Store, backstage tour and guided look through the Australian Music Vault. At the National Gallery of Victoria travellers are invited to dine with Cleopatra – enjoying an evening of art and music with dinner in the gallery where revered masterpiece, Giambattista Tiepolo’s The Banquet of Cleopatra hangs. Sports lovers can walk in the footsteps of their heroes at Melbourne Cricket Ground, followed by a drink and canapes in one of the grounds many hospitality venues.
In Adelaide, following in the footsteps of Australian sporting icon Sir Donald Bradman takes travellers onto the ground of the Adelaide Oval and for a private conversation with the head groundsman. Sir Donald was a pioneer of Australian cricket and the pioneering spirit of some other fascinating Australians is alive and well in Ballarat and Longreach. At Sovereign Hill, travellers immerse themselves, reliving the history and remarkable endeavour of those who came from all over the world when gold was discovered near Ballarat in 1851. Australia’s pioneers of the sky are celebrated at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach, with new perspectives on an internationally significant aircraft collection, including walking on the wings and sitting in the cockpit of a Boeing 747.
Jennifer Ganske, Chair, Cultural Attractions of Australia said: “Cultural Attractions of Australia is the only organisation of its kind operating at a national level and is a unique model on the global stage. The experiences launched today by the members of Cultural Attractions of Australia are astounding in the quality, inventiveness and insight they offer into Australian life and culture. It is with great pleasure that we launch our experiences that invite travellers to dive deep and expect the unexpected”.
Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O’Sullivan stated: “I commend Cultural Attractions of Australia for facilitating such unprecedented access to our artistic and cultural heritage for travellers. We acknowledge that cultural tourism is a growing market in Australia and we welcome Cultural Attractions of Australia as one of our Signature Experiences segments. These segments have been developed to package and promote outstanding Australian tourism experiences that offer diversity, transformation and engagement within a variety of niche and special interest areas.”
Above Credit: Scene from an exclusive dinner at the National Gallery of Victoria. Credits from Cultural Attractions of Australia enewletter 8/04/2019, from top left to bottom right: Port Arthur Historic Site, Photo: Hype TV; Melbourne Cricket Ground, Photo: Courtesy of the MCG; Arts Centre Melbourne, Photo: Mark Gambino; Australian War Memorial - Hall of Memory; Qantas Founders Museum; Fremantle Prison; National Anzac Centre; WA Maritime Museum; Sydney Opera House; Sovereign Hill; NGV International, Photo: Tobias Titz; Turandot, Opera Australia; Adelaide Oval Roofclimb; Australian Parliament House; National Gallery of Australia, Bert Flugelman Cones 1982 (Detail), National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Copyright Bert Flugelman, Photo: Tourism Australia; Mona.