Top Australia & the Pacific Arts & Design - page 2

Art, craft, and culture-loving travelers will enjoy this guided tour of a New Zealand jade (pounamu) carving studio. Learn about the cultural significance of jade to the local Maori people, and about traditional and contemporary designs. Get the chance to meet jewelry artists and to see them at work. Choose a piece of jade to string and keep as a memento.

The Dreamery is a must see experience, unique only to Queenstown. Discover nine immersive installations with seven rooms combining digital art, tactile play, and sensory wonder. Every room is custom build to amaze and be interacted with. Plus will leave you with amazing dynamic videos and photos.

Learn all about gold and the Western Australian gold rush of the 1890s during a one-hour tour of the Perth Mint. One of Western Australia’s oldest heritage sites, the Perth Mint features multimedia presentations, historic images and artifacts, and a dazzling array of pure gold that includes natural gold nuggets and a solid gold bar. Learn more than you would on a self-led tour of this interesting site.

Combine a tall ship cruise and time on Tivua Island with a relaxing dinner cruise when you book a combo package. Sail to Tivua Island for lunch paired with water activities and an open bar. Then, embark on a sunset evening cruise with dinner and Fijian cultural entertainment. Choose to take both cruises on the same day, or separate them into two days (dinner cruise does not run on Mondays).

Gain insight into Kiwi culture when you visit the All Blacks Experience in Auckland. Whether you’re an avid rugby fan or simply interested in learning more about the Haka and the New Zealand national teams, this interactive experience entertains and informs. Hear interesting stories about the team and famous players, see All Blacks memorabilia, and even watch a powerful haka.

While many people start with the city center of Melbourne and its laneways when exploring, there’s much more to Melbourne than this one area. Experience different sides to the city in one compact tour on this shared bus tour that goes beyond the laneways and places you can easily walk to. Explore different suburbs, each with their own vibe and feel, and visit bayside beaches for a well-rounded city tour.

Sydney’s modern skyline hides layers of history that can be easy to overlook without local context. This small-group walking tour brings the city’s past to life as you explore the historic waterfront around Customs House and the surrounding streets of The Rocks. Along the way, learn how Aboriginal heritage, British colonization, convict history, and later migration shaped the city's development.

Art and design enthusiasts will love this 2-hour small-group walking tour of Melbourne that focuses on the city’s Art Deco delights. Learn about Melbourne’s history and culture and see fine examples of Melbourne’s Art Deco buildings, including the Manchester Unity and Majorca buildings. Understand how the 1934 Centenary of Melbourne and the interest in diverse global design influences shaped the city’s architecture, too.

Explore Adelaide through the eyes of Jimmy C, a street artist known for his drip-style art. Learn about one artist's journey, how street art collaborations come together and how an artist can be so variously inspired. Wander through Rundle Street East, Rundle Mall and Chinatown as you admire Jimmy C's best works.

Cruise along the Mooloolaba canals and watch the sunset aboard a historic vessel. You’ll enjoy gourmet snacks of local meat and cheese and cocktails made with local spirits (including one that’s complimentary) as you relax and listen to live music on the boat. Enjoy this memorable, peaceful experience in nature with unique amenities.

Spend the morning or afternoon visiting Middle-earth on this half-day “The Lord of the Rings” tour from Wellington. A guide with insider knowledge entertains Frodo fans on a journey into the scenic New Zealand countryside. Get a behind-the-scenes look at LOTR movie production on a tour of the Weta Workshop and discover why director Peter Jackson selected this region to film the renowned trilogy, along with “The Hobbit” movies.

Explore René Boissevain’s incredible crystal caves on Atherton’s Main Street. Wearing a headlamp and equipped with a guidebook, marvel at Boissevain’s impressive collection of glittering rocks and fossils from around the world. Wind your way through 3,000 square feet (300 square meters) of man-made tunnels and grottoes, capture memorable photographs and pick up a gift at the jewelry shop.

Join us for a half day tour of the art centers and galleries in Mparntwe Alice Springs. If you’ve been thinking about buying Aboriginal art but don’t know where to start, let our guide help to reassure you and educate you about the art centers, history of Aboriginal art, and its relationship to country and culture. Alice Springs has the most art galleries per capita of anywhere in Australia, so where better to explore the Aboriginal art scene? Our town is vibrant with art, and we are passionate about opening up access to some of the off the beaten track art centers that visitors to the Red Centre might otherwise miss – benefiting both art centers and travelers. We will start our tour with a coffee and a briefing about Aboriginal art and culture We work closely with art centers, ensuring our visits take place at appropriate times. Art Tours of Australia and our tour guides never take a commission on art sales.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) provides medical services by plane to Australia’s most remote outback areas. With this ticket, visit the RFDS tourist facility in Darwin to learn more about the work of the RFDS team and hear heroic rescue stories, as well as discover stories about the World War II Bombing of Darwin. Enjoy interactive exhibits including a VR presentation and explore inside an RFDS aircraft.

Access parts of the Australian Sports Museum that are usually off limits during a tour of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Enjoy an exclusive glimpse into the inner sanctum of the MCG as you walk on the pitch and enter changing rooms used by cricket legends throughout the years. Plus, admission to the Australian Sports Museum is included.

Take a break from sightseeing or daily life and enjoy an interactive and immersive art experience at Metartworld, the largest metal art gallery in Australia. Ideal for all ages, admire more than 200 metal artworks and make your way through the mirror mazes in the starry night exhibition. Paid workshops available.

Discover unique tours at the Art Gallery New South Wales, Sydney. NEW - AUSTRALIAN ART STORIES TOUR (daily, 75min) Expert-guided journey through Australia's stories and culture across both Art Gallery buildings including a focus on indigenous art, early access before gallery opens to the public, coffee at MOD Dining with your guide, 10% off the Gallery Shop, Cafe and Kiosk, and access to the members lounge. ***Meeting Point: Welcome Hub, Naala Badu (modern, glass building).

Ending a day out means deciding between a sunset drink and sorting dinner, then getting between the two. This cruise combines them, gliding along the Thomson River with stories of local wildlife and Indigenous culture as you settle in on the top deck. As night falls, dock at Smithy's Outback Dinner and Show for a two-course camp-oven dinner and live entertainment.

Visit the Bell Tower, one of the largest musical instruments in the world, located in the heart of Perth in vibrant Barrack Square. Also known as the Swan Bells, the bell tower contains twelve bells made in the 14th century for St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London's Trafalgar Square. Learn how the bells came to Australia, discover the art of bell ringing, and soak in panoramic views of the city, Swan River and Elizabeth Quay from the open-air Observation Deck.

Save time and hassle when visiting the Gold Coast Wax Museum with this skip-the-line priority access ticket. Have fun “meeting” a wide range of realistic-looking personalities and historical figures. Then embark on a half-hour guided tour of the Chamber of Horrors–not for the faint of heart! See instruments of punishment from around the world, and learn the history around them.

Get a personal introduction to Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum, with a guided experience that adds meaning and context to what you see. Explore key highlights from the museum’s interactive exhibits, cultural collections, fine art, and natural history, while a guide shares stories and insight that bring the displays to life. Gain a deeper understanding of Māori heritage and New Zealand’s colonial history, and receive recommendations tailored to your interests so you can continue exploring with a richer perspective.

If you’re short on time in Napier, or wanting an overview of the city’s striking Art Deco architecture before exploring further alone, this morning tour is convenient. Admire the beautiful buildings of the Ahuriri and Marewa districts; see Art Deco landmarks such as the National Tobacco Building; and learn more about the distinctive design style. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

Treat your senses to a fun challenge at the Odyssey Sensory Maze in Queenstown. Your admission ticket gives you access to the maze, which generally takes 20-30 minutes to complete, although you can spend as much time as you like. Find your way through dark spaces and physical obstacles created by lighting, sound, and room design. An ideal activity for older kids and adults of all ages.

Sport holds an important place in Australian culture and you can get an insight into this national obsession on this guided walking tour. Visit Sydney's home of sport where sporting heroes play cricket, rugby, soccer, and Australian rules football, run down the tunnel, admire trophies, and learn all about its colorful history.