Top Australia & the Pacific Arts & Design - page 2

Fans of the Lord of the Rings movies won’t want to miss this fun half-day tour to various filming locations in the Southern Alps. You’ll enjoy exclusive access to private Arcadia Station and will also visit the beautiful Mt. Aspiring National Park. Be amazed by the natural beauty while reliving your favorite movie scenes. Don an LOTR costume and sword too, if you like.

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.

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.

You will have the opportunity to: • Sit in a real fighter jet • Explore the many weapons, radars, ejection seats and artifacts on display • Try your hand at flying an F/A-18 Hornet in one of our motion simulators (bookings essential on 02 4965 1810 – additional cost) • Be amazed by the Norm Forrester Collection of hand-made model aircraft When you've finished viewing the many displays it’s an easy step up to the Observation Deck where you can sit and watch some of the world's most advanced aircraft take-off and land and don't forget to stop at the souvenir shop for something truly unique. Of course, it's always a pleasure to revel in the warm welcome, great food and friendly atmosphere of the cafe where you can stay cosy inside or venture outdoors to enjoy all the noise and activity of the fully operational Air Force Base. The choice is yours.

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.

Get an in-depth look at Melbourne's street art scene during this walking tour. Led by a street artist, this tour allows a peek into the underground art scene, including a visit to the famous Blender Studios for a look around, accompanied by refreshments.

Maximize your time in Adelaide—and leave the logistics to someone else—on this full-day tour of the city’s highlights. Follow your local guide to all of the city’s best spots, including Glenalg Beach, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and Mount Lofty Summit for panoramic views. Stop at Adelaide Central Market for lunch (not included) and enjoy extended time to explore the German village of Hahndorf.

Lose yourself in a sea of color at ArtVo, an interactive art space in The District Docklands, a short distance from the Melbourne CBD. As visitors explore more than 100 paintings across 11 themed zones, they are encouraged to touch and interact with the art. Take a selfie against angel wings or a backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. Staff is on hand to help orient you and provide creative inspiration.

Experience the excitement of Australia's Gold Rush at Sovereign Hill, a recreated 1850s mining camp and town brought to life by costumed characters and 18 historically inspired activities. Try your luck with gold panning, catch a coach ride, explore an underground mine, and watch town residents like blacksmiths and candlemakers ply their trades. The whole family will love time traveling back to the era of fortune seekers and wild frontiers.

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.

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.

Discover the story of Brisbane on this expert-led small-group walking tour, while hitting all of the city’s main attractions. Perfect for those who have just arrived, as well as locals and those who want to go deeper in learning about Brisbane’s history, culture, society & First Nations people. Starting from the top of Queen Street, you’ll hear about Brisbane’s colonisation by the British – and how their arrival impacted the original inhabitants. Your guide will provide you with a range of perspectives on Brisbane’s development as you weave your way through the city. From tough penal colony origins to its more recent transformations as the city prepares to host the 2032 Olympics, you’ll discover the real Brisbane. Your tour ends with beautiful views of the Brisbane River and Story Bridge, finishing at a popular drinking spot with a small beverage included. Walk the streets in a small group so you’re not fighting to see & hear your guide or stay on the footpath.

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.

Explore Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War with the peace and stillness this subject matter deserves by joining a small group guided tour. Te Papa has joined forces with Weta Workshop to create an exhibition like no other. Garnering international acclaim and various awards, join your expert host and learn more about Te Papa's famous exhibition. * See eight extraordinary New Zealanders captured frozen in time on a monumental scale - 2.4 times human size * Learn about the battles that took place in this culturally-defining event * Discover more about the ANZAC story through 3D maps and projections, miniatures, models, dioramas, and a range of interactive experiences. This tour includes the international visitor entry charge. Domestic tour pricing is available on our website.

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.

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.

Visit Leeuwin Estate for a tour and tasting that provides a relaxed introduction to the estate's wines. Your tour includes morning tea, a wine tasting with paired foods, and a look into the winemaking process. You'll also hear about the family-owned winery's long association with the arts, and special events including cooking classes, wine dinners, and a summer concert series.

Tour Napier’s distinctive Art Deco heritage in style on this vintage car tour of the city. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported back to the 1930s as you drive past some of the city’s must-see buildings in a vintage Packard car. Your local guide will tell you all about the earthquake of 1931 and the Art Deco architecture that emerged afterwards, so you can just relax in the back seat.

Step into The Nostalgia Box to see the history of home video game consoles and play some classic games. The collection includes the first video console made for home use, the Magnavox Odyssey from 1972, and subsequent early consoles from Atari and Nintendo, in addition to newer models such as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. You can play retro games including Super Mario Brothers, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong and Crash Bandicoot. Fun for all ages, whether you are reliving your youth or introducing the kids to the games.

Make the most of your time in Auckland with skip-the-line access to the Auckland War Memorial Museum (also known as the Aukland Museum). Housed in a beautiful heritage building, the museum's three floors showcase New Zealand's diverse culture, rich heritage, and its role as a place of remembrance for those who sacrificed their lives in war.

Discover famous sites from Middle-earth on this Hobbiton™ Movie Set shore excursion from Port of Tauranga. Enjoy a guided tour of Hobbiton™, which featured in screen adaptations of Tolkien's epic novels. Also explore some natural highlights of the area, including McLaren Falls Park, Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, and a kiwifruit orchard—something that other Hobbiton™ tours miss out on.

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.

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.

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.