Art escapes
Living Desert and Sculptures Symposium © Destination NSW
Enjoy unique experiences, guided by knowledgeable art experts, while sharing in the company of like-minded travellers. We take care of all the details, so you can relax and focus on absorbing the art, history, architecture and archaeology of your destinations.
A tour with Art Gallery members will ensure you have a memorable and meaningful experience. Funds raised from tours directly support the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
2024 tours
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Lands of the Saltwater People 8–15 August 2024
With Djon Mundine
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and YirrkalaDiscover the history, art and culture of Australia’s Top End in the company of curator and activist of contemporary Aboriginal Art Djon Mundine OAM. Enjoy the artistic highlights of the Top End, with the opening of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, two important events celebrating the great diversity of First Nations art and culture.
Uncover fine collections of Aboriginal and Australian artworks at Darwin’s leading contemporary art galleries, including Paul Johnstone Gallery and Outstation Gallery. Then, fly to East Arnhem Land and the Yirrkala community with its outstanding Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, where Yolŋu artists exhibit and sell their vibrant contemporary work.
Then, fly to East Arnhem Land and the Yirrkala community with its outstanding Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, where Yolŋu artists exhibit and sell their vibrant contemporary work.
Attend a special VIP opening ceremony and preview of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair
Gain special, after-hours access to the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards exhibition in Darwin
Marvel at the world-renowned art of the Yolŋu people at Yirrkala in north-east Arnhem Land
Benefit from engaging private talks from your tour leader, Djon Mundine OAM
Bandjalung man, Djon Mundine OAM, curator, writer, artist and activist is celebrated as a foundational figure in the criticism and exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal Art. He is a former arts advisor in Milingimbi and Ramingining in Arnhem Land. He has been a judge of the prestigious Telstra NATSIAA (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award).
East Arnhem Land, photo: Tourism NT/Mark Fitzpatrick
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Ancient landscapes and sacred sites 9–15 October 2024
Mungo National Park, Menindee Lakes, Mutawintji National Park, Broken Hill
With Alex McKayDiscover ancient landscapes, archaeological treasures and sacred Indigenous sites at the Mungo and Mutawintji National Parks and delve into the intriguing colonial history of this remote corner of NSW. Traverse the spectacular Mutawintji National Park with its superb rock engravings and sacred Aboriginal sites and admire the rugged beauty of its vibrant crimson gorges.
Explore the World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park and learn about the significant archaeological discoveries of Mungo Lady and Man, evidence of human history and culture in the region dating back thousands of years. Appreciate the breathtaking lunar landscapes of the so-called Walls of China, formed over thousands of years of erosion. Visit Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, the oldest art gallery in regional NSW, and learn about the town’s colourful colonial and mining history.
Feast your eyes on breathtaking ancient landscapes and significant Aboriginal sacred sites
Learn about Indigenous culture and heritage at the Mungo and Mutawintji National Parks
Admire archaeological treasures and the lunar landscapes over the Walls of China at sunset
Explore the rural towns of Broken Hill and Silverton, rich in colonial and mining history
Cultural historian Dr Alex McKay is a fellow at the Royal Asiatic Society in London and the author of several books and articles, mostly on Himalayan history and culture. He has worked, lived and travelled widely in Asia and North Africa and has led numerous member’s tours in those regions.
Walls of China in Mungo National Park
