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Best art destinations in Oceania

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Melbourne
The heart of culture and coffee
8.7
Locals treat the laneways as open galleries. Hosier Lane's walls are repainted often with murals and stencils. The National Gallery of Victoria, founded in 1861, holds over 76,000 works on two sites. NGV International has a stained glass ceiling by Leonard French that is among the largest suspended pieces of its kind.
Highlights:
  • 🏏 Watch a match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
  • 🌆 Admire city views from the Eureka Skydeck
  • 🎨 Explore the laneways full of vibrant street art and cafés
Hobart
Coastal charm meets historic streets
9.0
Each winter Dark Mofo brings public art and light installations to Hobart. MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, opened in January 2011 on the Derwent River. Most visitors arrive by ferry. A spiral staircase leads down to three levels of galleries built into the cliffs.
Highlights:
  • 🏠 Explore Battery Point's historic sandstone cottages
  • 🏔️ Climb Mount Wellington for panoramic city views
  • 🛍️ Stroll through Salamanca Market, taste local produce
Sydney
Where urban life meets stunning beaches
8.7
The Archibald Prize for portraits has been awarded since 1921 and the Art Gallery of New South Wales hosts it. The Sydney Modern building opened in December 2022 and lifted exhibition space to about 16,000 square metres. General entry is free. Bondi hosts Sculpture by the Sea each October and November.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the golden sands of Bondi Beach
  • 🎭 Admire the Sydney Opera House from Circular Quay
  • 🌉 Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for panoramic views
Brisbane
River City with a Laid-Back Vibe
7.7
The Asia Pacific Triennial began in 1993 and moved into the Gallery of Modern Art in 2006. Large halls there show film, installation and painting from across the region. The gallery is in the South Bank precinct beside the Queensland Art Gallery and the State Library.
Highlights:
  • 🦘 Visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and meet native wildlife
  • 🏖️ Stroll through South Bank Parklands and relax by Streets Beach
  • 🌉 Climb Story Bridge for breathtaking city and river views
Canberra
A cultural hub surrounded by nature
7.4
Drips of blue, black and white cover Blue Poles, a Jackson Pollock canvas about 16 feet wide. The National Gallery of Australia bought it in 1973 for A$1.3 million. The price caused a national scandal at the time. Today the painting is a centrepiece of the national collection in Canberra.
Highlights:
  • 🔬 Discover interactive science fun at Questacon
  • 🏛️ Explore the majestic Parliament House with guided tours
  • 🕯️ Visit the Australian War Memorial and attend Last Post ceremony
Perth
Sun, surf and city style collide
7.0
Sculpture by the Sea fills Cottesloe Beach in early March with outdoor works along the shore. The event began in 2005 and draws over 200,000 visitors. Swimmers and walkers pass the pieces on the sand and the grass. The Art Gallery of Western Australia adds indoor exhibitions in the city.
Highlights:
  • 🍴 Stroll along Elizabeth Quay and enjoy waterfront dining
  • 🌅 Watch the sunset over the ocean at Cottesloe Beach
  • 📸 Take a selfie with wild quokkas on Rottnest Island
Wellington
Creative capital by wild seas
7.1
Carved wood surrounds Te Hono ki Hawaiki, the contemporary marae inside Te Papa. The museum opened on the Wellington waterfront in 1998 and has six floors. Toi Te Papa shows the art of the nation in long-term galleries. New Zealanders enter free and international visitors pay.
Highlights:
  • 🦜 Explore Zealandia urban ecosanctuary’s rare wildlife
  • 🚠 Ride the historic Wellington Cable Car for city views
  • 🏛️ Visit the interactive Museum of New Zealand Te Papa
Auckland
Where Urban Life Meets Nature
7.5
Toi o Tāmaki, the Auckland Art Gallery, was founded in 1888. It holds many portraits of Māori elders by Gottfried Lindauer. The gallery faces Albert Park in the city centre. A ferry of about 40 minutes reaches Waiheke Island, where sculpture parks and wineries add more art.
Highlights:
  • 🌋 Climb Mount Eden for panoramic views over volcanic landscapes
  • 🍷 Cruise across Waitematā Harbour and visit Waiheke Island’s vineyards
  • 🌆 Take in sweeping city views from the Sky Tower
Christchurch
The Garden City of Adventure
7.3
On New Zealand's South Island the Christchurch Art Gallery opened in 2003. It served as a Civil Defence base after the 2011 earthquake and reopened in December 2015. Graham Bennett's sculpture Reason for Voyaging greets visitors in the forecourt. Painted murals now brighten many walls around the city centre.
Highlights:
  • 🐧 See Antarctic wildlife at the International Antarctic Centre
  • 🌸 Stroll through the peaceful Christchurch Botanic Gardens
  • 🚠 Ride the Christchurch Gondola for scenic views of the city and hills
New Caledonia
Tropical Paradise with French Flair
8.0
Renzo Piano designed the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, which opened near Nouméa in 1998. Its tallest hut reaches 28 metres, almost as high as the 30-metre statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio. The centre honours Kanak leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou and celebrates Kanak art and culture.
Highlights:
  • 🏝️ Swim in the turquoise waters of the Natural Pool at Île des Pins
  • 🏛️ Explore Kanak culture at Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre
  • 🌅 Climb to the top of Amédée Lighthouse for stunning views
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