National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © Tourism Australia

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © Tourism Australia

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © Tourism Australia

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Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA)
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Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA)
Known for: Modern Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art

Right on Sydney Harbour sits the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (better known as the MCA). The MCA celebrates living artists through exhibitions and its permanent collection of 4,000 works, but it also has a sense of history; its buildings are on the site where Australia’s first Europeans landed in 1788. The MCA also has a strong commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contemporary art. The permanent work Warrang, by Brook Andrew, greets you as you enter.

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Museum of Old and New Art
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Museum of Old and New Art
Known for: Quirky and eccentric creations

It’s weird, wonderful and essential to visit when travelling to Hobart. The experience starts with a 25-minute ferry ride on seats that look like sheep. And things become even more bizarre as you explore the museum. The bold Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) has been dividing opinions – but largely earning rave reviews – since the day it opened in 2011. There are no labels on the artworks in Mona’s subterranean world, but you’re sure to find art that intrigues and challenges you.

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National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
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National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
Known for: Extravagant events and exhibitions

Located in Melbourne and dating back to 1861, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is Australia’s oldest art museum. It boasts more than 75,000 objects in its collection, including a magnificent selection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. The gallery is known for hosting blockbuster exhibitions and also offers a program of events covering everything from contemporary art and design to fashion, sound and performance.

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National Gallery of Australia
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National Gallery of Australia
Known for: Outdoor sculptures and First Nations art

In Australia’s capital city of Canberra, the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) is home to a permanent collection of approximately 160,000 works, from the surrealism of René Magritte to the pop art of Andy Warhol. You’ll find works by Jackson Pollock (including his masterpiece ‘Blue poles’), Henri Matisse and James Turrell. Head outside to the sculpture garden and leave plenty of time to explore the vast collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works.

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Art Gallery of South Australia
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Art Gallery of South Australia
Known for: Collections by female artists

The Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) has been on its current site in Adelaide since 1900. Now, its increasingly impressive collection boasts 45,000 pieces and spans 2,000 years. The 20th-century modernist art collection, which focuses on works by female artists, is a highlight. Exploring the gallery, you’ll find works by Australian greats, including Sidney Nolan and Arthur Boyd, and stunning contemporary Asian art.

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Art Gallery of New South Wales
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Art Gallery of New South Wales
Known for: An underground gallery built inside a WWII oil tank

Fringing Sydney's city are the split campuses of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. In the sandstone Naala Nura building, you'll find a fantastic array of historic Australian and international art along with a library of rare books and fine art publications. In the Naala Badu campus, expect to enter a light-filled space adorned with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art before descending through several levels to reach an other-worldly underground gallery in a repurposed WWII oil tank.