Professional gambler and art collector David Walsh’s Museum of Old and New Art is Australia’s largest museum. Described by its owner as a “subversive adult Disneyland,” the collection runs the full spectrum from ancient Egyptian mummies to contemporary conceptual installations. From the moment you board the high-speed ferry that sails between Hobart’s waterfront and MONA’s 99 steps, you’ll realise this is a museum like no other. Get there early to see James Turrell’s Amarna – a spectacular outdoor light show that complements the natural conditions at sunrise and sunset.
Australians have a love affair with art, and with incredible galleries dotted throughout the country, it’s also one of the top reasons we travel interstate. Every year, our nation welcomes blockbuster international exhibitions, along with major showings of our most colourful and creative local talents.
Whether it’s contemporary Aboriginal art in Alice Springs, delicate glassworks in Wagga Wagga, topical portraits in Canberra or 21st-century Chinese art in Sydney, these are the best public galleries worth visiting in Australia.