The Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) is always worth the 30-minute journey north of Hobart, and not just for its genre-bending art. David Walsh’s $110 million precinct is also home to a world-class winery and a bevy of unique dining offerings. Experience it all in style with Moorilla’s Big Day Out package – it starts with a ride in the ‘Posh Pit’ – the chic private lounge aboard Mona’s ferry where you’ll sip complimentary drinks while cruising the Hobart waterfront. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted with a glass of bubbly beneath American artist James Turrell’s Amarna pavilion.

Next up is a tour and series of tastings at the on-site winery, Moorilla, followed by a long lunch at The Source Restaurant. Expect a contemporary menu centred around locally grown and sustainably sourced ingredients such as seared Tasmanian wild venison and salt-baked beetroot with Persian fig tartare. After you’ve eaten your fill, you’re free to explore the gallery’s evocative art installations for the afternoon – don’t miss Italian sculptor Arcangelo Sassolino’s first Australian solo show, in the end, the beginning, which features molten steel installations.

After a major redevelopment that earned it a spot on Golf Digest’s Great Golf Courses of Australia list, the point of difference for Lonsdale Links lies in its “square greens”. The complex’s CEO, Josh Hal, says the course – just 90 minutes south-west of Melbourne on the Bellarine Peninsula – is designed to mix strategy with fun. “You don't have to be a big hitter to enjoy yourself here. It’s about thinking your way around the course, embracing the quirks and savouring the challenge,” he says. “Anyone who has teed it up here will tell you about the 16th hole, our version of the famous Road Hole [17th hole at the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland]. It is a short par 4 that looks gettable on paper, but the closer you get to the green, the more it asks of you.” 

The course offers two-night Golf ‘n’ Graze packages in partnership with neighbouring boutique luxury escape Lon Retreat, located near Lake Victoria. It’s the ideal spot for boating and fishing and visiting historic Point Lonsdale Lighthouse and Queenscliff in between rounds.

Whether you're an aspiring athlete, curious adventurer or avid thrill-seeker, The Australian Institute of Sport’s Athlete Immersion Experience will help you find out just how far you can push yourself. Each program is tailored to your interests and skills, so you could swim against a gold medallist, test your agility in the strength and conditioning gym and get tips and tricks from experts on psychology, sleep and recovery. You’ll have exclusive access to the recovery centre after your session (think ice baths and plunge pools) and have lunch with an athlete in the dining hall.

Whether your next getaway is a big outdoor adventure or a relaxing mini-break, memories are waiting to be made. Start planning your next trip at australia.com.

Embrace the raw natural beauty of Tasmania’s rugged east coast on an exclusive tour of Hazards Vineyard and Moulting Lagoon, a two-hour drive north of Hobart. With a guide by your side, the experience – running on the first Sunday of the month from May to August – includes a private lunch in the underground cellar (known as The Devil’s Den), an oyster shucking demonstration perched on the back of a ute and roasted marshmallows and mulled wine by the firepit. Along the way, there’ll be opportunities to sip premium drops from local winery Devil’s Corner as well as some unscripted moments. “One of our local sea eagles came and landed on a wine barrel during a tasting – it was stunning and powerful and highlighted the connection to nature,” shares Leesa Cooksley, the vineyard’s events coordinator.

While you’re visiting the region, Cooksley suggests adding in a hike through Freycinet National Park or chartering a boat to explore Coles Bay. “And if you’re a morning person, watching the sun rise over the Hazards is unforgettable – it’s a moment of pure calm before the day begins,” she recommends.

Discover democracy in action at Australia’s Parliament House with a behind-the-scenes guided tour in Canberra. Across four hours, you’ll gain insights on the award-winning building designed by principal architect Romaldo Giurgola, take a seat in the press gallery and enjoy high tea. While you can visit and explore the country’s political centre at your own pace with free admission, there are several other ticketed experiences available, including the Art and Politics Tour, which shines a spotlight on well-known works such as Vincent Fantuzzo's portrait of Julia Gillard and Clifton Pugh's portrait of Gough Whitlam. 

Finish the day with Parliament House’s volunteer head beekeeper, Cormac Farrell, for a guided walk around their beehives followed by a honey tasting session. When you’re ready to dive into more of Canberra, The National Gallery of Australia, Australian War Memorial and the panoramic Mount Ainslie Lookout are all less than a 15-minute drive away.

The Margaret River region may be celebrated for its world-class wine, but it also happens to have one of Australia’s most stunning stretches of coastline – and you can enjoy both on an all-day Cape to Vine Tour. The day begins with a two-hour scenic drive, where you’ll discover picturesque beaches, hidden rock pools and surging waterfalls to uncover wildflowers and bush foods, spot wildlife and gain insights into local cultural history. Afterwards, you’ll head to the region’s founding wine estate, Vasse Felix in Cowaramup, for a behind-the-scenes winemaking tour and to stroll through the original vineyards before settling into a five-course lunch with paired wines – try the scallops with avocado, kohlrabi and pear paired with an aromatic sauvignon blanc.

Whether it's a behind-the-scenes look at a national icon or traversing the wildly diverse landscapes, adventures await in your own backyard. Start planning yours at australia.com.

Centrally located between Flinders Chase National Park and Seal Bay Conservation Park, Baillie Lodges’ beloved Southern Ocean Lodge was razed by bushfires in 2020 and completely rebuilt on the wild west coast of Kangaroo Island in 2023. 

From this state-of-the-art “floating” base on the clifftops, you can embark on a guided tour to visit a colony of long-nosed fur seals at Admirals Arch or head across to Seal Bay, home to Australia’s third-largest colony of endangered sea lions. Guests often spot koalas with their joeys in the trees along the road into Southern Ocean Lodge, cross paths with an echidna on the boardwalk or see the island’s namesakes hopping freely in the grasslands. Help yourself to the walk-in wine cellar featuring about 160 labels of premium South Australian wine and enjoy gourmet treats from the in-suite bar.

Join a group of up to 12 intrepid travellers for a moderate four-day guided hike with Spicers Scenic Rim Trail through Queensland’s UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Gondwana Rainforest, traversing 60 kilometres of dramatic peaks, ridges and escarpments in Main Range National Park. Spicers operate the tour between March and December. 

Senior guide Kate Skeldir takes pleasure in seeing people’s reactions to a place she calls home: “I love nothing more than to see the look of awe on people’s faces and the big, goofy grins as they wander through the rainforest.” 

Accommodation varies each night, from a farmhouse atop Mount Mistake to an eco-camp overlooking Dalrymple Creek Valley. “Bringing the outside in and encouraging guests to sleep with their tilt doors open while wrapped in an electric blanket in winter is a treat in such a remote bush setting,” Skeldir says. “The people that I meet on the first day of the tour are vastly different to the people that I share dinner with on the final night.”

Flanked by Flooded Gums along its fairways, Bonville Golf Resort – dubbed “Australia’s Augusta National” – has been voted Australia’s favourite golf course for the past seven years and played host to the Australian Women’s Classic tournament for six years. The New South Wales golf course is an easy drive 10 minutes south of Coffs Harbour (with airport transfers available) and has five tailored stay, play-and-dine packages plus day passes available. 

Bonville’s group marketing manager, Christopher Winn, says it's a bucket-list experience for all players. “They can make their way through pockets of rainforest as they putt along the 12 kilometres. The first hole offers a picture-postcard welcome to the property, while the dogleg right 15th hole is a risk-and-reward hole and home to many of Bonville’s resident koalas… and there’s no better way to finish your round than making your approach shot into the amphitheatre-like 18th green,” he says.

After the game, visit the “19th hole”, the award-winning Flooded Gums restaurant overlooking the fairways to dine on Tempura Mooloolaba prawns, Hervey Bay half shell scallops or an S Kidman scotch fillet.

Australia has some of the best golf courses in the world. How many have you played at? Start planning your next great game at australia.com.

In the heart of Canberra, explore the Australian War Memorial’s Commemorative Area, the Hall of Memory and world-class galleries on The Soul of the Nation private tour. Reflect as you place a poppy in remembrance on the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier and then immerse yourself in an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience with a National Collection curator, where you can view unique memorabilia, rare and beautiful letters, photographs and diaries – some more than 100 years old.

The Best “Soft Adventure” Experiences to Have in Australia