Lake Hume Resort, Lake Hume VillageCredit: Albury City Council and Destination Riverina Murray
Delgates kayaking on Lake Hume from Lake Hume Resorts, Lake Hume Village.
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
Uncover sophisticated culinary experiences, a thriving cultural scene and outdoor adventures on and off the mighty Murray River, as you immerse yourself in the thriving New South Wales city of Albury, less than six hours’ drive or an 80-minute flight southwest of Sydney.
Savour fresh local flavours
Delight in the concentration of excellent eateries celebrating the region’s bountiful produce dotted across this charming small city. Fire up for a day of culinary adventures with coffee at Brothers Cup, a small-batch coffee roastery and espresso bar in North Albury. Or ease into your day with a more leisurely brunch at local favourite, Mr Benedict, or The Proprietor, a former butcher shop turned café that highlights seasonality and locality.
Bliss out with a picnic lunch on the banks of the Murray River after stocking up with savoury bites from Ebden & Olive in South Albury, bakery treats from Nord Bakery next door (try the sourdough and the Danish pastries), and smoked trout from Murray River Smokehouse. Or, if you’re in town on a Sunday morning, enjoy a chat with local farmers and producers as you admire the rainbow of produce for sale at the weekly Kiewa Street Market.
Soak up the sunshine over lunch at the light-filled casual restaurant Canvas Eatery. Or perch riverside and refuel on flavoursome Murray cod and delectable locally sourced beef at The River Deck café overlooking the river in Noreuil Park.
Reward yourself after a day of exploring the city and surrounds with a memorable dinner at Bistro Selle on Olive Street, where the modern European-style menu focuses on regional, seasonal produce, and the extensive wine list features fine international and Australian wines. Appreciate the considered fusion of Mediterranean flavours and seasonal local produce at recently opened Yardbird, which specialises in cooking over fire. Or take your tastebuds on a delicious adventure around the Riverina at another newcomer to Albury’s dining scene, Glenbosch on Dean, where lunch is a three-course affair (five courses on Sundays) and the evening meal is a perfectly-paced five- or nine-course extravaganza highlighting local produce in innovative ways.
Relax with a casual meal of pillowy house-made dumplings at Hapi Dumplings on Dean Street, or head to Public House for comforting bistro favourites such as pizza, schnitzels and burgers, backed by DJ beats on Friday and Saturday nights. Step back in time as you take a seat at the bar, in the bistro or in the lush beer garden at the impeccably restored retro-style Astor Hotel Motel. Or keep the adventurous vibe going with cocktails or your new favourite local wine before a dinner of fresh seasonal produce at Level One Wine Bar.
Wagirra Trail and Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk, West Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Famiy enjoying a day of cycling along the Wagirra Trail and Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk, West Albury.
#feelnew #feelnsw
Wagirra Trail and Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk, West Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Famiy enjoying a day of cycling along the Wagirra Trail and Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk, West Albury.
The River Deck Cafe, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a meal at River Deck Cafe, Albury.
#feelnew #feelnsw
The River Deck Cafe, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a meal at River Deck Cafe, Albury.
Witness nature and art entwine
Feel refreshed after a foray on the mighty Murray River. Marvel at the majestic trees lining the banks of the river and thrill to raucous birds all around as you leisurely paddle a kayak or canoe on a guided tour with Murray River Canoe Hire.
Take an awe-inspiring walk or bike ride from the shore of the Murray — Albury has 50km of interlinked on- and-off-road trails to discover, including the 5.3km Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk along the river. Forge a connection to the Traditional Owners of the area on this absorbing sculpture walk, which is part of the broader Wagirra Trail. Here local Aboriginal artists have created works referencing the unfolding narratives of the Wiradjuri people, including Bogong Moth Migration by Ruth Davys and The Bigger Picture by Katrina Weston. Or reconnect with nature by following the 3km path among the ancient river gums through the Wonga Wetlands, where you can spy around 150 bird species.
Uncover another chapter of Albury’s rich past by downloading the free Albury Historic Building Tour app and seeking out the city’s well-maintained heritage buildings — there are 21 sites in 13 locations to discover, including the Botanic Gardens and the former Waterstreet Hotel.
Let your imagination roam free as you explore one of the country’s finest collections of contemporary Australian photography at the Murray Art Museum Albury, better known as MAMA. The museum, which is free to visit, is the home of the National Photography Prize, a biennial prize supported by the MAMA Art Foundation. Be equally engrossed by the Art Partners Australia gallery on David Street, where Australian-resident artists show their work and a new exhibition opens on the first day of each month.
Recharge before another day in the river city
Don your cat-eye sunglasses and travel back in time by checking in to the Astor Hotel Motel, a mid-century modern hotel that’s been transformed into a fabulously retro Palm Springs-style icon. Even if you’re not staying here, you’ll find it’s worth driving by for a photo opportunity. Also bound to spark joy are the pops of colour, along with sculptural bunnies, cockatoos and flamingos, at Atura Albury, on central Dean Street.
Immerse yourself in art by staying in the Warhol Suite at Circa 1928, a luxury boutique hotel that’s only a couple of minutes’ walk from MAMA on Dean Street. Look up in wonder as you pass between the stately columns of the former Commonwealth Bank building. Melt into some serious pampering at Circa 1928’s renowned day spa, where you can treat yourself to a soothing bath treatment in a hand-beaten copper bathtub that’s large enough for two.
Let your fur baby roam free at the pet-friendly Frauenfelder Cottage, a five-minute drive from the town centre. This stone cottage was built in 1857 and is one of the oldest houses in Albury. Or stretch out at Quest Albury, where there’s a choice of self-catering rooms from studios to larger apartments of up to three bedrooms.
Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying an exhibition at the Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), Albury
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying an exhibition at the Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), Albury
Noreuil Park Foreshore, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a morning kayak along the Murray River in Albury.
#feelnew #feelnsw
Noreuil Park Foreshore, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a morning kayak along the Murray River in Albury.
More Inspirational Stories
Art Gallery of New South Wales, SydneyCredit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a visit the the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Come alive with the possibilities as you delve into Sydney’s dynamic arts scene and cultural institutions. Feel moved as you immerse in striking contemporary artworks at public and private galleries, and take in cutting-edge performances and exhibitions across the city.
Be moved by must-see cultural landmarks
Marvel at the ‘sails’ of the Sydney Opera House as you approach this iconic performing arts venue, then join one of several fascinating tours on offer here. Discover the building’s unique history and construction on an Architectural Tour, or go behind the scenes on a Backstage Tour. See a show from an ever-changing program of theatre, dance and music in one of the venue’s many impressive performance spaces, then head to the Opera Bar to take in the front-of-house harbour view as you enjoy seasonal fare and a refreshing drink.
Appreciate the striking art deco façade and waterfront location of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), across the water from the Sydney Opera House at Explore the diversity of Australian modern art as you view highlights of a collection of more than 4,000 works, including a significant body of works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Take time out and digest the wonderful works you’ve just seen as you enjoy panoramic views across Sydney Harbour from the museum’s rooftop café.
Feel far away from the bustle of the city centre as you enter the Domain parklands next to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and make your way to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the leading museum of art in the state. Step back in time to view colonial and 19th-century Australian works and European masters, as well as a dedicated gallery of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Then explore Sydney Modern, the AGNSW’s dynamic new addition, to discover site-specific works by leading Australian and international artists.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoy a tour in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoy a tour in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Friends arriving outside the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in The Rocks, Sydney...Artwork: Moon in a Dew Drop.Artist: Lindy Lee
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Friends arriving outside the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in The Rocks, Sydney...Artwork: Moon in a Dew Drop.Artist: Lindy Lee
Immerse in art in cutting-edge galleries
Lose track of time as you explore a myriad of inner-Sydney art galleries. Delight in a dip into one of the world’s most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art at the White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale, on the fringe of the city centre. Be intrigued by the selection from philanthropist Judith Neilson’s collection of almost 3,000 works created in China since 2000 by around 750 artists, before taking in the tranquil vibe at the gallery’s Teahouse as you snack on handmade dumplings and fine Chinese and Taiwanese tea. (You can also plan ahead and enter the ballot for tickets to cutting-edge performances at Phoenix Central Park, Judith Neilson’s risk-taking cultural centre a short walk from White Rabbit Gallery.)
Lean into the grand scale of Carriageworks, a multi-arts centre housed in expansive former railway workshops in Eveleigh, a five-minute drive or around a 15-minute walk from White Rabbit Gallery. Keep an eye on Carriageworks’ events page for visual arts exhibitions and new performance works.
Take your time exploring the many art galleries dotted around the hip inner-city suburb of Surry Hills. Enter the fascinating world of significant Australian artist Brett Whiteley at Brett Whiteley Studio, tucked away in a side street off Crown Street, one of the main streets running through Surry Hills. Take in the singular atmosphere of the late artist’s former home and workplace, with its unfinished paintings, art equipment, books and graffiti wall of quotes and images, and view one of the changing exhibitions of the artist’s works.
Find yourself challenged and stimulated by the conceptual and design-driven art at independent Surry Hills gallery China Heights, then take the short walk under the train tracks to 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art in Haymarket. Learn about the Asian diaspora in Australia via contemporary art at this fascinating gallery run by the non-profit Asian Australian Artists’ Association Inc.
Thrill to a sense of discovery as you find leading commercial art galleries tucked away in the leafy streets of Paddington in Sydney’s inner east. Roam the side streets of this fashionable suburb to find the likes of Saint Cloche, where gallery director Kitty Clark fosters the city’s emerging artistic talents; Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, one of the most influential commercial art galleries in Australia; and Olsen, founded by Tim Olsen to represent the late John Olsen, one of the country’s greatest painters, and showcase contemporary Australian artists.
White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Women walking through an exhibition at the White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Women walking through an exhibition at the White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale.
Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills