National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (must see)

The National Gallery of Victoria was established in 1861, making it Australia’s longest running public gallery. When it was opened, the Victorian Gold Rush was in full swing and the colony was awash with money, which led to many large bequests and donations to the gallery. Today, it has more than 65,000 pieces in its permanent collection, among which are pieces by international artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, Tintoretto, Bernini, Uccello and Veronese. The gallery is also intimately connected to the Australian impressionist movement of the 19th century, known as the Heidelberg School and has some very famous pieces by Frederick McCubbin.

As well as its impressive permanent collection, there is always a full program of visiting exhibitions planned too. Past installations have included Dutch Masters, Caravaggio, Dali and Picasso. One of Picasso’s pieces was famously stolen from the gallery in 1986 in protest against poor arts funding – it was later found in a railway locker. As well as visiting to appreciate the art on the walls, there are always classes and workshops on for adults and children and guided tours and talks help to develop your artistic appreciation and understand more about the creation of the pieces you see before you.

Why You Should Visit:
Regularly home to Australia's biggest and finest art exhibitions.
The free one-hour tours (10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm) are totally worth it.
Plus it's always nice to sit near the fountain or enjoy the High Tea in the upstairs restaurant.

Tip:
Buy tickets online as ticketing is rather slow and understaffed at the gallery.
Only 30 headsets are available per tour. You must go to the Info Desk one hour before the tour and collect a laminated ticket to claim your place.
Not taking the tour? Well then, to see the most interesting contemporary art pieces, start at the top. The lower floors are mostly classic religious/portraits/tableware.