• Calendar
  • About
  • Contact Us

    1300 727 095 (AU)

    +61 2 9299 5801

    0800 403 621(NZ)

  • Opera
  • Music & Ballet
  • Art
  • Gardens
  • Short Breaks
  • Cruises
  • Asian Encounters
  • Gourmet
  • Day Tours

Melbourne Winter Masterpieces

Join art expert Brian Ladd for a weekend of art, including the National Gallery of Victoria’s Melbourne Winter Masterpieces blockbuster exhibition, The Picasso Century.

Take a rare opportunity to enjoy a private, before-hours access to the NGV’s 2022 The Picasso Century exhibition, in partnership with two of the globe’s leading art institutions – the Centre Pompidou and the Musée Picasso, Paris. The exhibition explores the powerful impact of Picasso’s innovative practice and the dialogue with key artists including Georges Braque, Alberto Giacometti, Henri Matisse and Françoise Gilot.

Explore the outstanding Heide Museum of Modern Art and enjoy a guided tour of the first Australian museum exhibition of renowned artist Bruce Munro, with large-scale light installations and spectacular indoor and outdoor artworks.

Alongside these exhibitions, enjoy Melbourne’s vibrant art scene and visit leading art galleries featuring innovative exhibitions and collections, including Buxton Contemporary.

 

This tour is part of the World Art Tours program organised by the Art Gallery Society of NSW in partnership with Renaissance Tours.

At a Glance

  • Enjoy an exclusive, private before-hours access to the NGV’s 2022 blockbuster exhibition, The Picasso Century
  • Explore the Heide Museum of Modern Art’s collection and Bruce Munro’s special exhibition
  • Be immersed in Melbourne’s vibrant art scene including the city’s major new art museum, Buxton Contemporary
  • Enrich your understanding and appreciation of the art with talks by your tour leader, Brian Ladd

Tour Leader

Brian Ladd

Destination

The NGV Picasso exhibition, leading art museums and galleries

Dates

24 – 27 June 2022 (4 days)

Fitness Level

Moderate

?

Tour Status

Available

Enquire Book now

At a Glance

  • Enjoy an exclusive, private before-hours access to the NGV’s 2022 blockbuster exhibition, The Picasso Century
  • Explore the Heide Museum of Modern Art’s collection and Bruce Munro’s special exhibition
  • Be immersed in Melbourne’s vibrant art scene including the city’s major new art museum, Buxton Contemporary
  • Enrich your understanding and appreciation of the art with talks by your tour leader, Brian Ladd
Download Brochure
  • Itinerary
  • Pricing
  • Hotels

Friday 24 June 2022 / Arrive Melbourne

Arrive in Melbourne and make your way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including a private transfer to the hotel, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

At 5:30pm, join your tour leader Brian Ladd for a welcome briefing and talk followed by dinner at the hotel with Brian and fellow tour members.

(D)

Sat 25 Jun / Melbourne

This morning, transfer to the Heide Museum of Modern Art on the outskirts of Melbourne. The museum was begun by John and Sunday Reed who assembled an extensive collection of Australian modern figurative, abstract, expressionist and realist art. The nucleus of the collection consisted of works produced by friends of the Reeds, who lived and worked around the original Heide farmhouse.

Take a guided tour of the Bruce Munro: From Sunrise Road exhibition, presenting the first Australian museum exhibition of the acclaimed light artist Bruce Munro, with spectacular indoor and outdoor artworks with intimate story pieces.

After lunch, continue to Buxton Contemporary, in the heart of the Melbourne arts precinct. Opened in 2018, this major new art museum showcases the private collection of cultural philanthropists Michael and Janet Buxton, as well as special exhibitions of Australian and international contemporary artists.

In the late afternoon, return to the hotel to enjoy an evening at leisure.

(BL)

Sun 26 Jun / Melbourne

Today, be immersed in extraordinary art at the National Gallery of Victoria with Brian Ladd as your private guide.

Enjoy exclusive before-hours access to the outstanding The Picasso Century exhibition, developed in partnership with the Centre Pompidou and the Musée Picasso, Paris. The world-class exhibition features over 70 works by Picasso alongside over 100 works by his contemporaries and explores the powerful impact of Picasso’s innovative practice.

Enjoy a talk by Brian about the dialogue with key artists including Georges Braque, Alberto Giacometti, Henri Matisse and Françoise Gilot, and take some time after the tour to explore the exhibition at your own pace.

This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with Brian and fellow tour members in one of Melbourne’s fine restaurants.

(BD)

Mon 27 Jun / Depart Melbourne

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour, travel insurance (highly recommended), a room category upgrade and private airport transfers.

(B)

Per person, twin-share

AUD 3,450

Single supplement

AUD 450

Deposit per person (at time of booking)

AUD 1,500

Final payment due

22 April 2022

Room category upgrade available on request; please enquire with us.

Tour code

AG2224

Fitness level

Moderate
Please see Terms & Conditions for fitness level definitions.

Suggested airline

Qantas
Please contact Renaissance Tours or your travel agent for current airfares and flight reservations.

Visa

New Zealand passport holders do not require a visa to visit Australia.

Tour price includes

  • Three nights’ accommodation in a five-star deluxe hotel on Melbourne’s Southbank, including breakfast daily (B)
  • Private, before-hours tour of the NGV’s 2022 blockbuster exhibition, The Picasso Century
  • Meals as per itinerary (L = Lunch, D = Dinner), including wine with meals
  • Comprehensive sightseeing, including local guides and entrance fees as per itinerary
  • Talks and private guided visit at the National Gallery of Victoria by your tour leader, Brian Ladd
  • Transportation on comfortable, air-conditioned coaches
  • Gratuities for local guides, drivers and wait staff
  • Hotel porterage (one piece per person)

Tour price does not include

  • Airfares (please contact Renaissance Tours or your travel agent for assistance)
  • Airport/hotel transfers on arrival and departure (please contact Renaissance Tours or your travel agent for assistance)
  • Airport porterage
  • Items of a personal nature (e.g. telephone, laundry, room service, minibar, taxis etc.)
  • Travel insurance (highly recommended; please contact Renaissance Tours or your travel agent for assistance)

 

Your hotel

Melbourne – The Langham, Melbourne*****

N.B. A hotel of similar standard may be substituted.

Fitness Level

Moderate

?

Pablo Picasso, Reclining woman (Femme couchée), 1932 photo © Grégory Lejeune/flickrCC (detail)

Pablo Picasso, Portrait of a woman (Portrait de femme), 1938 photo © Gautier Poupeau/flickrCC (detail)

Bruce Munro, Ferryman’s Crossing I, 2015. MDF, recycled CDs, light 1.35 x 21.5 x 2.7 cm. Photograph: Mark Pickthall. Originally commissioned by the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA © Bruce Munro. All rights reserved

Installation view, Between Appearances: the art of Louise Weaver, Buxton Contemporary, The University of Melbourne, 2019, Courtesy of the artist, photography Christian Capurro

Melbourne Winter Masterpieces

Join art expert Brian Ladd for a weekend of art, including the National Gallery of Victoria’s Melbourne Winter Masterpieces blockbuster exhibition, The Picasso Century.

Take a rare opportunity to enjoy a private, before-hours access to the NGV’s 2022 The Picasso Century exhibition, in partnership with two of the globe’s leading art institutions – the Centre Pompidou and the Musée Picasso, Paris. The exhibition explores the powerful impact of Picasso’s innovative practice and the dialogue with key artists including Georges Braque, Alberto Giacometti, Henri Matisse and Françoise Gilot.

Explore the outstanding Heide Museum of Modern Art and enjoy a guided tour of the first Australian museum exhibition of renowned artist Bruce Munro, with large-scale light installations and spectacular indoor and outdoor artworks.

Alongside these exhibitions, enjoy Melbourne’s vibrant art scene and visit leading art galleries featuring innovative exhibitions and collections, including Buxton Contemporary.

 

This tour is part of the World Art Tours program organised by the Art Gallery Society of NSW in partnership with Renaissance Tours.

  • Itinerary
  • Pricing
  • Hotels

Friday 24 June 2022 / Arrive Melbourne

Arrive in Melbourne and make your way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including a private transfer to the hotel, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

At 5:30pm, join your tour leader Brian Ladd for a welcome briefing and talk followed by dinner at the hotel with Brian and fellow tour members.

(D)

Sat 25 Jun / Melbourne

This morning, transfer to the Heide Museum of Modern Art on the outskirts of Melbourne. The museum was begun by John and Sunday Reed who assembled an extensive collection of Australian modern figurative, abstract, expressionist and realist art. The nucleus of the collection consisted of works produced by friends of the Reeds, who lived and worked around the original Heide farmhouse.

Take a guided tour of the Bruce Munro: From Sunrise Road exhibition, presenting the first Australian museum exhibition of the acclaimed light artist Bruce Munro, with spectacular indoor and outdoor artworks with intimate story pieces.

After lunch, continue to Buxton Contemporary, in the heart of the Melbourne arts precinct. Opened in 2018, this major new art museum showcases the private collection of cultural philanthropists Michael and Janet Buxton, as well as special exhibitions of Australian and international contemporary artists.

In the late afternoon, return to the hotel to enjoy an evening at leisure.

(BL)

Sun 26 Jun / Melbourne

Today, be immersed in extraordinary art at the National Gallery of Victoria with Brian Ladd as your private guide.

Enjoy exclusive before-hours access to the outstanding The Picasso Century exhibition, developed in partnership with the Centre Pompidou and the Musée Picasso, Paris. The world-class exhibition features over 70 works by Picasso alongside over 100 works by his contemporaries and explores the powerful impact of Picasso’s innovative practice.

Enjoy a talk by Brian about the dialogue with key artists including Georges Braque, Alberto Giacometti, Henri Matisse and Françoise Gilot, and take some time after the tour to explore the exhibition at your own pace.

This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with Brian and fellow tour members in one of Melbourne’s fine restaurants.

(BD)

Mon 27 Jun / Depart Melbourne

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour, travel insurance (highly recommended), a room category upgrade and private airport transfers.

(B)

Per person, twin-share

AUD 3,450

Single supplement

AUD 450

Deposit per person (at time of booking)

AUD 1,500

Final payment due

22 April 2022

Room category upgrade available on request; please enquire with us.

Tour code

AG2224

Fitness level

Moderate
Please see Terms & Conditions for fitness level definitions.

Suggested airline

Qantas
Please contact Renaissance Tours or your travel agent for current airfares and flight reservations.

Visa

New Zealand passport holders do not require a visa to visit Australia.

Tour price includes

  • Three nights’ accommodation in a five-star deluxe hotel on Melbourne’s Southbank, including breakfast daily (B)
  • Private, before-hours tour of the NGV’s 2022 blockbuster exhibition, The Picasso Century
  • Meals as per itinerary (L = Lunch, D = Dinner), including wine with meals
  • Comprehensive sightseeing, including local guides and entrance fees as per itinerary
  • Talks and private guided visit at the National Gallery of Victoria by your tour leader, Brian Ladd
  • Transportation on comfortable, air-conditioned coaches
  • Gratuities for local guides, drivers and wait staff
  • Hotel porterage (one piece per person)

Tour price does not include

  • Airfares (please contact Renaissance Tours or your travel agent for assistance)
  • Airport/hotel transfers on arrival and departure (please contact Renaissance Tours or your travel agent for assistance)
  • Airport porterage
  • Items of a personal nature (e.g. telephone, laundry, room service, minibar, taxis etc.)
  • Travel insurance (highly recommended; please contact Renaissance Tours or your travel agent for assistance)

 

Your hotel

Melbourne – The Langham, Melbourne*****

N.B. A hotel of similar standard may be substituted.

Book now
Enquire
Download Brochure

Melbourne Winter Masterpieces

Register Interest

    Have you travelled with us before?

    Title (required)

    Name (required)

    Surname (required)

    Email (required)

    Please send me a copy of the brochure by (required)

    Postal address (required if you would like to receive the brochure by post)

    Phone Number (required)

    Where did you hear about this tour (required)

    Enquire

      Title (required)

      First Name (required)

      Last name (required)

      Email (required)

      Comments (required)

      Join Waitlist

        Have you travelled with us before?

        Title (required)

        Name (required)

        Surname (required)

        Email (required)

        Please send me a copy of the brochure by (required)

        Postal address (required if you would like to receive the brochure by post)

        Phone Number (required)

        Where did you hear about this tour (required)

        Participation in tours

        Most of our tours require a MODERATE level of fitness. However, in certain destinations, or in certain seasons, or because of the nature of travel, certain tours will require an ABOVE MODERATE or CHALLENGING level of fitness. For the overall benefit of the group, at the time of booking we will require you to declare in writing that you are fit to participate in your chosen tour according to the level of fitness required for that tour. If you (or we) have any doubts about your level of fitness, you may be required to undergo a doctor’s appraisal. This would require your doctor to read the itinerary of your chosen tour, including the fitness level, and provide you (and us) with a written confirmation of your ability to participate.
        We reserve the right to refuse admission to the tour for any reason before commencement of the tour. Further, if after the tour has begun it becomes apparent that you are unfit or unsuitable to travel on the tour, we reserve the right to require you to withdraw from the tour at the earliest opportunity to do so. No refund will be provided.
        It is also a requirement that you do not cause any significant disruption to the tour or the tour group, and we may refuse admission on the tour, or require you to withdraw from the tour at any time if your participation causes significant disruption for other guests or the tour group or there is any safety issue as a result of your ongoing participation in the tour.

        Fitness to participate

        Moderate

        Tour members must be able to:

        • negotiate airports and railway stations without wheelchair assistance
        • use combined shower/bath facilities (it is impossible to guarantee walk-in shower facilities)
        • undertake walking tours of 1-2 hours duration, including using stairs, walking over cobblestones and other uneven surfaces
        • stand for long periods in museums and other sites
        • embark / disembark coaches, trains and other methods of transportation without assistance
        • handle your own luggage

        Above Moderate

        In addition to the above, tour members must also be able to:

        • undertake walking tours of 2-3 hours
        • climb staircases of 100 or more steps

        Challenging*

        In addition to the above, tour members must also be able to:

        • handle extremes of temperature (e.g. below 0 or above 35 degrees)
        • handle extremes of altitudes (e.g. 4000 metres and above)

        Home

        • About Renaissance Tours
        • Testimonials
        • Tour Leaders
        • Calendar

        Tours

        • Art
        • Ballet
        • Cruises
        • Gardens
        • Music
        • Opera
        • Short Breaks
        • Asian Encounters
        • Gourmet
        • Day Tours

        Info

        • Contact Us
        • Booking Form
        • Terms and Conditions
        • Our Partners
        • Privacy and Cookies
        • Useful Links
        • Newsletters

        Connect with us

        Renaissance Tours

        Level 4, 47 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000 | GPO Box 5068, Sydney NSW 2001

        1300 727 095 (Australia) | 0800 403 621 (New Zealand)
        phone +61 2 9299 5801 | fax +61 2 9299 5805 | email info@renaissancetours.com.au

        ABN 14 069 591 448.

        Member of: