Join arts writer Matthew Westwood for a private, after-hours viewing of the Art Gallery of South Australia’s Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition blockbuster exhibition.

At a Glance

  • Enjoy a private, after-hours viewing of the Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia
  • Visit other leading cultural venues, including the David Roche Gallery and the State Library of South Australia
  • Benefit from the insights and expertise of your tour leader, arts specialist Matthew Westwood
  • Stay in comfort in superior accommodation within easy walking distance of the Art Gallery of South Australia

This exhibition features more than 50 masterworks from the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio, showcasing revolutionary artists who transformed modern art from Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism. See works by Monet, Matisse, Van Gogh, Picasso, Degas and Cézanne, alongside pieces from the Art Gallery of South Australia’s own collection.

In addition, explore other leading South Australian cultural venues and savour the state’s unique produce and wine.

Dates

20 – 23 August 2026 (4 days)

Tour leader

Matthew Westwood

Tour Status

Available

Book now

Itinerary

Arrive in Adelaide 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, a room category upgrade and pre-tour accommodation.

At 18:00, join your tour leader Matthew Westwood and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing at the hotel, followed by dinner.

(D)

This morning, visit the David Roche Gallery, home to one of Australia’s most extensive collections of decorative art of the 18th and 19th centuries, with paintings, ceramics, furniture and sculpture from the early French Rococo period to Russia’s House of Fabergé.

After lunch, visit the State Library of South Australia for a private, guided tour of the Symon Library, a 19th-century “gentleman’s” library that houses the private collection of Sir Josiah Symon, a barrister and politician who donated more than 10,000 volumes to the library.

The evening is at leisure.

(BL)

After a talk by Matthew, the morning is at leisure before a private, guided tour of the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia in the afternoon. One of the largest in Australia, the collection holds artworks from Australia, Europe, North America and Asia and is renowned for its Australian art, which includes significant holdings of Indigenous art from both traditional and contemporary periods, as well as colonial and modern works.

Then, enjoy an exclusive, after-hours tour and private viewing of the Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition exhibition. See 57 masterworks from the Toledo Museum of Art’s world-renowned collection, exclusive to the Art Gallery of South Australia. Featured artists include Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Helen Frankenthaler, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Pablo Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh and James McNeill Whistler.

Afterwards, join Matthew and fellow travellers for a special farewell dinner at a nearby restaurant.

(BD)

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)

Prices

Per person, twin share

AUD 2,950

Single supplement

AUD 450

Deposit per person (at time of booking)

AUD 1,500

Final payment due

19 June 2026

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

Tour price includes

  • Three nights’ accommodation in a four-star superior hotel with breakfast daily (B)
  • Meals as per itinerary (L = Lunch, D = Dinner), including wine with dinners
  • Comprehensive sightseeing, including local guides and entrance fees as per itinerary
  • Transportation throughout on comfortable, air-conditioned coaches
  • Talks and insights from your tour leader, arts specialist Matthew Westwood
  • 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
  • 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)

Hotel

Your hotel
The Playford Hotel Adelaide – MGallery Collection****+
Situated in the heart of Adelaide’s arts and cultural precinct, the Playford Hotel’s boutique-style accommodation offers contemporary comforts coupled with a warm Art Nouveau feel. Guest rooms come with high-speed broadband internet access, Foxtel and access to the hotel’s Health Club with indoor heated pool, spa and sauna.

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

More Details

Tour code: RT2605

Fitness level: 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 their own luggage

Please see Terms & Conditions for fitness level definitions here.

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.

Download booking form here.

At time of booking, please advise us of any special dietary requirements or allergies that we should be aware of.

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