Take an Australian Family Field Trip: Unexpected Cultural Travel

Jun 26, 2025

Thu, June 26, 2025 at 2:38 PM UTC

3 min read

I've always been drawn to travel off the beaten path, allowing me to explore in ways that put me on the side of a traveler rather than a tourist. I look for experiences that put me alongside locals rather than someone just seeking a photo opportunity on social media.

Cultural Attractions of Australia is home to 19 cultural landmarks across the country, including museums, art galleries, sporting venues, and historic sites. Most experiences through CAOA provide a solid foundation in Australian culture. Many of the stories they aim to tell are often forgotten or largely unknown to most. The goal of CAOA is to provide visitors with an opportunity to connect with artists, curators, and changemakers. They have curated a brilliant roundup of unexpected cultural travel experiences geared toward adventure seekers and families alike. Each is a VIP package that takes you beyond the typical, face-value experience. These sites tell a story while also letting you walk in a bit of history, as each place is a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) site.

With NAIDOC Week in Australia just around the corner, July 6 - 13, spend your vacation experiencing the country in unexpected ways. From the NAIDOC website, "National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. You can support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held across the country."

• For the traveler who loves history and can't get enough of true crime podcasts, this UNESCO World Heritage site is perfect for you. Head to Port Arthur in Tasmania, where you will step into one of the world's most notorious convict settlements and live out a historic escape attempt. You will have a hands-on experience in how escape rooms originated. I'm kidding about escape rooms, but you will put your skills to the test while learning all about this convict settlement, one of the most significant convict ear sites in the world.

• Do you have a pre-teen or teen in the mix and struggle with ideas on what to do when you travel? Sign up for the Torchlight Tour at Fremantle Prison in Perth. This after-dark tour takes you to the haunted Fremantle Prison. You will be immersed in the grim yet fascinating history of Australia's past, including stories of inmates and unexplained ghostly encounters. Additionally, Fremantle Prison, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was built in the 1850s by the very people who were imprisoned there. Your teens will love this adventure and won't even realize it was also an educational history lesson in the process.

• For the historian in all of us, channel your inner Goonie and embark on a journey through Western Australia's Hidden Gems and Historical Artefacts at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. Go behind the scenes as you experience a one-of-a-kind look into the vault, exploring treasures, mysteries, and relics that rarely see the light of day.

• Yes, it's classic and one of the first places that comes to mind when you think of Australia. Did you know you can go beyond the postcard and take several backstage tours of the Sydney Opera House, one of the most famous buildings in the world? Exclusive excursions offered by CAOA include an Architectural Tour, a Backstage Tour, or a Private Recital.

Get out there and travel in ways you haven't before, through one of the Cultural Attractions of Australia experiences. They have many more to choose from, with something for everyone in your family.