May 22, 2026 — 2:59pmAustralians have long loved an extended trip to far-off lands. But unless you’re a retiree or a young person on a gap year, life can get in the way.Shorter breaks are the way to go for many would-be travellers, who chop up their annual leave into smaller chunks.Water Lilies by Claude Monet.Get an after-hours tour of the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Even before the current instability in the Middle East, Tourism Research Australia data showed that Australians prioritise domestic travel, particularly short trips closer to their homes, and are cautious with spending. Often they want more than a few days in a holiday house, so tour companies are designing trips to match time parameters.One of the latest examples comes from Renaissance Tours, which has launched its four-to-seven-day Short Breaks tours. The tours, which run within Australia, are proof you don’t need a long-haul flight to access a thoughtfully designed, expert-led travel experience.Sign up for the Traveller newsletterThe latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.A private, after-hours viewing of a major exhibition in Adelaide is the centrepiece of a four-day trip. The Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition itinerary, led by arts writer Matthew Westwood, is built around the Art Gallery of South Australia’s major 2026 exhibition, which opens on July 11. The exhibition runs until November 8 and features 57 works from the Toledo Museum of Art.Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Vincent van Gogh’s Wheat Stacks with Reaper.
