Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)

Conceived by architect Nonda Katsalidis of Fender Katsalidis Architects, the building descends three subterranean floors (B1, B2, and B3) into the peninsula's sandstone cliff. There are no traditional white-walled galleries here - raw excavated rock faces meet Corten steel walkways and concrete bridges in a labyrinthine layout that deliberately refuses easy navigation. Natural light is absent underground, and there is no conventional signage. Instead, visitors use "The O," MONA's custom digital guide, to discover artworks, read artist statements, and register "love" or "hate" responses to each work.\n\nThe collection is deliberately confrontational, with recurring themes of mortality, sexuality, and the limits of human perception. Works by internationally recognised artists such as Damien Hirst, Ai Weiwei, James Turrell, and Sidney Nolan sit alongside ancient Egyptian mummies and artefacts stretching back thousands of years. Walsh has stated that his aim was never to build a conventional institution but rather to challenge visitors to question the nature of art itself. Content warnings apply to numerous works, and the museum is candid that some exhibits are not suitable for young children.\n\nBeyond the galleries, MONA anchors two major annual festivals that have transformed the Tasmanian cultural calendar. MONA FOMA (Festival of Music and Art) runs in summer, while Dark Mofo - a mid-winter celebration of darkness, ritual, and the uncanny held each June - draws tens of thousands of interstate visitors and generates millions of dollars for the Tasmanian economy. Both festivals spill across Hobart and the surrounding region, using MONA as their spiritual home base.\n\nThe Moorilla Estate setting adds another dimension to any visit. On-site dining ranges from the elegant, produce-focused Faro restaurant to more casual options, and Moorilla's cellar door sits alongside the independently brewed Moo Brew craft beers, which are unavailable elsewhere. The Pavilions, MONA's on-site luxury accommodation, offer water views and direct access to the museum outside public hours. Most visitors arrive by ferry from Brooke Street Pier in central Hobart - a 25-minute catamaran ride that itself sets the tone for an unconventional day out.\n\nMONA is open Thursday to Monday, 10am to 5pm, and is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Entry is free for Tasmanian residents (with ID and a refundable $5 booking deposit) and for all visitors under 12. For non-Tasmanian adults the standard admission is around AUD $39, with concession rates available. Advance booking is strongly recommended, particularly during summer, school holidays, and festival periods when timed entry slots fill quickly. The museum operates as a cashless venue.