This immersive art experience is the only of its kind in Australia

With its own eco-accommodation, fine dining and award-winning architecture, art museum and community, Bundanon is so much more than the perfect weekend getaway.

I’m standing as still as a statue despite the excitement making my heart beat faster. I’ve just spotted my first wild wombat ever (though believe me, I’ve been trying) and I haven’t even left the Bundanon Art Museum car park yet. I consider this an incredibly good omen of what’s to come.

It’s hard to understand all that Bundanon is just by reading about it. It’s not just an art gallery and a creative space, nor is it just a relaxing and unique weekend away. It’s a place to disconnect from the world and fully immerse in the creative spirit and natural environment.

And with the new Wilder Times: Arthur Boyd and the Mid-1980s Landscape exhibition season, there’s never been a better time to do it.

Meet the adorable locals. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

The history of Bundanon Art Museum

Bundanon was home to one of Australia’s most celebrated artists, Arthur Boyd, and his equally artistic wife, Yvonne. The 1000-hectare property was so loved by them both – and inspired much of Boyd’s artwork – that in 1993 they donated Bundanon to the Australian people.

Since then, it’s grown to become a major destination art museum. Guests will also discover sophisticated eco-accommodation, the acclaimed onsite Ramox Cafe, an extensive program of art exhibitions and residencies, activities to connect with the natural surrounds, and stunning architecture that at once catches the eye and blends into its environment.

Time your visit with the Wilder Times: Arthur Boyd and the Mid-1980s Landscape exhibition. (Image: Zan Wimberley)

The experience

Once I’ve recovered from my car park wombat encounter, I follow the path to the reception. From this angle at the bottom of the property, I can really take in the whole scope of Bundanon. Its wide grassy fields which are sometimes home to events, carefully manicured gardens and the striking form of The Bridge and two quaint cottages that are now used as offices are all on display, backdropped by the wild bushland. It’s a lot of juxtapositions that somehow work in perfect harmony.

I’m here for the weekend for an experience held for the public once a month. It includes a changing itinerary to help guests disconnect from the chaos of the real world so they can slow down and reconnect with nature, be inspired by cultural experiences and form a community with the other art appreciators who join the stay.

From the moment that wombat entered my peripheral, I forgot about deadlines, phone calls and Instagram. And from the minute I was handed my key and entered my room in The Bridge, I switched my phone to aeroplane mode (reception and wifi are minimal anyway) and let the meditative vibe of this place engulf me.

The Bridge is an architectural marvel. (Image: Zan Wimberley)

The Bridge itself is a marvel. Designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects, every feature is a very deliberate choice to provide comfort while remaining eco-friendly, from the windows framing the bushland outside so you can view nature as the artwork it is (especially at sunrise) to a temperature control system that’s managed through passive design principles. It’s won several architecture awards since it opened in 2022.

Communal stations between rooms invite guests to share conversation over tea, coffee or the incredible view. The Bridge is also where we all come together in the dining room for a three-course meal prepared by the Ramox Cafe chefs. Communal tables encourage us to learn more about each other (and the flowing wine certainly helped form bonds), while the food leaves our mouths watering. Most of the guests enjoy confit pork belly and haiwaj spice kingfish; as a vegetarian, I’m served a delicious tart and the best pan-fried gnocchi I’ve tasted in a while

Bond with fellow guests in communal spaces. (Image: Anna Wiewiora)

While this alone is enough to make a great weekend getaway, a range of other activities on our itinerary help open us up to the rest of the property.

First on the list is a bushwalk with Michael Andrews, Bundanon’s natural resources manager, where we learn about the incredible level of thought put into returning this property to its original state. Over a couple of hours, Michael shares the circulatory system of lakes and rivers and how he’s been working to return a natural waterflow to the land. He shares tales of endangered frog reintroduction, plant regeneration and the native wombats and kangaroos (whose appetites sometimes make all this a little bit more difficult). A wave of excitement runs through our group as he points out a lyrebird dashing its way through the shrub.

Explore the landscape at Bundanon. (Image: John Janson-Moore)

Then, the pièce de resistance: The new Wilder Times: Arthur Boyd and the Mid-1980s Landscape exhibition.

After dinner, we join Jervis Bay Stargazing to witness the clear night sky through telescopes that make the moon feel as close as the person next to us. Being able to make out every nook and cranny floods me with a feeling of insignificance, while at the same time making every little thing seem so essential to make this universe what it is. It’s a wild feeling.

The next day is for taking all that’s inspired us and channelling it into our own art. As someone who loves to see art, but has no skill in making my own, I start the session with anxiety shared by some others in the group. By the end, however, our guide on this journey – Brendan Smith – puts all fears to rest as we get caught up in the fun of pulling colours from nature. No, really: flowers and leaves were rubbed with rocks, charcoaled bark was crushed, river sands and muds were turned into paste, and more.

Derive art supplies from nature during your workshop. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

On the way home, I drive an extra 20 minutes to see Boyd’s Homestead (now a museum for the Boyd family’s collected artworks) and Studio. It’s the perfect way to bring the weekend together by combining historic context for all that Bundanon is today.

In intentionally returning to a simpler past of nature and creative nurture, it feels like Bundanon is a solution for the future – both for the planet and finding our place within it.

See the Boyd Homestead Museum. (Image: Katherine Lu)

The details

The Bundanon Art Museum exhibition

There’s never been a better time to plan a visit to truly understand the impact Bundanon had on Boyd. The new Wilder Times: Arthur Boyd and the Mid-1980s Landscape exhibition displays a collection of artworks Boyd was commissioned to create for the new Arts Centre Melbourne in 1984.

The landscape depicted? His beloved Shoalhaven River as it wrapped around his homestead. This is the first time these artworks have returned to Bundanon since creation, and it’s a unique experience to see Boyd’s interpretation of the nature (and, sometimes, what he perceived as unnatural interference) around him, then heading over to see that very landscape with your own eyes.

The exhibition takes this connection to the landscape beyond Boyd by also showcasing a carefully curated collection of other artists who created similarly inspired works around the same time. Indigenous, feminist, meditative and many other perspectives on the landscape are offered.

Accompanying the exhibition is a program of films and talks that further explore the theme. It will be open until 13 October. If you choose to visit without booking an overnight stay, entry is $18 for adults.

See a range of takes on the human connection to landscape. (Image: Zan Wimberley)

The Bundanon Stay Experience

Held once a month, The Bundanon Stay Experience is $1300 for two (king bed or twin singles) or $900 for singles. While it’s designed to create community, guests are welcome to join in as little or as much as they prefer with the planned itinerary (though I recommend taking advantage of these unique offerings).

Check in and switch off. (image: Anna Wiewiora)

The food

All meals are catered during your stay. But in case you need an extra coffee or snack (or whole extra meal – it’s your weekend, after all, and the menu is to die for), onsite Ramox Cafe is also open from 10am to 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday. The cafe has beautiful views overlooking the property and the Shoalhaven River, plus there’s often a live musician creating a laidback ambience.

Delight in the tastes of Ramox Cafe. (Image: Anna Wiewiora)

The Homestead and Studio

Not part of the stay itinerary, The Homestead and Studio is located a 20-minute drive through beautiful bushland from the main Bundanon property. Guides will show you around both venues, allowing you to delve into the life and inspiration of Arthur Boyd and his family.

Visit Boyd’s studio, exactly as he left it. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

Book a day trip or weekend getaway at Bundanon.