NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, CANBERRA
It's easy to suffer from institute fatigue in the nation's capital. Canberra is crammed with museums, libraries, galleries and parliaments, but the National Portrait Gallery always seems fresh - unstuffy, democratic and willing to laugh at itself. 
The collection includes plenty of celebrities, a good quota of eminent people and a healthy contingent of Australian scallywags such as Alan Bond, Shane Warne and Barry Humphries. The gallery is quintessentially Australian without being jingoistic.
See portrait.gov.au. MC
WHITE RABBIT GALLERY, SYDNEY
Arts-driven philanthropists Kerr and Judith Nielsen opened this spacious three-level Chippendale gallery in 2009 to house the largest collected works of contemporary (post-2000) Chinese art outside China; thus making their private collection, public. And free.
The constantly changing exhibitions crackle with creative energy and a touch of anarchy, while at the same time, the charming ground floor teahouse instils a zen-like calm in visitors with its steamed dumplings and white peony tea.
See whiterabbitcollection.org. JD
NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE
See the best of the world and save yourself an international airfare with a visit to this year's winter blockbuster, fresh from St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum (until   November 8), followed by an Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei collaboration (from   December 11) and Australian surrealism featuring Sidney Nolan and Max Dupain (from   October 9).
This year also sees a temporary installation by John Wardel Architects of 1350 pink flowers (  September 17 -   May 1, 2016). It's the inaugural annual Summer Architecture Commission, in the same vein as London's celebrated annual Serpentine Pavilion in Kensington Gardens.
See ngv.vic.gov.au. BJ
GOMA, BRISBANE
A well-designed two-level pavilion attached to the Queensland Art Gallery, the always-outstanding Gallery of Modern Art has boosted Brisbane to world-class cultural destination status.
One of the highlights is the free Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, the eighth in the series which will be presented from   November 2015 to   May 2016.
Also on display is contemporary Indigenous Australian paintings and fibre works.
The gallery also houses the award-winning GOMA Restaurant (two Chefs hats) with a menu designed by executive chef Josue Lopez.
See qagoma.qld.gov.au. AB
MELBOURNE STREET
ART TOURS
Melbourne Street Art Tours offers dedicated guided walks around one of the strongest street art scenes in the world.
The guides point out the best murals, stencils and paste-ups, explaining how the city has gradually come round to embracing street art.
The key difference from tours run in other cities, however, is they are run by artists heavily involved in the scene, who know know the people making the works personally - and can give more detailed insight.
See melbournestreettours.com. DW