Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to walk through the doors of the Australian Museum’s new blockbuster exhibition, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, sponsored by Adventure World, LATAM Airlines and Pullman Sydney Hyde Park. Visitors to the exhibition will also have chance to win $20,000 trip to Peru.

Launched yesterday, and opening to the public on Saturday, 23 November 2024, the exhibition is presented in partnership with Neon Global (Ramses II), Museo Larco and the Ministry of Culture of Peru and supported by Adventure World as its major exhibition partner, airline partner LATAM Airlines and hotel partner Pullman Sydney Hyde Park.

Sydney is only the fourth city in the world to host this blockbuster following on from Boca Raton, Florida, US; Paris, and Milan.

Present at the launch were Australian Museum Trust president Brian Hartzer; Neil Rogers, managing director of Adventure World, who has a 10-year partnership with the Australian Museum; LATAM Airlines country manager – Oceania, Christopher Ellis; Pullman Sydney Hyde Park general manager, Nikki Little; Andean archeologist at Sydney University the effusive Jacob Bongers; and the cocktail-making Consul-General of Peru, Jose Alberto Ortiz, who whipped up a Pisco Sour for Australian Museum director and CEO Kim McKay AO.

Consul-General of Peru, Jose Alberto Ortiz, whipped up a Pisco Sour for Australian Museum director and CEO Kim McKay.

It follows on from the success of Ramses II which saw 508,000 visitors visit the exhibition, generating $57 million directly back to the economy in NSW, “which is extraordinary for one little exhibition,” McKay said.

Visitors to Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will have the chance to enter to win a once-in-a-lifetime 10-day trip for two to Peru sponsored by Adventure World and LATAM Airlines. Worth more than $20,000, the competition prize will include touring the rich history of Lima, exploring the markets and ruins of Cusco, and walking among the clouds at the legendary World Heritage site, Machu Picchu.

McKay thanked the partners for their support, yesterday, helping enable the AM to be the exclusive destination for the exhibition in the region.

“We know Australian Museum visitors love cultural exhibitions, and that Machu Picchu is a top bucket-list destination for many of them,” McKay said. “After experiencing the rich history and culture of Peru in the exhibition, we hope many visitors are also inspired to travel there with our outstanding travel partners.

“The exhibition also features an extraordinary VR experience where you are introduced to Machu Picchu, the ancient city in the clouds.”

Australian Museum director and CEO Kim McKay takes Neil Rogers of Adventure World through some of the exhibits.

Rodgers said Adventure World – 2024 winners of the National Travel Industry Award for the Best Travel wholesaler in Australia – was pleased to continue its longstanding partnership with the Australian Museum, supporting an exhibition that highlights one of its most popular destinations. Adventure World will also be donating 10 per cent of the value of any trip booked during the exhibition period to the Australian Museum Foundation.

“Adventure World is committed to curating unique and sustainable experiences in some of the world’s most fascinating regions, like Peru,” Rodgers said. “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Australian Museum to bring Machu Picchu to Sydney this summer and look forward to creating positive travel experiences for those who decide to venture there in person with us.”

He said the Adventure World relationship with the Australian Museum are synergies, “because we’re all about continuous learning, and we have a teach, don’t preach philosophy. We are travel with purpose. Purpose is something that we share with the museum wholeheartedly.”

Ellis said the exhibition comes at the perfect time, as LATAM has just celebrated the return of its highly anticipated non-stop Sydney to Santiago route. As part of their support for the exhibition, LATAM is offering an exclusive Australian Museum promo code for a 10 per cent discount on flights from Australia to Peru.

“LATAM Airlines is thrilled to be partnering with the Australian Museum on the Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibition. It is a fantastic time to be part of this celebration of one of South America’s greatest cultural and historic landmarks as we’ve recently relaunched our direct Sydney to Santiago route, which sees travellers arrive in South America in less than 13 hours. This service connects seamlessly with our routes to Peru with four daily connecting flights to Lima and three weekly to Cusco. We hope the exhibition and our exclusive promotion code will inspire Australian Museum visitors to plan a trip to experience the wonders of Peru in person. We look forward to welcoming them on board soon,” Ellis said.

Pullman Sydney Hyde Park will be offering packages for Australian Museum visitors including tickets to the Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibition, a morning buffet breakfast at Windows on the Park, overnight accommodation, and an activity pack for children.

Pullman Sydney Hyde Park General Manager, Nikki Little, said they are thrilled to support another summer blockbuster at the AM, following the success of last year’s Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs exhibition.

“For visitors coming to the exhibition from outside of Sydney, the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park is an ideal hotel to stay given its proximity to the Australian Museum. We look forward to offering an exclusive accommodation package for visitors to Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, enabling more interstate visitors to experience this blockbuster exhibition,” Little said.

Sydney University’s Andean archeologist Jacob Bongers, Consul-General of Peru Jose Alberto Ortiz, Australian Museum Trust president Brian Hartzer, Adventure World’s Neil Rogers, and the Australian Museum’s Kim McKay AO. It follows on from the succ

No built by aliens

Bongers said Peru was dominated by several nations over several millennia, way before the time of Christ and before the pyramids, and was not a single entity, but several cult-like warring kingdoms which evolved, one after another.

Bongers, added that said he wanted visitors to have one major takeaway from the Machu Picchu exhibition: “Aliens were not part of it!”

Sydney University’s Andean archeologist Jacob Bongers gave insights into the history of ancient Peru.

“These indigenous peoples, what they were able to do, mobilise, build these amazing sites,” he said. “I want that to be the takeaway here, that they didn’t get that sort of (alien) help, right? This is something that they did, even though it may be difficult to understand.”

Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru and VR experience will start its limited six-month run in Sydney on Saturday 23 November 2024. Tickets start at $37.50 for adults, and $20 for children, with VR tickets from $22.

EVENT DETAILS

What: Exhibition and VR, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru

When: Saturday 22 November, 2024 – February 2025

Where: Australian Museum, 1 William St, Darlinghurst NSW

Exhibition Tickets: Off peak: Adult $37.50, Child $20.00, Family x 4 $94.00; Peak: Adult $42.50, Child $ 23.50, Family x 4 $110.00. VR experience: $22.00
For more information and to book tickets visit Australian Museum

Peruvian-themed events

Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will also be supported by a variety of Peruvian-themed events every month, including exclusive conversations, experiences, music and tours. The summer program, Journey to Peru include:

Peru’sing the Menu: A Brief History of Ceviche: Uncover the history and culinary artistry of Peru’s iconic dish, ceviche, in this chef-led session on South American cuisine. Date: Wednesday, 22 January 2025 | Cost: TBC

Conversations of the Golden Empires: From the Andes to the Amazon: Join experts for a journey through Peruvian archaeology and the spiritual legacies of its ancient empires. Date: Saturday, 14 December 2024, 10:30am – 11:30am | Cost: $10 Member, $25 Non-Member, $22.50 Concession

Conversations of the Golden Empires: Modern Discoveries of an Ancient Land: Explore Peru’s biodiversity and its insights into ancient life, culture, and beliefs, guided by historians and scientists.Date: Saturday, 8 February 2025, 10:30am – 11:30am | Cost: $10 Member, $25 Non-Member, $22.50 Concession