
THANKSGIVING IN NEW YORK
MUSIC, THEATRE, ART & FOOD
Celebrate Thanksgiving in New York, while experiencing the very best this iconic city has to offer.
tour snapshot
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November 23 - December 4, 2025
12 Days -
Dr Matthew Laing. View full bio >
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$14,780 AUD per person, twin share (land content only)
$4,270 AUD supplement for sole use of a hotel room
A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is required per person to confirm your booking on tour.
Now that the final performance program is released, an instalment of $2,000 is required.
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11 nights’ accommodation in a centrally located 5-star hotel. All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 2 dinners. A light dinner will also be served in the hotel each evening. Premium tickets to 8 perfromances. Services of an expert tour leader and an experienced tour manager throughout. All ground transport, entrance fees and tipping.
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Grade One. This tour is appropriate for travellers in good health with good mobility.
Tour Status: Places Available - Maximum 16
tour overview
Enjoy the best of the Big Apple on our popular 12-day residential style tour to New York. We have carefully designed a range of experiences to please all the senses, including the very best in opera, concerts, musicals and drama, some of the world’s top art and history museums, and a selection of the city’s best restaurants.
The tour takes place during the Thanksgiving period, a festive time when Americans come together and New York is transformed by seasonal decorations and holiday cheer. We’ve included events unique to this time of year, from the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to the dazzling Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.
Tour leader Dr Matthew Laing has a particular expertise in the United States and will provide background on the history, culture and architecture of the city, as well as tailored walking tours throughout, spanning famous sights and hidden gems alike. In addition, expert art historians will conduct several gallery visits.
There is also plenty of free time for individual sightseeing, enjoying the beauty of Manhattan in the Fall.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES
Experience a carefully curated program of eight performances
extraordinary COLLECTIONS
Join specialist art historians for eight gallery and museum visits
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
Embark on curated walking tours and special experiences across New York
Exceptional MEALS
Enjoy six stand-out meals in New York’s historic venues and institutions
your expert tour leader
Dr Matthew Laing is a historian and political scientist at Monash University. He has a strong personal interest in architecture, cultural history and modern art, with a particular expertise in the United States. Matthew holds a BA and PhD from the Australian National University, and wrote his doctorate on the history of the United States presidency. He has worked as a lecturer and research fellow at the Australian National University, Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and now at Monash University in Melbourne. He is an accredited ADFAS lecturer and frequently holds public lecture series in Melbourne. He currently teaches United States history and leadership, and has published on both topics.
In good hands...
In addition to your expert tour leader, you will be accompanied by a trained tour manager for the duration of the tour. Our tour managers will ensure your safety and comfort on tour, while also overseeing the behind-the-scenes logistics. Our tour managers are great travel companions who ensure your needs are well taken care of. From offering suggestions for your free time, to a lively chat at dinner or even providing space for a quiet moment of reflection, rest assured you are in good hands when travelling.
tour itinerary
New York (11 nights)
Included meals are indicated with B, L, D & LD for Light Dinner.
Please note a light dinner is served in the hotel each evening.
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The tour starts in the early evening on Sunday 23 November, at the WestHouse Hotel New York.
The tour ends in the morning on Thursday 4 December, at the WestHouse Hotel New York.
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Flights from Australia arrive in New York in the late afternoon. If you have arrived early we suggest you take the AIA harbour cruise today (Academy Travel can arrange bookings). In the evening, meet your tour leader and fellow travellers in the hotel for introductions. Dinner follows at Serafina, a stylish local favourite serving classic Italian fare in New York for over 30 years. Overnight New York (D)
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We start the day ascending the Top of the Rock for the best view of Manhattan and beyond, including Central Park and the Empire State Building. After exploring the Art-Deco masterpiece Rockefeller Center, we then tour through the Midtown district with its unique mid-century architecture, finishing at Grand Central Terminal – the Beaux Arts gem. We break for lunch here, with the option in the afternoon to continue to see the Chrysler Building, the United Nations and Kips Bay. Tonight, we have a welcome dinner at La Grande Boucherie, a dazzling French restaurant in the heart of Midtown. Overnight New York (B, D)
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We continue our exploration of New York’s unique history and architecture in the Downtown area, where the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam was founded in the 17th century, as well as Wall Street and the heart of the financial district so central to New York’s rise. Sights include the 9/11 Memorial, the Woolworth Building and New York City Hall. We then enjoy lunch at the historic Fraunces Tavern, once a hub of revolutionary activity where Washington famously bid farewell to his troops. In the evening, we kick off our performances with the much-anticipated Broadway revival of Chess, the musical written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA. This new production reunites Tony-winner Aaron Tveit as American grandmaster Freddie Trumper and Emmy-nominee Lea Michele as Florence Vassey, with Nicholas Christopher as Annie’s fierce Soviet rival Anatoly Sergievsky. Originally opening in London in 1986 and famously staged on Broadway in 1988, the musical returns with a stunning new direction by Michael Mayer and an updated book by Danny Strong. Overnight New York (B, L, LD)
Performance I
Venue: Imperial Theatre, 249 W 45th St
Program: Broadway Musical, Chess -
Today we visit the Guggenheim Museum on the Upper East Side. Frank Lloyd Wright’s last architectural masterpiece, the Guggenheim is a radical departure from the typical museum layout. We will inspect the building and tour the collection before free time to explore further on your own. This afternoon we visit the Frick Collection, an exceptional museum of European Old Master paintings housed in the former mansion of industrialist Henry Clay Frick. Recently reopened after a major renovation, the museum offers a refined viewing experience, with masterpieces by artists such as Vermeer, Rembrandt and Gainsborough elegantly displayed in the restored Gilded Age interiors. In the evening, we head to Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall for an evening with the New York Philharmonic and a thrilling program led by Stéphane Denève. World-famous French pianist Jean‑Yves Thibaudet will star in Khachaturian’s rarley-performed Piano Concerto, one of the Armenian composer’s greatest triumphs. Overnight New York (B, LD)
Performance II
Venue: Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center
Program: Lera Auerbach’s Icarus (New York Premiere), Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto, Rautavaara’s Cantus Arcticus, Respighi’s Pines of Rome
Artists: New York Philharmonic, Stéphane Denève (Conductor), Jean-Yves Thibaudet (Piano) -
We celebrate Thanksgiving today, beginning with the Macy’s Parade, New York’s favourite event and the world’s biggest parade, with spectacular floats and displays to bring a smile to all age groups. We then feast on a traditional American Thanksgiving banquet at Benoit New York, a contemporary French/American bistro by Alain Ducasse. For those who wish to walk off lunch, we will take an optional stroll through Central Park in the afternoon, whose landscaping has been described as New York’s largest work of art. Our walk will take in some of the carefully sculpted vistas the park provides, including the Belvedere and the Bethesda Terrace, as we discuss the history and creation of this unique urban space. The evening is at leisure. Overnight New York (B, L, LD)
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This morning, we will take a tour of the areas around Bryant Park, Herald Square and the Empire State Building. We’ll take a look at the New York Public Library, and then take a guided tour of one of New York City’s often-overlooked gems – the Morgan Library. Once the private residence and library of the financier J.P. Morgan, it contains an exquisite collection of extremely rare manuscripts and books. With the Black Friday sales in full swing, the afternoon is free for you to shop till your heart’s content, if you so desire. This evening we enjoy a performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center in their magnificent auditorium overlooking Central Park. Overnight New York (B, LD)
Performance III
Venue: Jazz at Lincoln Center
Program: To be advised -
This morning we’ll take the subway downtown to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the great icons of New York. Once in Brooklyn, we’ll get a chance to see the famous brownstones and commanding views of Manhattan. After time for lunch in the iconic DUMBO district, we’ll head over to the Brooklyn Museum to see the highlights of one of the most diverse and interesting art collections in the city, including Judy Chicago’s iconic Dinner Party. The evening sees us head to the Lincoln Center for a true New York experience – dinner at the famous Grand Tier Restaurant, followed by a performance of Strauss’s Arabella the Metropolitan Opera. This elegant romance brings the glamour and enchantment of 19th-century Vienna to the Met stage in a sumptuous production by legendary director Otto Schenk. Soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen makes her role debut as the title heroine, a young noblewoman in search of love on her own terms. Radiant soprano Louise Alder makes her Met debut as her sister, Zdenka, and bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny is the dashing count who sweeps Arabella off her feet. Overnight New York (B, D)
Performance IV
Venue: Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center
Program: Opera, Strauss’s Arabella
Artists: Rachel Willis-Sørensen (Arabella), Louise Alder (Zdenka), Julie Roset (Fiakermilli), Karen Cargill (Adelaide), Pavol Breslik (Matteo), Tomasz Konieczny (Mandryka) -
For early risers, we enjoy the opportunity to participate in a Gospel church service in Harlem, as joyous music carries the powerful message of praise, sacrifice and hope, before taking in some of the other northern Manhattan sights, including the home of founding father Alexander Hamilton – The Grange, a dignified outpost in a pretty park in Harlem. Returning to the hotel in the afternoon, we freshen up before a matinee show on Broadway. After the show, there will be the option to walk the connecting High Line – a beautiful urban park situated on a former elevated rail line above the chic Chelsea and Meatpacking districts. The evening is at leisure. (Overnight New York (B, LD)
Performance V
Venue: Broadway Theatre
Program: To be advised -
Today begins with a special private, before-hours tour of the Neue Galerie, housed in a gorgeous Beaux-Arts mansion on 5th Avenue. Specializing in German and Austrian art, it has become a must-see after the famous acquisition of Gustav Klimt’s Woman in Gold. From there it is just a short walk to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a cultural icon of the city with more than 50 departments covering the entirety of art’s long history. After time for lunch in cafeteria, you may like to join your tour leader on guided walk through the American Wing and some of the highlights of that section, such as Emanuel Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware. Tonight, we enjoy New York City’s favorite holiday celebration – the Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular, showcasing dance and choreography at Radio City Music Hall since 1932. Overnight New York (B, LD)
Performance VI
Venue: Radio City Music Hall
Program: The Rockettes, Christmas Spectacular -
Today we see a slice of New York’s storied past, taking the subway down to the Lower East Side where millions of immigrants have started their American journey. We begin with a guided tour at the Tenement Museum, which uniquely preserves some of the apartments and stories of several 19th century immigrant families. We then head down to visit the beautifully restored Eldridge Street Synagogue, a legacy of New York’s history of Jewish immigration. Afterwards, we’ll have time to tour and have lunch in Little Italy, famous for its Christmas cheer and once the heart of the Italian community and the New York mafia. This evening we experience The Queen of Versailles, a bold new Broadway musical inspired by the acclaimed 2012 documentary. Starring Tony and Emmy Award-winner Kristin Chenoweth, the production tells the story of Jackie Siegel, a former beauty queen whose dream of building America’s largest private home unravels amid financial turmoil. With music by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) and direction by Tony-winner Michael Arden (Parade), the show explores ambition, excess and resilience with biting wit and Broadway flair. Overnight New York (B, LD)
Performance VII
Venue: St. James Theatre, 246 W 44th St
Program: Broadway Musical, The Queen of Versailles -
A highlight of our tour is this morning’s private tour of MoMA, New York’s famous Museum of Modern Art. Before the doors open to the public, a museum lecturer guides us through the museum’s greatest works, with the likes of Picasso, Gauguin and van Gogh set to delight. After our tour and free time in the museum, we head to our farewell lunch in the private dining room of Gramercy Tavern, an icon of the New York dining scene for more than three decades. There’s free time in the afternoon, before we reconvene for our final performance at the world-famous Carnegie Hall. Here, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra returns to the Stern Auditorium under the masterful direction of Manfred Honeck. The program begins with the New York premiere of Lera Auerbach’s Frozen Dreams, a powerful commission by the PSO, followed by Korean piano sensation Seong‑Jin Cho performing Rachmaninoff’s electrifying Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. The evening concludes with Shostakovich’s dramatic Fifth Symphony, the very work that earned the PSO a Grammy in 2018. Overnight New York (B, L, LD)
Performance VIII
Venue: Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall
Program: Lera Auerbach’s Frozen Dreams (NY Premiere), Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5
Performers: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck (Music Director and Conductor), Seong-Jin Cho (Piano) -
Before we farewell New York, our final morning is free for those interested in squeezing in some extra shopping or additional sights. (B)
New York, WestHouse Hotel
(10 nights)
Our five-star hotel is very conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan, on 55th Street. Reminiscent of a luxurious New York Townhouse, the hotel features spacious Art-Deco-inspired rooms and is located within walking distance of many of New York’s most popular attractions.
tour booking
$14,780 AUD per person, twin share (land content only)
$4,270 AUD supplement for sole use of a hotel room
A $1,000 deposit is required per person to confirm your booking on tour. This deposit is non-refundable.
Now that the final performance program is released, an instalment of $2,000 is required.
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Book Online
To secure your place(s) on tour, book online below with “Athena”, our virtual tour consultant.
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Book via Email or Post
Download a printable booking form. You can also complete the form on screen and submit via email.
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We are happy to hold a tentative place for 7 days while you make your final arrangements.

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your tour consultant
The consultant for this tour is Jamal Fairbrother. For further information or to discuss the tour, please call 9235 0023 (Sydney) or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email jamal@academytravel.com.au
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