Dinosaurs, animals, ancient relics—Melbourne Museum has got all of that and more! Spend the day at the museum for an incredibly immersive experience that will teach you all about Triceratops, Ancient Greece, and more with fossils, interactive spaces, and exciting activities. When it comes to Melbourne family activities, it doesn’t get much better than this.
To help you make the most of your day at the museum, we’ve made this handy guide with all the info you’ll need for a smooth visit to Melbourne Museum.
Where is Melbourne Museum located?
Melbourne Museum is located at 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, Victoria, 3053. There are several options to reach the museum.
- By tram - Board the tram route 86 or tram route 96 and alight at Stop 11 Melbourne Museum, corner of Nicholson and Gertrude Streets. Or ride the free City Circle Tram to Victoria Parade.
- By train - Ride the city loop train to Parliament Station.
- By bus- Take one of buses 250, 251 or 402 to Rathdowne Street.
- By car - From the CBD, it’s a quick drive under 10 minutes. Drive along Collins Street, turn left onto Spring Street, and continue onto Nicholson Street. For parking, you can enter the car park via Rathdowne Street or Nicholson Street.
Klook tip: Make sure to bring cash if you’re using the car park. There’s a credit card processing fee of 2.2%.
Melbourne Museum is busiest on Fridays and weekends. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance to avoid long queues and enjoy skip-the-line access.
What are Melbourne Museum's opening hours?
Don’t have much free time? Great news! Melbourne Museum is open every day from 9am to 5pm, except for select holidays like Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Why visit Melbourne Museum?
1. Exciting exhibitions
Calling all dino lovers! Find Australia’s most complete dinosaur in Melbourne Museum. At the Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs exhibition, you’ll get a close look at the actual 67-million-year-old fossil of the reptile. Learn why the massive creature became extinct and about other inhabitants of the Cretaceous era.
There are also great upcoming exhibitions, like Open Horizons - Ancient Greek Journeys and Connections, which will open on 23 April until 14 August. During your visit, you’ll see pieces imported all the way from the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Discover the well-preserved pieces like a marble sphinx and sculptures that reflect the trade relations between Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.
2. Fun, educational activities
Who says learning has to be boring? The Children’s Gallery at the museum is the place to be for everyone five and under. Kids will be encouraged to draw, play, and explore different subjects in immersive surroundings for the ultimate learning experience.
Looking for more fun in Victoria? Treat the kids to a fun ride on Puffing Billy!
3. Creative workshops
There’s not just science and history,you can also enjoy art at Melbourne Museum. Every month, there’s usually a workshop that allows visitors to learn more about different topics, from the ocean to outer space, in an interactive group. From the 11th until the 22nd of April, the museum has a fun and colourful workshop that uses state-of-the-art augmented reality technology to imagine the colour of Triceratops.
For some more creative and immersive fun, head to ArtVo Melbourne and have a blast with the entire fam.
4. Talks by leading experts
Can’t get enough of science? Hear all about it straight from the experts. Melbourne Museum stages talks every few weeks with topics ranging from marine biology to dinosaurs. They’ll explain how they use million-year old fossils to imagine what the world looked like back then while showing actual relics.
If you need more ideas for things to do with the whole fam, here are fun activities for kids in Melbourne!
5. Immersive 3D shows
Embark on a grand journey that takes you to the incredible world of dinosaurs. On the museum’s Dinosaurs of Antarctica IMAX 3D show, you’ll follow the journey of a team of scientists who are attempting to discover what happened to dinosaurs that once roamed Antarctica.