Melbourne Museum Summer School Holiday Activities

Get ready for a summer filled with wonder and discovery as Melbourne Museum gears up for an exciting school holiday program from 14 December 2024 to 27 January 2025. Packed with exhibitions, workshops, and performances, the program promises unforgettable family-friendly experiences.

Here’s the ultimate guide to making the most of Melbourne Museum’s School Holidays Program 2023/2024. 

1. Antopia: Discover the World of Ants

Step into the hidden world of ants with Antopia, a one-of-a-kind exhibition blending art and science. This immersive experience lets visitors explore the complex lives of ants as they navigate their miniature ecosystems. Designed by the creators of the award-winning exhibition Tyama, Antopia features stunning digital interpretations and interactive displays that will captivate kids and adults alike.

From the ingenious architecture of their nests to their remarkable teamwork, Antopia reveals why ants are some of nature’s greatest collaborators.

Antopia: Discover the World of Ants, 14 December – 10 March 2025 | Daily | 9:00am – 5:00pm
Children $23 | Members $19 | Concession $28 | Adults $33 | Flexible ticket $39 | Includes Melbourne Museum entry 

2. Creative Lab: Craft Your Ant Diorama

For kids eager to unleash their creativity, the Creative Lab – Antopia offers a hands-on experience like no other.

Children aged 5 to 12 can create their own ant-inspired dioramas and explore watercolour painting in a vibrant, sensory-rich setting. Adding to the fun, a live ant colony will be on display, offering a rare chance to see these tiny engineers in action.

Parents can join in or take a break while their little ones dive into this interactive workshop, where art meets science in the most delightful way.

Please note: Creative Lab does not include Museum Entry. Tickets are $10 for each Child and $8 for Museums Victoria members. 

Creative Lab: Craft Your Ant Diorama, 2 January – 25 January 2025 | Daily at 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm, and 2:00pm | Children $10 | Members $8 |

3. Ants – A Polyglot Theatre Performance

Prepare to be charmed by Ants, an enchanting performance by Polyglot Theatre that turns the everyday into the extraordinary. Giant ants roam the space, inviting children to collaborate in a whimsical world of breadcrumbs and curiosity.

Kick off your day with a free outdoor performance on Museum Plaza, or catch one of the indoor shows included with museum entry. Supported by the City of Melbourne, Ants offers a magical exploration of teamwork, connection, and imagination.

Ants – A Polyglot Theatre Performance, 14 December and 8 January – 25 January 2025, Free outdoor show at 10:00am (Museum Plaza), Indoor performances at 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 2:00pm (Main Foyer, free with museum entry)

4. Antennae Antics: Craft Your Own Ant-Inspired Headband

Unleash your creativity and dive into the fascinating world of ants with Antennae Antics! This hands-on activity invites kids and adults to craft their own ant-inspired paper headbands, complete with whimsical antennae.

Ants use their antennae to communicate, sense, and navigate their environments—and now you can channel their extraordinary abilities in a fun and artistic way. Perfectly complementing the Antopia exhibition and the enchanting Ants performance by Polyglot Theatre, this activity is a delightful addition to your Melbourne Museum visit.

Tip: Pair your headband crafting session with other Antopia adventures for a fully immersive ant-inspired day!

Antennae Antics: Craft Your Own Ant-Inspired Headband, Wednesday 8 January – Saturday 25 January 2025, 9:30am – 2:30pm, Main Foyer, Adults $15 | Children Free | Members Free (included with museum entry)

5. Tiny Tours

A special tour for young visitors to experience the museum like adults! 

Tiny Tours offers a unique, 45-minute guided experience for early years audiences, particularly suited for children aged 3 to 5 years. With their own guide, children explore the museum’s most curious and amazing specimens and objects.

The ticket for a child is priced at $22, with guardians gaining free entry along with museum access. 

Read our Tiny Tours review.

Tiny Tours, 5 January 2024, 12 January 2024 and 19 January 2024 – 2 February 2024 | Child $22 / Guardians Free / Includes Melbourne Museum entry 

6. IMAX: Big Adventures on the Big Screen

For budding explorers and curious minds, IMAX is showcasing two thrilling 45-minute documentaries:

• BUGS 3D: Micro Monsters – Shrink to the size of an ant and witness the incredible world of these tiny creatures, from nest-building to survival strategies.
• T. REX 3D – Face off with prehistoric giants as Melbourne Museum’s beloved Horridus the Triceratops takes on the mighty T. rex in an epic battle of the ages.

Make the most of your visit with a joint ticket to Antopia and IMAX for a full day of edu-tainment.

IMAX: Big Adventures on the Big Screen, Opens 14 December | Daily | Children $12 | Members $10 | Concession $16 | Adults $26.50

7. Give Way to Road Sign Safety

Teach your kids the importance of road safety in a fun and interactive way with Give Way to Road Sign Safety. Perfect for children aged 3 to 10 and their families, this engaging program offers a hands-on exploration of some of our most common road signs and their meanings.

Highlights include:

• Interactive Streetscape: Create your own mini road signs and contribute to a collaborative table-top streetscape while learning how road signs help keep us safe.
• Take-Home Resources: Collect a free road safety activity sheet and tips to support your child’s learning beyond the museum.

This free program is a fantastic way to combine education with creativity, giving families an opportunity to explore important safety concepts together.

Give Way to Road Sign Safety, Monday 6 January – Saturday 25 January, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Free

7. Children’s Gallery 

Designed for babies to 5-year-olds, the Melbourne Museum Children’s Gallery is a wonderful space for young children to explore, play, and learn. It’s filled with activities that stimulate curiosity and development in a fun and interactive environment.

Read our Melbourne Museum Children’s Gallery review

Children’s Gallery, Daily, Included in Museum Entry

8. Gandel Gondwana Garden 

Discover Victoria’s ancient landscapes in Gandel Gondwana Garden. Learn about the dinosaurs and megafauna that once roamed this land, as well as the ancestors of today’s Australian species. It’s an educational journey through time.

Read our Gandel Gondwana Garden  review

Gandel Gondwana Garden, Daily, Included in Museum Entry

9. Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs

Meet the most complete real dinosaur in Australia, 67-million-year-old Horridus the Triceratops. 

Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs is an immersive voyage into a lost world, where visitors will explore the landscapes of the Cretaceous and get to know the creatures that thrived there. 

Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs Daily | Included in Museum Entry

10. Dino Days: A Roaring Good Time for Little Ones

Every Wednesday is Dino Day at Melbourne Museum, a special event designed for the museum’s youngest dinosaur fans. Packed with fun and interactive activities, Dino Days promise a prehistoric adventure that’s as engaging as it is educational.

Holiday Highlights:

• Dino Disco (11:00am & 1:00pm)
  Early learners can move, stomp, and soar like dinosaurs in this playful, movement-based activity. Break out of your dinosaur egg, munch on imaginary leaves, and let your inner dinosaur shine!
• Triceratops Tales (10:00am & 12:00pm)
  Gather around for Horridus and the Hidden Valley, an enchanting storytime experience that takes little ones on a prehistoric journey.

While the school holidays focus on these two standout activities, Dino Days throughout the year also feature dino dress-ups, soft play, and other sensory-rich experiences.

Perfect for kids eager to explore the world of dinosaurs, Dino Days are a must-do for families visiting Melbourne Museum.

Dino Days, Every Wednesday, 10:00am – 2:00pm, Main Foyer, Ground Floor, Adults $15 | Children Free | Members Free (included with museum entry)

11. Museum Sleepovers: A Prehistoric Adventure

Experience the ultimate overnight adventure at Melbourne Museum with Museum Sleepovers! Perfect for dinosaur enthusiasts, this once-in-a-lifetime event allows you to explore the museum after dark, sleep among ancient giants, and enjoy exclusive tours and activities.

Highlights include:

• Exclusive Access: Explore the hidden world of Antopia, take a guided torchlight tour of Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs, and enjoy a private Dinosaur Walk.
• Big Screen Thrills: Watch MUFASA: THE LION KING 3D on the giant IMAX screen.
• Morning Delights: Wake to a delicious hot breakfast and an early morning tour of the Gandel Gondwana Garden.
• Special Perks: Receive a unique dinosaur souvenir, a special gift, and premium IMAX entry with snacks.

The museum provides camping mattresses, parking, and access to exhibitions the following day—including the beloved Victoria the T. rex.

Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the wonders of the past while creating unforgettable memories. Museum Members enjoy exclusive presale access and the opportunity to bring along a friend (non-member child or adult).

Book early—this event is sure to sell out!

Museum Sleepovers: A Prehistoric Adventure, Thursday 16 January (6:15pm) – Friday 17 January (9:00am), Friday 17 January (6:15pm) – Saturday 18 January (9:00am), Member Adult $240 | Member Child $220, Member Presale: 3–10 December, General public tickets available from 10 December

Become a Museum Member

Become a Museum Member to receive free general entry to all of Museums Victoria’s venues, as well as discounts on touring exhibitions, parking, shops and cafes, and exclusive events, tours and bookings!

Click here for more information

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Check out Scienceworks’ Summer School Holidays Program
Summer School Holidays events and activities in Melbourne CBD
Summer School Holidays events and activities in Melbourne’s suburbs

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The post Keep Your Little Explorers Engaged This Summer: Your Guide To Melbourne Museum’s School Holidays Program 2024/2025 appeared first on TOT: HOT OR NOT