Scienceworks
Melbourne’s Scienceworks is a family-friendly attraction that offers hands-on science and technology activities, and live demonstrations. Highlights include the Melbourne Planetarium, which presents a simulated display of the night sky, and the Lightening Room, capable of generating 2 million volts of electricity.
The basics
The permanent Think Ahead exhibition imagines how advances in science will change the way we live—interactive exhibits allow you to upgrade your mind and body, and design a vehicle of the future—while the Beyond Perception section reveals imperceptible forces through large-scale exhibits. Visit the museum as part of a river cruise or hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour, and be sure to book your admission ticket in advance in order to save time waiting on the day.
Things to know before you go
- Scienceworks is a must-visit for families and travelers with an interest in science.
- The museum is wheelchair- and stroller-accessible, and wheelchairs are available to hire free of charge.
- There are restrooms and a gift shop on-site.
- Guided tours of the Pumping Station and the Museum Victoria collection are available.
How to get there
You can take the Werribee and Williamstown train lines to Spotswood station, from which Scienceworks is a 10-minute walk, or use the daily Southbank-Williamstown ferry. The museum is also accessible via bicycle routes that run alongside the Yarra River. Hyde Street, and Maribyrnong River.
Trip ideas
When to get there
Scienceworks is generally open from mid-morning until the early evening, from Monday to Sunday. The museum is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. During the summer school holidays, which run from December through January, the museum is particularly busy.
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