Melbourne Museum
8.4Friend Score / 10#2 of 11 Museums in Melbourne
Known formuseumnatural historydinosaursphar lap
The Southern Hemisphere's largest museum, in Carlton Gardens behind the Royal Exhibition Building — natural history, a living indoor rainforest, the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and racehorse Phar Lap. Adults $18, under-16s free, open daily 9am–5pm. One of the best-value family attractions in the city, hands down.
Key facts
| Hours | Daily 09:00–17:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Tram 86 or 96 to the Melbourne Museum stop on Nicholson Street; Parliament Station about 10 minutes' walk |
| Time needed | 2-4 hours |
| Best time to go | Weekday mornings in school term; first hour after opening on weekends |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.4/10- Value9.0
- iconic7.5
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level7.0
- Authenticity8.0
- Accessibility9.0
Frequently asked questions
- Is Melbourne Museum good for young kids?
- Excellent — the Children's Gallery is designed for ages 0-5 and under-16s enter free, so a family visit costs at most two adult tickets. School holidays are mobbed; go early.
- Who or what is Phar Lap?
- Australia's most famous racehorse, a Depression-era national hero whose preserved hide has been a museum treasure since 1933. Locals of every generation have a Phar Lap memory; it's an oddly emotional exhibit.
- How much is Melbourne Museum entry?
- Adults $18, kids 16 and under free, seniors $12, and eligible concession holders free. Special temporary exhibitions cost extra on top.
- What are the must-sees inside?
- The dinosaur and megafauna galleries, the Forest Gallery (a real living rainforest inside the building), Phar Lap the legendary racehorse, and Bunjilaka, the Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Bunjilaka's First Peoples exhibition is one of the best of its kind in Australia.
- What is IMAX Melbourne?
- One of the world's largest screens, attached to the museum, showing documentaries and features — tickets are separate from museum entry. A documentary plus museum makes a good rainy-day double.
- What are Melbourne Museum's hours?
- Daily 9am to 5pm, closed only Christmas Day and Good Friday. Weekday mornings in school term are the quietest window.
- Melbourne Museum or Scienceworks — which for kids?
- Both are Museums Victoria: Melbourne Museum is broader (dinosaurs, rainforest, culture); Scienceworks in Spotswood is hands-on science and better for button-pushing energy. With one day and mixed ages, Melbourne Museum wins on location alone.
- How do I get to Melbourne Museum?
- Tram 86 or 96 from Bourke Street to the museum stop on Nicholson Street, or walk 10 minutes from Parliament Station through Carlton Gardens. Underground paid parking exists but the tram is easier.
Nearby in Ask Melbourne
- Melbourne MuseumAttraction0 km · 0 min walk
- Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton GardensAttraction0.16 km · 2 min walk
- Carlton GardensAttraction0.24 km · 3 min walk
- Good MeasureCafé0.5 km · 6 min walk
- CarltonNeighborhood0.55 km · 7 min walk
Where to stay near Melbourne Museum
Compare hotels & stays on Booking.com · doesn’t affect the Friend Score