From mosaic masterpieces to big laughs: autumn school holiday highlights at Museums Victoria
Enjoy an autumn of curiosity and connection, with hands-on workshops, exhibitions and activities for the whole family
Walk in the shoes of gladiators, dive into a million bubbles and explore Our Wondrous Planet these autumn school holidays.
At Melbourne Museum, step into ancient Rome: get hands-on with Mosaic Monuments, learn about the warriors of the Roman world in our Creative Lab – Rise of the Gladiators workshop, and catch surprise giggles as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival takes over the city’s favourite cultural playground. Expect bold ideas, playful experiences and joyful moments for curious minds of all ages.
Over at Scienceworks, the energy is electric: dive into the dazzling Colour exhibition and discover the surprising science behind how we see the world. Keep the momentum going with the action-packed Sportsworks, lift-off moments in the Ready to Launch Show and the glowing spectacle of The Glow Show - a dream playground for budding scientists and enthusiastic experimenters.
Swim with sharks from the safety of a cinema seat over at IMAX Melbourne, which screens the stunning 3D film SHARK KINGDOM.
Read on for autumn holiday program highlights or see the full program of activities and events here.
Melbourne Museum
Our Wondrous Planet
Daily | 9am–5pm | Cost: Child free / Child Member free / Adult $18 / Adult Member free | Included with museum entry
Discover a world four billion years in the making; come face to face with animals from around the world in Our Wondrous Planet. Step into their vibrant ecosystems and experience the incredible connections that unite all life on Earth; play your part in helping to shape a thriving future for our planet.
Mosaic Monuments
4 April – 19 April | 11:00am–3:00pm | Tickets included with museum entry
Celebrate the Launch of Rome: Empire, Power, People with Mosaic Monuments.
Explore the world of ancient Rome as Mosaic Monuments invites families to discover towering ‘ruins’ of the Roman Empire in the museum foyer. Add your own mosaic-inspired designs and watch a vibrant, community-created artwork come to life. A hands-on activity that brings creativity, history and fun together for visitors of all ages.
Creative Lab – Rise of the Gladiators
7 April – 19 April | 10:30am – 11am / 11:30am – 12pm / 1pm – 1:30pm / 2pm – 2:30pm | Child $12 / Member child $10 / Adult free
Children aged 6 to 12 can design and build their own gladiator mask in this 30-minute workshop blending hands-on making with theatre and imagination. They will learn about different gladiator styles, the anatomy of Roman helmets, and discover how Roman fighters used helmets, masks and symbols to tell powerful stories in the arena.
Tiny Tours: Whale to Tail
Every Monday | 10.00am | Child $22 / Member Child $18 / Adult $18 / Member Adult free / Concession Free / Includes museum Entry
Embark on a Whale to Tail adventure, where young minds discover how even the smallest details reveal life’s biggest secrets. From the krill that sustains a mighty whale to the final vertebra in a Triceratops tail, this tour shows how tiny things can tell grand stories about the past.Families will explore Museum highlights like 600 Million Years, Dinosaur Walk, and Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs. Generously supported by Major Partner, Best Start Best Life.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
4 April – 19 April | Various times | Tickets sold via the International Comedy Festival’s website
Melbourne Museum will become LOL-central these April school holidays, once again hosting the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s program for curious kids and their fun-loving families.
Bubble Show in Space (Melbourne International Comedy Festival program)
4 April – 19 April | 10am & 1pm | Tickets sold via the International Comedy Festival’s website
Ever wondered what it’s like to be in a room full of a million bubbles? Blast off on a soap-tastic adventure and discover the intergalactic wonder of bubbles in space.
Comedy Club for Kids (Melbourne International Comedy Festival program)
4 April – 19 April | 11:30am & 2:30pm | Tickets sold via the International Comedy Festival’s website
Looking for the ultimate school holiday treat? Comedy Club for Kids brings together the funniest, kid-friendly performers in one massive showcase for children aged six and up.
The Listies | Make you LOL – Again (Melbourne International Comedy Festival program)
4 April – 19 April | 1pm & 2:30pm | Tickets sold via the International Comedy Festival’s website
Festival favourites The Listies are back by POOP-ular demand! Gratuitous, ridiculous, and always hilarious, family comedy doesn’t get much better than this.
Aboriginal Comedy Allstars for Kids (Melbourne International Comedy Festival program)
18 April | 2.30pm | Tickets sold via the International Comedy Festival’s website
Starring comedians Andy Saunders, Elaine Crombie, Janty Blair, Jay Wymarra, Kevin Kropinyeri and Sean Choolburra, this show has enjoyed sell-out seasons and five-star reviews in the UK, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and beyond. The Allstars bring huge belly laughs from the heart of the wide brown land.
Road To Zero
Stop, Look, Listen, Think & Stick: Your Path to Safety
7 April – 18 April (excluding 12 April) | 10am–3pm | Cost: Free
This holiday program gives participants the chance to create a safe journey from one place to another using stickers, while learning about road safety along the way.
IMAX Melbourne
SHARK KINGDOM 3D
Opening March 12 | Session times vary | Cost: Child $14 / Senior $14 / Concession $18 / Adult $21 /
New to IMAX Melbourne, SHARK KINGDOM 3D is an epic family adventure, revealing how the ocean's top predator uses hidden super senses to be a key player in the marine ecosystem.
Scienceworks
Colour
Opening 27 March | Daily | 10am–4.30pm | Cost: Adult $25 | Senior $22 | Child $10 | Concession $10 | Member $8
This spectacular new exhibition from Questacon in Canberra reveals the surprising science and sensations behind one of the most powerful forces shaping how we see and experience the world.
Featuring 27 hands-on experiences, Colour invites visitors of all ages to experiment, explore and be amazed. Play with coloured bubbles, lose yourself in optical illusions, encounter iridescent insects and discover how light creates the colours all around us.
Planetarium Shows
Daily | 11am–4pm | $10 Child and Concession / $8 Members / $25 Adult / $20 Seniors (Includes Scienceworks entry)
Book into the Planetarium and enjoy an out-of-this-world show exclusive to Scienceworks.
11.00am – Tycho Goes to Mars
12.00pm – Tilt
1.00pm – Tycho Goes to Mars
2.00pm – Ticket to the Universe
3.00pm – Starlight
Ready to Launch show
4 April – 19 April | Daily | 12pm & 2pm | Cost: Included with Scienceworks entry
Blast off into space these autumn holidays in a free 20-minute show that fires up a range of rockets and explores what it takes to launch beyond Earth. Head to the amphitheatre to discover the forces that make space travel possible.
The Glow Show
4 April – 19 April | 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm | Cost: Children/Concession $10 / Adult $25 / Senior $20 / Member $8
Take a seat in our Lightning Theatre and be mesmerised by this visually stunning live science show.
