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Plan Your Visit to Melbourne Museum

What to Expect at Melbourne Museum

A little preparation goes a long way at Melbourne Museum. Here’s what to know about tickets, house rules, accessibility and what’s nearby before you go.

Your Ticket to Melbourne Museum

Tickets are available online in advance or at the museum entrance. Buying online is the safer bet if you want to guarantee entry.

General admission covers the permanent galleries: Dinosaur Walk, the Forest Gallery, Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Phar Lap. The museum also runs guided tours and ticketed touring exhibitions from time to time, on top of general admission, so check the tickets on this page for what’s currently available.

Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours in the permanent galleries. Add more time if you’re also seeing a touring exhibition or an IMAX film.

Rules, Facilities and Access at the Museum

House Rules

Handheld cameras and smartphones are fine for personal use in the exhibition spaces. Flash photography and professional equipment like tripods are generally restricted, since they can damage delicate displays.

Dining is available onsite, but outside food and drink aren't allowed inside the galleries themselves.

Beyond that, it's the usual courtesy: keep the museum enjoyable for the other people in it.

Food, Shopping and Facilities

The Museum Market Café on the ground level and the family-friendly Museum Station Café inside the Children's Gallery both serve meals, snacks and coffee throughout the day.

The Museums Victoria Store carries souvenirs, books, educational toys and merchandise tied to whatever's currently on show.

Restrooms are accessible and spread across the museum, along with visitor maps and seating areas.

Accessibility

A limited number of standard-sized wheelchairs and one mobility scooter are available for free use, though it's worth calling ahead to book one.

Every gallery and public space is reachable by lift or ramp, and a wheelchair access map is available at the front desk on request. The underground car park connects by lift straight to the ground floor, with accessible bays on level P2.

Sensory bags with noise-reduction earmuffs and fidget tools can be borrowed free from the Information Desk. There are hearing loops in some spaces, and the National Relay Service can help with phone calls for deaf visitors or those with a hearing or speech impairment.

Guide dogs and other registered assistance animals are welcome throughout. Lifts have tactile indicators, and a few exhibitions include tactile components, so ask at the ticket desk which ones.

Where to Find Us and When We're Open

Location
Hours

Melbourne Museum is at 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, next to the Royal Exhibition Building and a short walk from the Immigration Museum and Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

Working out how to get there? See the full directions to Melbourne Museum by train, tram, bus, bike and car.

Choosing the Best Time to Visit

Weekdays, especially Tuesday through Thursday, tend to be quieter than weekends across the museum.

Arriving right at opening or after 3pm usually means shorter queues, particularly around Dinosaur Walk and the Children's Gallery.

Victorian school holidays and public holidays bring more families through the door, so expect busier galleries and the odd queue at peak times.

Prefer a slower pace after hours? Nocturnal: Museum After Dark runs monthly for an adults-only evening. See the full Melbourne Museum opening hours and holiday closures for dates.

What's Nearby

Royal Exhibition Building: Right outside the museum's front door, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed 19th-century building that still hosts exhibitions, fairs and events year-round.

Carlton Gardens: The Victorian-era parkland the museum sits in, with ornamental lakes, fountains and formal flowerbeds — good for a picnic or a quiet walk, and there's an award-winning playground for kids.

IMAX Melbourne: On-site beneath the museum, showing documentaries and blockbusters on one of the largest screens in the Southern Hemisphere.

Lygon Street: A short walk away — Melbourne's "Little Italy," known for its Italian restaurants, cafés and gelaterias.

Melbourne Museum: Entry Ticket

Highlights

Discover Australia’s heritage through extensive exhibits.

See Horridus, the world’s best-preserved Triceratops.

Explore the award-winning First Peoples exhibition.

Wander through the immersive Forest Gallery rainforest.

Enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere with exhibits for all ages.

Questions Visitors Ask

Where is Melbourne Museum located?

The museum is at 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, within the Carlton Gardens, right next to the Royal Exhibition Building.

What are Melbourne Museum's opening hours?

See the full Melbourne Museum opening hours and holiday closures.

How long should I plan for my visit?

Most visitors spend around 2 to 3 hours exploring the permanent galleries, more if you're also seeing a touring exhibition or an IMAX film.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

You're welcome to bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks, but they aren't permitted within the exhibition galleries. There are designated eating areas, including the outdoor Plaza.

Is the museum accessible for people with disabilities?

Yes. The entire venue is accessible via ramps and lifts, wheelchairs and a mobility scooter are available for free hire, and sensory bags can be borrowed from the Information Desk.

Is photography allowed inside the museum?

Handheld cameras and smartphones are allowed for personal use. Flash photography and professional equipment, such as tripods, generally aren't.

Are there dining options inside the museum?

Yes — the Museum Market Café and the family-friendly Museum Station Café both serve meals, snacks and coffee throughout the day.

How do I get to Melbourne Museum?

See the full directions to Melbourne Museum by train, tram, bus, bike and car.

What other attractions are near Melbourne Museum?

The museum is next to the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens and IMAX Melbourne, with the Lygon Street dining precinct a short walk away.