Keep little hands busy and out of the heat this Summer school holidays with these awesome indoor activities across our network of museums. 

We’ve pulled together a guide full of hands-on activities and events that’ll keep your kids entertained while keeping their brains busy. From investigating live science experiments to constructing a 3D spider, you won’t want to miss making memories and discovering something new on an unforgettable family day out.

Queensland Museum | Brisbane

1. Spiders – The Exhibition opens 6 December

Explore the fascinating world of spiders, some of the most formidable and often feared creatures in Australia. Come face to face with live Sydney Funnel Web, Trapdoor, Hunstman, Redback, and Tarantula spiders!

Did you know this exhibition will host an interactive area for all ages to enjoy? Build a web using magnetic shapes to create intricate designs just like a spider.

Put your construction skills to the test and build a giant 3D Spider in this ultimate puzzle. Show off your best moves by challenging a Peacock Spider to a dance off.

Buy tickets now.

2. Get up close with live science experiments at SparkLab’s Science Bar

Check out what’s floating, flaming or under pressure at the Science Bar. Ask questions, predict outcomes and direct part of the investigation.

There are seven Science Bar experiments daily and are included in your SparkLab ticket. These drop-in programs are short, intimate experiences that are tailored to the audience.

Buy SparkLab tickets here.

3. Explore over 1300 objects at the Discovery Centre

Animal lovers will enjoy playing, asking questions, learning and getting up close to a multitude of species in this exciting space.

If you’ve made an interesting backyard discovery, our experts are on hand to identify your mystery specimen or object.

Don’t miss seeing the live snakes, stick insects, giant cockroaches, and geckos who call the Discovery Centre home!

Located on Level 4 of the Museum. Free entry.

The Workshop Rail Museum | Ipswich

4. Bush Mechanics – The Exhibition

Based on the popular ABC television series, Bush Mechanics – The Exhibition showcases the ingenuity of outback mechanics in the context of Warlpri storytelling, music and art.

Explore through a range of items from the series, including two original cars, clay figurines, specially commissioned artwork, or try your hand at some of the resourceful nyurulypa, or tricks, by assembling the discarded parts that make up the exhibition’s bush driving simulator and other interactive displays.

In addition, sit back and enjoy some of the original footage from the television series, filmed in Central Australia.

Included in Museum entry.

5. Summer Days at the Museum – Under Construction

Make tracks to the Museum these summer school holidays for Summer Days at The Workshops Rail Museum.

Our school holiday program Under Construction gives kids the opportunity to get their hard hats and create a masterpiece with LEGO® and other construction systems, so they can dream it, design it, and build it! Then venture into the Sciencentre to learn all about science of travel, through integrative activities.

Make a day of it with entry to the Museum and all exhibits included in your ticket – see real life steam trains and diesel locomotives, test your skills on the train simulators, and more.

Buy tickets online.  

Cobb+Co Museum | Toowoomba

6. Discover science that moves you with Science on the Move

Questacon’s Science on the Move is on its way to Cobb+Co Museum this Summer. Opening Friday 6 December, the exhibition’s intriguing investigations will engage the mind and body.

Enjoy, discover and explore principles of light, music and sound, human biology and health, force and motion, ecology and the environment, electricity and magnetism, human population and genetics.

Recommended for kids aged 6-14, this hands on exhibition addresses topics of varying complexity, engaging all ages about the wonders of science.

7. Venture Under the Sea this summer

Uncover creatures of the marine world as we bring the ocean to the museum for the summer school holidays.

Thanks to the team at Ocean Life Education, Under the Sea will have kids getting up close and personal to marine animals where they can hear all about their day to day lives, learn lots of interesting facts, and be inspired to appreciate and take responsibility for the marine ecosystem.

Meet marine animals including jellyfish, sea horses, baby sharks, sea cucumbers, sea stars, baby stingrays, turtles, crustaceans, coral and more.

Dates: 13-19 January at 9.30am, 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm daily. Ideal for ages 3-12 years.

Learn more online.

Museum of Tropical Queensland | Townsville

8. Be a hero with the action-packed exhibition Rescue

How would you react in a high-pressure scenario with lives at stake? Rescue puts you in charge as you discover what it’s like to be involved in land, sea and air rescues.

Get ready to experience the challenges, technology and training used by specialist rescue teams through a range of exciting hands-on exhibits. Take the controls of a full-size helicopter simulator, navigate jet skis around obstacles, find your way through a smoke-filled room and much more!

Ideal for all ages, Rescue features 17 full-body science challenges where kids and adults can test their abilities, role-play and to use their problem-solving skills to solve simulated rescue scenarios.

9. Have fun with drones in special coding workshops

Ever wanted to learn how to code and fly a mini-drone? Well now is your chance!

In this immersive workshop kids will explore drone coding concepts and learn how drones can be programmed to solve autonomous tasks.

Presented by STEM Punks, this hands-on session will show participants how to create algorithms to control of a drone and its accessories. At the end of the class, kids will combine their new skills in coding and drones to complete a fun search and rescue mission!

Dates: 6-10 January at 10am, 12pm and 2pm. Ideal for ages 7-12 years old.

Buy tickets here.

Visit Queensland Museum Network today

Make sure to bookmark this page so you can easily refer back when it’s time to plan your school holiday adventures.  View our opening hours, and Museum locations and maps to plan your day. Enjoy!