Spring into the Sea Museum

There is so much to do this spring at the Australian National Maritime Museum

With exciting exhibitions such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Ocean Predators as well as Kids on Deck, Ocean Lab, Creative Workshops, Kids Treasure Trail there is something for kids of all ages.

We’re open every day of the spring school holidays – Sat 26 Sep to Sun 11 Oct.

The museum is a COVID-safe environment. Find out more about the museum’s COVID-safe practices on our website.

NSW school holidays at the museum

Choose your own adventure at the museum these school holidays with exhibitions, vessels, hands-on workshops and creative activities every day!

Get active and take our biggest treasure hunt activity trail yet. Discover maritime mysteries and marvels, secret ciphers and hidden gems of the collection at the eight mystery stops around the museum, crack the code to win cool prizes.

It’s also your last chance to get up-close to some of the most fearsome creatures ever to inhabit the oceans in our Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Ocean Predators exhibition (closes 11 Oct).

Explore what lies beneath the surface of Sydney Harbour in our new Ocean Lab, get creative in Kids on Deck activity space with art making and experiments, or take part in a filmmaking workshop and be inspired by your favourite animal stories in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

Daily programs

Kids on Deck: Wild Wonders – Workshop sessions

Be inspired by the brilliant biology of underwater creatures large and small, as you enjoy art making and experiments with your family.

Learn to create your own wild silkscreen prints on fabric, try your hand at a watercolour painting of marine life or design your own mega-bubble maker to experiment with science outdoors.

Kids on Deck is running in timed facilitated sessions with a limited capacity, distanced seating (separate tables and equipment for each family group) and additional hygiene measures to ensure families can stay safe and enjoy creative activities together.

Open daily during school holidays 27 Sept – 11 Oct

Ages 4-14 and adults

Sessions run every 45 mins 10.30 am – 4 pm (30 minute sessions)

Entry included in any paid admission. Members FREE.

Limited capacity – book your timeslot at the visitor info desk on arrival

https://www.sea.museum/school-holidays

Ocean Lab

Experience our ocean container laboratory – a space to explore what lies beneath the surface of the harbour. Join in experiments and creative activities to discover more about the secret life of plankton, see films captured by our underwater drones and learn more about the biodiversity of our Sydney Harbour environment.

Open daily during school holidays 27 Sept – 11 Oct

Ages: 4-14 and adults.

Cost: Included in any paid ticket

Session times and activities will vary each day. More info available on the day of your visit

Activity Trail

Explore the museum exhibitions and galleries with this creative Activity Trail designed especially for children with curious minds. Pick up your Activity Trail in the museum foyer and complete it to claim your prize booty – a creative activities pack filled with temporary tattoos, paper crafts and more to enjoy.

Cost: Included in any museum entry

Creative Workshops

Claymation Creations

Wednesday 30 Sept or Thursday 1 Oct

10am – 4pm

Discover how to produce your own stop-motion digital and clay animations inspired by our exhibitions on show in this fun-filled one-day workshop.

Create your own animation to share and have your work featured on the museum's YouTube channel.

Cost: $75 / $65 members

Bookings essential

Reporting live in the wild – TV presenting workshop

Wednesday 7 Oct – Thursday 8 Oct

10am – 5pm

Create and star in your own imaginative TV segments inspired by our Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. Learn to drive an underwater drone and capture unique underwater footage. Learn clever techniques in green-screen, scripting, directing, acting and film-making as you produce your own creative digital stories.

Cost: $165

$140 (earlybird special to 3 Oct) and Members

All school holidays programs can be found here www.sea.museum/school-holidays 

Special events

Sensory-friendly Sundays – Access program

Creative Kids

The NSW Government’s Creative Kids program allows parents, guardians and carers to apply for a voucher with a value of up to $100 per calendar year for each student aged 4.5 to 18 years old enrolled in school.

And the great news is, these vouchers can be put towards the purchase of a Family Pass to the Maritime Museum – which means your family (2 adults and up to 3 kids) can enjoy our activities all year round for only $40 (normally $140).

There has never been a better time to join the museum on a family pass – thanks to the NSW Government’s Creative Kids program – you get a $100 voucher so can join as a family for as little as $10!

For information about membership go to https://www.sea.museum/support/members/creative-kids-annual-family-pass