Scienceworks (Museums Victoria) — Attraction in Melbourne

ScienceWorks Museum is an absolute gem in the heart of Melbourne! I recently visited with my daughter, and I can confidently say that it was an unforgettable experience for both of us. From the moment we stepped inside, we were greeted with a plethora of interactive and engaging exhibits that catered perfectly to young minds.

My daughter was absolutely enthralled by the variety of fun activities available. The machines that analyze height, weight, jump, push, and pull were not only entertaining but also sneakily educational, teaching her about basic scientific concepts while she was having a blast. It was amazing to watch her learn while she played, and it's a testament to the museum's ability to make learning genuinely enjoyable.

One highlight that had my daughter's eyes gleaming with excitement was the AR-based target hitting game. This interactive game not only tapped into her competitive spirit but also seamlessly integrated technology and learning. The thrill of aiming and hitting targets in an augmented reality environment was a big hit with her, and I must admit, even I had a great time participating!

The overall atmosphere of ScienceWorks is incredibly welcoming and conducive to exploration. The hands-on exhibits allow kids to delve into science and technology in a way that textbooks simply can't replicate. The museum's dedication to making learning a dynamic and interactive adventure truly shines through.

As a parent, witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm and eagerness to learn at ScienceWorks was heartwarming. The staff's friendliness and their willingness to explain concepts in an engaging manner were noteworthy as well. It's clear that they are passionate about what they do and genuinely care about fostering a love for science in young minds.

In a world where screens often dominate kids' attention, ScienceWorks strikes the perfect balance by offering a place where education and entertainment coexist harmoniously. If you're looking for a place where your child can have a blast while also expanding their knowledge, ScienceWorks Museum in Spotswood is an absolute must-visit. My daughter and I can't wait to return for another day of learning and fun!

Kudos to ScienceWorks for creating such a fantastic space for curious young minds. This museum undoubtedly deserves every one of...

We had a bit of a mixed experience of positives and negatives - we paid extra for the airplay exhibit, and that was excellent, everything worked and the kids had an absolute blast.

When we went to long standing exhibits, like the sports section or the building your own cars on the computer - many things did not work. The race timer for the Cathy Freeman display was faulty, it often wouldn't trigger off, or said my husband was faster than Cathy Freemans time. Many of the fitness testing equipment either didn't work, or only turned on every now and then, for no clearly identifiable reason. More care needs to be given to the upkeep of long standing displays.

We had the same experience in the toddlers area, many of the lights on the light switch wall no longer turn on. There is a block matching game, but all three displays had one block that no longer interacted with the screen.

The toilets next to the reception/entry way area have three stalls and are gender neutral. When I walked through the door (signed for men ladies and disabled) I was expecting more doors to split, but entered immediately into a shared space with my toddler. I despise these types of toilets as a mother with 3 young children, I do not want to share that space with men. An older gentlemen walked in as my toddler was finishing and commented "oh, it's combined, how uncomfortable" yup, spot on, how uncomfortable. I think I saw some gender separated ones available on the second floor as we were leaving, but with toddlers it is a shame not to have this option available on all floors as well, they need to go when they need to go.

We purchased the annual membership so we will be returning, the sound/perception space upstairs was a pleasant time with the kids. If more care is not given to long term spaces over the year it is unlikely we would renew the membership.

Oh, also, when we asked to buy the membership, they just gave us a QR code to buy it on our phone. So if you're planning on buying a membership, do that in advance, especially if you'll be visiting at a high volume time...

A really interesting and fun place for kids, wonderfully interactive. The person who did the Lightening Show was fantastic.

They however really need to look at their entry processes & signage. Staff seemed overwhelmed and flustered by the amount of kids and parents and there was only one line for entry which was both for people buying tickets AND for those that bought tix online. Other staff were wondering around approaching people to scan their tickets in a completely random way, doubling up asking the same people - there was no system - which made for a long wait and unfair entry to people who hadn’t been waiting in line. Some people got maps, others didn’t - was chaos.

Signage was hard to follow - to the Lightening Theatre, we had been given no map at first and figured out eventually to follow the lighting marks on the ground but that’s the only signage we could see.

The line for the Squish jumping castle and process for letting children on was also insanely over complicated, with the staff member saying she was grouping preppie together in similar heights so doesn’t necessarily mean if you’re next in line that you’ll be next on. Um…try to explain that to a kid who’s been trying to be patient waiting in line and finally gets to near the front, and then others behind them that are taller get on first. We waited for more than 20 minutes and when we joined the line there were less than 8 kids in front of us. When I politely queried how long kids were given on the jumping Squish, the staff member was exasperated as she’d obviously answered the same questions again and again. Here’s a polite suggestion, if you hang up information around the Squish explaining your “system” you’ll get less questions.

Be good to also train staff how to deal more positively with polite feedback and not get defensive and short with people.

Sadly even though the place was filled with wonderful things, the lack of systems that work, and staff that can communicate well and enjoy interacting with the public did take the shine...