The Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery at Melbourne Museum is a world-class immersive learning and play experience – and a wonderland for little learners!
The gallery features more than 2000 square metres of indoor and outdoor play spaces, with input from children, early childhood educators, playground creators, landscape designers and many more experts including museum staff.
Children can enter through a child-sized tunnel, past a 1/3-scale steam engine and railway-style tiling and soundscape.
One of the centrepiece installations is a huge net climbing structure up to three metres in height. This is a huge hit but note that little kids may become frightened up there and it’s large enough for adults to climb into to rescue them. It’s also only available for kids 5 and under.
There are also great spots for quiet storytelling, light displays, magic mirrors, block and magnet play… the list goes on. Just note that not all elements may be available all the time due to sanitisation issues.
Baby 2.0 is quite mesmerised by the butterfly design activity.
Outside, there are sculptures that tell the indigenous story of Tiddalik, the frog who drank all the water. The final sculpture features Tiddalik laughing and spilling water across the land.
There are dinosaur footprints leading to a sandpit where junior palaeontologists can excavate a mamenchisaurus skeleton, along with areas for building with foam, swing seats and quiet spaces.
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The Children’s Gallery is a permanent gallery at Melbourne Museum. Adult entry to the museum is $15; children and concession holders receive free entry. There is no extra charge for the children’s gallery.
Click here for more things to do inside Melbourne Museum including Museum Playdates
Click here for more Places to See Dinosaurs in Melbourne
Click here for more things to do with babies and toddlers in Melbourne
First Look: Gandel Gondwana Garden and Tyama Multisensory Exhibit, Melbourne Museum
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”thon-hot-tips-panel”]Tips for Children’s Gallery Melbourne Museum:
- Pram parking is available at the cloakroom free of charge, along with storage for large bags;
- there is also pram parking at the entry of the gallery which can spill out into the gallery corridor when busy;
- Give yourself and your kids plenty of time to explore the gallery. It is aimed particularly at kids aged from birth to five but children under 8 years (and adults!) of all ages will enjoy the space;
- The gallery has change facilities, toilets and extensive room for feeding babies, including microwaves and comfortable seating;
- There is a small cafe offering drinks and light snacks; there’s also seating inside and out for people to eat. The kids lunchboxes ($9.50) are a hit with my kids and include a sandwich, fruit drink, choice of a piece of fruit and cookie. If you’re a Museums Victoria member you get 10% discount and you can swap the fruit drink for bottled water; and
- Don’t forget hats and sunscreen if you’re planning to play outside as not all areas offer shade.
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