Best museums & art galleries

Melbourne Museum Carlton, VIC

Surrounded by the beautifully manicured Carlton Gardens, this museum is an easy hop, skip and jump from Melbourne’s CBD and makes for a fun and educational day for the whole family. Learn all about evolution and wow your kids with the enormous blue whale skeleton. Visit during the school holidays for special scheduled activities like story time and arts and crafts, or check out the Museum Playdates, offering weekly activities in term intervals. And watch out for great touring exhibitions in addition to its colossal range of permanent displays. museumsvictoria.com.au

Powerhouse Museum Ultimo, NSW

In a prime position behind Darling Harbour and Central Station, this iconic hands-on museum houses exhibitions ranging from a historic step back in time to the Steam Revolution, through to fashion and decorative arts, all the way to the future with space and technology exhibits, with more than 400,000 artefacts waiting to be discovered. Little ones aren’t forgotten either with

The Wiggles Exhibition, where they can play with The Wiggles and their friends, Dorothy the Dinosaur and Captain Feathersword. Extra-fun activities are scheduled during school holiday periods. maas.museum

Questacon Canberra, ACT

If your family hasn’t yet visited the legendary mindbending galleries of Questacon, what are you waiting for? With more than 200 interactive exhibits waiting to be explored across eight exciting galleries, not to mention thrilling science shows that cover topics from liquid nitrogen to the science of mummification, this is one not-to-be-missed attraction for families. Be sure to see the world in a whole new way at the Colour exhibit, hit the kids’ trails and slide in to the fun of Excite@q on the big-drop slide. questacon.edu.au

Queensland Gallery of Modern Art

South Brisbane, QLD

Australian Museum

Sydney, NSW

Queensland Museum & Science Centre

South Brisbane, QLD

National Gallery of Victoria

Melbourne, VIC

Artvo

Docklands, VIC

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Sydney, NSW

Scienceworks

Melbourne, VIC

Museum of Brisbane

Brisbane, QLD

Australian War Memorial

Canberra, ACT