Why Scienceworks Melbourne Belongs on Your Travel Itinerary
I have been to Scienceworks Melbourne numerous times, but I have never taken the opportunity to venture out of the CBD very much. On a recent trip, we were tempted...
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tyl
October 18, 2025
I have been to Scienceworks Melbourne numerous times, but I have never taken the opportunity to venture out of the CBD very much. On a recent trip, we were tempted to venture 15 minutes out of the city to check out the town of Spotswood, home of Scienceworks – and boy, are we glad we did! We had a whole day of educational fun ahead of us – I had to physically drag the kids out at the end of the day.
1. Race Against Cathy Freeman
My children have always loved being active and have been involved in Little Athletics since toddlers. Scienceworks has a very interesting sports exhibition that was akin to the holy grail for our sports mad kids.
A fun exhibit consisted of the chance to line up at a race start line and run against a video wall of Cathy Freeman racing. The track was only about 15 metres long – the race took 2 seconds – but they did it over and over again.
2. Discover the Tallest Buildings in The World
One of the compelling displays I discovered as an adult was the exhibit showcasing the tallest buildings in the world. The engineering that has gone into building designs to achieve the apex of modern society while construction of tallest buildings express the imagination and creativity, makes it so interesting.
Back in 1931, the Empire State Building in New York was an impressive achievement at 381m tall, but fast-forward to 2010 with the Burj Khalifa in Dubai reaching heights of 828m and that is really much smaller by comparison. Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia when completed will raise the bar again, with its anticipated height of 1008m.
3. See the Lightning Shows
In addition to the interactive displays, the lightning room offers some fun kids science shows. We enjoyed Bolt from the Blue. A great interactive display to demonstrate how lightning is formed, and how to stay safe when there is a thunderstorm.
The presenter was lively and entertaining, targeting the content toward the kids. From demonstrating ways to produce storm clouds in a plastic bottle, making balloons statically stick to a child’s head, and showing the hair on your head point straight to the sky, the session was chalk full of educational takeaways.
4. Visit the Planetarium
If you’ve never been to a planetarium, you may not even know what one is. A planetarium is a theatre with a dome-shaped ceiling that is designed to display projections of the night sky. In addition, films that have been created specifically for planetariums can also be shown on the unique-shaped screen. The Melbourne Planetarium features a 16-metre dome and reclining chairs that make viewing the show (or napping if you’re exhausted from activities) pretty comfortable.
We participated in the viewing of the film Blackholes, which was interesting, if not a little quirky, then a live narration of a current Melbourne night sky projections. It was the live narration that we enjoyed. For the kids, seeing the constellations that were in the Scienceworks Melbourne night sky, that night, was captivating.
5. It is Great Value
We got there around 10:45am and didn’t depart until after closing, around 430pm. There is so much to see and do, and our kids enjoyed every minute. We went on a weekday, and it was a little hectic with school groups, especially when we first arrived, but then it settled down around 2:30pm and managed to have free range of all the exhibits. If you only have a handful of hours, you might want to plan for the afternoon, otherwise you’ll just have to put up with the crowds.
Admission to Scienceworks costs only $15 for adults and free for children up to 16 years old. The Planetarium and Lightning Room also have an add on charge of $8 each, or $12 if you do both. For a full day of fun and learning Scienceworks is superb value.
Getting There
If you have a car, this is your best option but if you’re like us and staying in the CBD, Spotswood is about 15 minutes from the city.
Initially, I planned to take the Williamstown train from Southern Cross Station to Spotswood – it seemed like an easy and inexpensive option. But it soon became apparent that Melbourne is nowhere near as visitor-friendly outside of the free tram system in the CBD.
We had to buy each of a Myki Card to purchase a day fare for the metro train service costing $8.60 for adults and $4.30 for a child. So I had to buy a $6 card to put $4 of travel on a Myki Card.
FAQ
1. What is Scienceworks Melbourne?
Scienceworks is an interactive science and technology museum located in Spotswood, Melbourne. It offers hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, and immersive experiences designed to make learning about science fun and engaging for all ages.
2. Where is Scienceworks located?
2 Booker Street, Spotswood, Victoria, Australia. It’s just a short drive or train ride from Melbourne’s city centre, right next to the West Gate Bridge
3. How much does it cost to visit Scienceworks?
General admission is free for children under 16 and affordable for adults (usually around AUD $15–20). Some special exhibitions or planetarium shows may require a small extra fee.
4. How long should I spend at Scienceworks?
Most visitors spend 2–4 hours, but families often stay longer since there’s so much to explore. You can easily make it a half-day experience.
5. Is Scienceworks suitable for adults too?
Absolutely! While it’s family-friendly, many exhibits appeal to curious adults. The Planetarium, in particular, is popular with all ages.
