Dive into a summer of family fun at the Australian National Maritime Museum
Australian National Maritime Museum
This summer, dip into creative spaces and exhibitions at the Australian National Maritime Museum inspired by the rainforests of our oceans – coral, kelp, rocky and shellfish reefs – some of the most beautiful and biodiverse places on our blue planet.
The Museum is thrilled to have a jam-packed schedule full of exciting activities, including three spectacular brand-new activations for families:
- Sea Forest - a living, evolving underwater world shaped by creativity, curiosity and collective action developed in collaboration with Kidwonder
- The Seahorse Hotel - a hands-on experience that invites children to check in, collect their building materials and create their own seahorse hotels using architectural components developed with Kidwonder.
- Crocodilian Legends by Erth - an interactive family show by world-renowned visual theatre makers and puppeteers ERTH Visual and Physical Inc., taking families on a journey through ancient oceans, swamps, and waterways.
With fun to be had for all ages, the Maritime Museum is home to some of the most exciting, interactive and innovative activities available for the whole family this summer. The summer program kicks off on December 18 and runs until January 31. Check out some of the fantastic highlights below, full program available on our website: sea.museum/schoolholidays
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Crocodilian Legends by Erth Visual & Physical Inc. - Step into a Sea Forest as you journey through ancient oceans, swamps and waterways to meet some of the extraordinary creatures that have survived for millennia in this interactive family show by world-renowned visual theatre makers and puppeteers Erth Visual and Physical Inc.
Encounter curious and charismatic saltwater species, evolutionary wonders from deep within our prehistoric past, and get dangerously close to the gigantic jaws of a legendary supercroc.
Come face to face with the ancient animals of our oceans in this unmissable new show and discover why their living descendants are still worth protecting today.
Dates: 9 – 31 January (sessions Wednesday to Sunday only)
Times: 3.30pm and 4.30pm, 40 mins sessions
Ages: Recommended for ages 4-14
Booking: Bookings essential
Price: $29 general admission, $25 members
Sea Forest - Step beneath the surface and enter Sea Forest – a living, evolving underwater world shaped by creativity, curiosity and collective action. Developed with Kidwonder, Sea Forest invites visitors to become ocean builders, carers and designers as they explore how our oceans have changed over time, how marine life adapts and survives, and how we can help keep ocean environments flourishing into the future.
At the heart of the forest is a whimsical communal installation created with artist Benja Harney, which will grow throughout the summer as visitors add their own colourful papercraft forms to the evolving habitat. Around it, collection objects, artworks, marine photography, sound and interactive experiences reveal the biodiversity, cultural knowledge and human stories that shape our relationship with the sea.
Come back again and you may find a very different Sea Forest waiting for you.
Dates: Daily
Times: 10:00am – 3:00pm (extended hours on select days)
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Booking: No bookings required
Price: Included in See It All ticket
The Seahorse Hotel - Welcome to The Seahorse Hotel, where young marine architects are invited to design the ultimate underwater accommodation for Sydney’s endangered White’s Seahorse.
Inspired by a real conservation project happening in Sydney’s waters, this playful, hands-on experience invites children to check in, collect their building materials and create their own seahorse hotels using architectural components developed with Kidwonder.
Discover what makes a five-star seahorse stay -- sheltered hideaways, places to anchor tiny tails and surfaces for algae, sponges and other marine life to grow. Then get building: design rooms, add furnishings and create a habitat where underwater guests can settle in and thrive. With no two hotels alike, there’s room for every imagination at The Seahorse Hotel.
Dates: Daily
Times: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Booking: No bookings required
Price: Included in See It All ticket
Kids on Deck Maker Space – Rock the Reef - Be inspired by the spectacular rocky and shellfish reefs this summer- as you enjoy art making and experiments with your family.
Create your own cute-as shellfish softies and painted paper puppets. Collage dazzling button badges and wild wearable art. Experiment with the science of seaweed bio-yarn or engineer a mega bubble wand in science-time workshops. Make a splash with water play in our outdoor area, dress up as your favourite reef animal or take a time out with a book in our calm zone.
Dates: Daily
Times: 10:30am - 4:30pm (reduced hours on public holidays)
Ages: Recommended ages 4-14 and their guardians
Booking: No bookings required
Price: Entry included in any paid admission. Members and annual pass holders FREE.
Build with Benja - Join acclaimed artist and paper engineer Benja Harney for an afternoon of crafting collaborative largescale paper reef forms for the Sea Forest installation. Learn about the amazing real-life species that have inspired these forms as you fold, score, cut, fringe and glue together terrific tube anemones, spectacular spiral corals, fantastic sea fans and staghorns or ancient ammonites. Participants will also have the opportunity to experiment with bringing to life their own custom designs.
Dates: Tuesdays 5, 12, 19 January
Times: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Ages: Suitable for ages 8+
Booking: Bookings recommended
Price: Free with any paid Museum entry
Underwater Drone Challenge - Explore below the surface of the harbour with our underwater drones. Have fun testing your gaming skills by challenging family and friends to see who’s the best U-Drone Pilot.
Be inspired by the Ultimate Depth exhibition as you learn to drive our very own remotely operated submersibles.
Undertake challenges to get your u-drone pilot licence, survey vessels and explore marine habitats around the harbour. Underwater drones' sessions include a private workshop with our ocean-science educators and access to amazing underwater footage highlights to keep and share.
Dates: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 5th – 31st January
Times: 12pm, 12.45pm, 1.30pm, 2.15pm, 3pm
Ages: Recommended for ages 8+
Booking: Bookings recommended
Price: $35 general/ $25 members (includes Summer See it All Ticket museum admission for one player)
Sensory Friendly Days - Enjoy a relaxed, supportive and comfortable environment with reduced sensory input. Sensory Friendly Sundays are designed for kids and adults on the autism spectrum and visitors with a variety of access requirements to enjoy a visit with their family and friends. On Sensory-Friendly Days in Summer Holidays, our galleries and new exhibitions including Ocean Photographer of The Year, one of our navy vessels and all of our creative activity areas including Kids on Deck, Sea Forest and Seahorse Hotel will be open extra early for a quieter experience. Sound and light levels will be adjusted to suit visitors on the autism spectrum and with a range of differing abilities. Our trained staff and volunteers will be on hand to facilitate creative activities.
PROUD TO SUPPORT THE SUNFLOWER
The museum supports the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. You are encouraged to bring and wear your sunflower lanyard if you have one, or pick one up for free on arrival at the museum
Staff who have had training to support visitors with Hidden Disabilities will also be wearing a sunflower badge or sticker.
Dates: Sunday 20 Dec * Summer Holidays Program
Sunday 17 and 31 January* Summer Holidays Program + ERTH meet and greet
Times: 8:30am – 11:30am
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Booking: Bookings recommended
Price: $12pp
Roving Performances - Come face to face with a curious cast of characters as captivating performance artists engage in lively roving entertainment around the museum.
Enjoy encounters with a jawesome crocodilian puppet, glamourous seagull roller skaters, a majestic seagrass and seahorse stiltwalker, whimsical hula -hooping hooligans and hip-shaking Island dance delights. Play with gigantic bubbles, tap your toes to the beats our roving DJ, spot jovial jugglers, spectacular circus artists and sing along to live music in our rotating program of free daily performances.
Dates: Daily
Times: 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1.30pm
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Booking: No bookings required
Price: Free
Sea Country Activity Trail - Be inspired by beautiful works and fascinating stories by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists these holidays as you follow the sea country activity trail through the museum. Collect all 5 secret pictures on your trail to receive your prize.
Dates: Daily
Times: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Booking: No booking required
Price: Free
Cabinet of Curiosities - Handle marine plant and animal specimens as you learn about resilient reef ecosystems. Peruse gorgeous ghostnet sculptures and get up close with magnified coral samples, or supersized 3D plankton models to better understand ocean food chains. Explore stories of super survivor species like sharks, turtles, and stingrays. Marvel at innovations in marine conservation technology like reef pods and habitat enhancing seawalls.
Dates: daily
Times: 10.30am – 11.30am & 2–3 pm
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Booking: No bookings required
Price: Free
Sea Dragon Disco Days - Take a trip to the funky kelp forest on Mondays in January.
It’s time to shimmy like a sea lion, boogie like a blue groper, or grapevine like a giant cuttlefish as you light up the weedy sea disco dance floor!
Come in costume to enjoy our summer exhibitions, meet and enjoy photo ops with our real-life weedy-sea mermaid and seadragon-dj hosts, enjoy creative activities and get your face painted or your flippers tattooed with your favourite underwater creature designs.
Dates: Mondays 11, 18, 25 January
Times: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Booking: No bookings required
Price: Free
Bamal Book Nook & Activities - Learn to create papercrafts and collage inspired by the work of acclaimed artist Brian Robinson and the marine environment surrounding Waiben (also known as Thursday Island) where he grew up. Brian uses traditional mark making and patterns from his culture with references to history, faith and his favourite pop culture icons.
Learn to weave a Zagal, an angel fish, from paper strips, or use custom rubbing plates featuring icons from Brian’s prints to create your own cosmic, creative and colourful works.
Dates: Daily
Times: 10am – 4pm daily
Ages: Suitable for children ages 6+ and adults
Booking: drop-in No bookings required
Price: Free
ENDS
For images: Summer Program 2026
For media enquiries please contact:
Alex Gonzalez e: [email protected] m: 0401 545 778