Museums do not always rank high on the list of things teens want to see in Melbourne, Australia. If you’ve like us and have dragged your teenager through a museum only to see them browsing social channels on their phone, looking bored and taking nothing in, we feel you.
The thing is you need to pick a good variety of museums with topics that interest your teens. Luckily, Melbourne’s museum scene is pretty varied, with something for everyone if you know where to go.
Since we live not far from Melbourne, we have visited multiple museums with our teens, Willow and Marley. We have put together this guide to Melbourne Museums that will have your teens interested, engaged and educated – maybe even forgetting about their phones for a bit.
To be honest, we do not know what every teen likes, but visiting museum in Melbourne with teens is a pretty cool option.
Melbourne Museum – where Museum doesn’t mean boring
Address: 11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053 – Tram route 86 or tram route 96 to Stop 11 Melbourne Museum, corner of Nicholson and Gertrude Streets.
Entry Costs: Adult $15, Senior $10, Kids free
Located in the green space of Carlton Gardens right next to the UNESCO Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum became our unexpected family favourite over the years. We first visited when our kids were little and have been back on a number of occasions.
The Melbourne Gallery tells the history of the city of Melbourne through a number of interesting exhibits and multimedia displays. Walk through a full-size model of what the small houses of Melbourne’s back alleys used to look like.
See Phar Lap, the racehorse, a national hero who beat all comers, learn about how immigration made Melbourne the city it is today and more.
The Dinosaur Walk exhibition seems like it’s for younger kids, but our oldest teen loves dinosaurs. She couldn’t believe the massive prehistoric skeletons they had on display at Museums Victoria’s site in Melbourne. Standing beneath one of the most complete Triceratops skeletons in the world makes us all feel so small.
The First Peoples exhibition was a real highlight, popular with many looking to learn about the history of Victoria’s Aboriginal communities. The immersive multimedia displays that the younger generation can relate to made it more relatable.
Parent tip: Plan for at least 3 hours here. If your teens are really into the exhibits, anywhere up to 5 hours should be allowed.
ACMI – for your screen-obsessed teens
Address: Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000
It seems like a no-brainer to take your kids to a museum dedicated to film, TV, videogames, and digital culture. The museum that required zero convincing and was free to get into was ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image), located at Federation Square.
The Story of the Moving Image exhibition traces how screens have evolved over time, with plenty of hands-on activities. Our girls are both gamers who love the PS4 consoles, so they appreciated the video game evolution section.
They were able to discover some older games from back in their parents’ time, including everything from Street Fighter to more recent indie games.
You may be lucky enough to catch some of the amazing exhibitions that roll through ACMI at different times. They have had everything from Tim Burton movies, Pixar, Star Wars and manga displays.
Parent confession: I enjoyed ACMI just as much as the kids did. I recognised TV shows from my childhood in the Australian Television section.
The famous Hosier Lane, a popular tourist attraction known for its street art, is located just across the street from ACMI! Two great free Melbourne attractions.
Scienceworks – hands-on heaven
Address: 2 Booker Street, Spotswood, Victoria, 3015
Scienceworks, located in Spotswood, was initially met with scepticism from my daughter (Isn’t that for little kids?). By the end of our visit, she was plotting how we could come back before heading home.
The Lightning Room demonstrations were the absolute highlight – watching massive Tesla coils crackle with electricity while learning about storm science had both teens completely captivated. Check the schedule when you arrive because these 30-minute shows fill up quickly!
One of the more popular exhibits was Sportsworks, which focused on exploring health and physical sciences through interactive experiences. Our kids were not too keen on the running activity, but certainly loved the snowboarding simulator.
Parent tip: This museum is slightly out of the central city area, but absolutely worth the trip. You can easily catch an Uber or public transport via train (Werribee and Williamstown Lines) to Spotswood, allowing for a 10-minute walk to reach the museum.
Immigration Museum – surprisingly teen-approved
Address: 400 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000
I was most nervous about suggesting the Immigration Museum. It doesn’t exactly scream teen excitement as it is located in the Old Customs House. But after we visited the more interactive museums first, we took a chance – and I’m so glad we did.
The Interview Room was a unique take on decision-making. You can take a turn as a government official charged with interviewing applicants to determine who gets in. It must have been a job that weighed heavily on some.
The Stories of Us exhibition sparked conversations between us all, with Melbourne being one of the most multicultural cities in the world. My daughter, who is highly opinionated, did not hold back about her thoughts that we are all just people making our best way in the world.
The museum does a beautiful job balancing a topic like historical immigration, which many could conceive as a tad boring, and presenting it in a way that resonates with today’s youth.
Parent win: This museum was great about making our kids think deeper about what life would be like if we moved to another country.
NGV International – art that teens don’t find pretentious
Address: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006
The NGV is the biggest and most visited art gallery in Australia. It is Australia’s version of the Louvre. If your suggestion to visit The National Gallery of Victoria is met with resistance, I still think you should insist on a visit.
Since you are visiting with teens, starting with the contemporary collections rather than the classical art is recommended.
Enjoyment of art is in the eye of the beholder. Often, it’s really good to ask your teens what they think this piece of art is about. You will be surprised at the different answers you get from family members.
There really is just so much going on at the NGV, it’s hard to find a starting point. By the time you visit, what I tell you now about what we have seen will no doubt have changed.
When we visited, our kids loved the Contemporary Design and Architecture exhibits and the Japanese Exhibition. At present, in mid-2025, there are exhibitions titled Cats and Dogs, Australian Art and First Nations Art, just to name a few.
The NGV often hosts special exhibitions that can be particularly teen-friendly. We have attended a Pharaohs Exhibit and a Dior Exhibit. Each year, the NGV will have a number of these ticketed special exhibitions.
Parent tip: If art-viewing fatigue sets in, teens can take a breather in the lovely garden area at the NGV called the Backyard, or you can do a popular high tea at the NGV Tea Room. Sometimes, a 15-minute outdoor break makes all the difference between an enjoyable visit and a meltdown.
The Australian Music Vault is located in the NGV precinct but within the Arts Centre. For any teens interested in music, this could be another interesting free attraction in Melbourne.
Planning your teen-friendly museum adventure
After multiple Melbourne trips with increasingly less reluctant teens, I’ve learned a few things about making museum visits successful:
- Don’t overdo it – One museum per day is plenty. Museum fatigue is real, especially for teens
- Food matters – Check out the museum cafes in advance, or know nearby food options. Nothing derails a good museum experience like hangry teenagers
- Give them control – Let your teen choose which sections to visit first and which to skip. Having some agency makes them more invested in the experience
- Connection beats collection – The exhibits my teens remembered weren’t always the most impressive ones, but the ones that connected to their personal interests or sparked family conversations
- Respect their pace – My daughter likes to read every information panel, while my son prefers to move quickly between interactive elements. We’ve learned to occasionally split up and reconvene.
Our family experienced something I wasn’t expecting – a genuine learning and entertainment experience. Between the dinosaur skeletons, digital art, and immigration stories, our kids left surprised with how much they enjoyed the experiences.
So if you’re planning a Melbourne trip with teens, don’t skip the museums – just choose wisely. If you notice your teens are not checking social media so often, you know you have chosen well. And if that’s not a travel miracle, I don’t know what is!
Have you visited any Melbourne museums with your teens? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
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