The Powerhouse Museum is Sydney’s museum for science, technology and design which is fun family-friendly place as well as being educational. There are quite a few hands-on exhibits for school-aged kids but if you’re going with under 5s then there are a couple of particular spaces within the museum that I recommend.
Firstly, the temporary Wiggles exhibition. Here’s our review of this awesome free exhibition which will have you singing ‘Toot Toot Chugga Chugga Big Red Car’ along with the kids.
One of the permanent exhibition spaces is a small play area called ‘Magic Garden‘ suitable for 2-8 year olds. It’s an interactive space with pumpkins that emit sound and light-up mushrooms, a digital rock pool which ripples when stepped on and a large touch-screen picnic rug and basket where you can set up your own picnic.
The whole premise of the area is for kids to learn about healthy eating and fun activity and Lady enjoyed jumping, touching and listening to all the different stations, particularly the rock pool.
Next to the Magic Garden but not part of it is a model train set which is fun to watch. You can control how fast the train goes and light up various elements such as the signals, the station and set the windmill whirring.
The only downside to the Magic Garden that it’s kind of tucked away in a dark corner so the surrounds are not particularly inviting – it would be great if it was within sight of Cogs’ Playground so kids would actually be inspired to get out and about.
Cogs’ Playground is an enclosed outdoor playground with a child-friendly cafe adjoining it so it’s a great place for a lunchtime pit stop. Just note that the playground is more suitable for older kids as there’s lots of high climbing equipment – Lady AB had a couple of goes but couldn’t really gain a foothold on the rails in order to scramble up properly.
The Powerhouse Museum is one of the best value family-friendly experiences in Sydney in my view. For $12/$6 entry you can spend a whole day there and there’s suitable facilities for babies right up to school age kids. The older they are, they more they’ll get out of it and the adults won’t be bored either!
Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW +61 2 9217 0111
10.00am – 5.00pm every day except Christmas Day.
Adults $12
Children (4-15) $6
Children under 4 FREE
Family (1 adult and up to 3 children; or 2 adults and up to 2 children) $30
