Geelong’s historic 160-year-old “Wintergarden” has undergone a huge transformation to become the first ever Geelong Children’s Museum ‘MoPA: Museum of Play and Art’!
MoPA is Geelong’s Children’s Museum – a beautiful and creative space for children and families to play and learn together.
It caters for children aged 1 to 7 years old best, although it’s such a fun place no doubt kids of all ages will love it!
Adults can relax with a coffee from the onsite cafe, get into the exhibits and have a play themselves, or chat with MoPA‘s team of educators to learn about play-based learning and the learning and development their young ones are experiencing at MoPA Geelong.
What to Expect at MoPA Geelong
The two-level heritage building is a brightly coloured and cheerful space with so much to explore, from sensory play to digital experiences.
As well as the permanent exhibits there is a rotating schedule of activities activations which are included in the entry fee, from yoga to dance.
What is most impressive about MoPA is that a lot of what you see has been custom-designed, hand-built and painted by the founders, the husband and wife team Tom Mahon and Billie Georgieff. You can see the craftsmanship in the exhibits and it is a labour of love.
Lady AB particularly enjoys playing and interacting with the digital art wall.
Become the Mona Lisa, mime like Marcel Marceau, turn your face into a Picasso masterpiece. You can also submit your children’s artwork into the digital picture frame.
Or stick your head in a mirror to hear affirmations from other children and pat a furry, purring cube!
Children aged 0-2 years will love the soft play area, with lots of foam blocks and large-scale human face puzzles set into the wall.
I like how the wall hides pigeon holes for kids’ shoes – having shoes strewn everywhere on the floor is my pet hate!
The mirror corner with blocks is also a perfect space for babies and toddlers.
Active kids can explore ‘Sunset City’, a hand-built climbing cityscape with hidey-holes at all different levels. It’s been built so that adults can peek in through the sides to check on their kids!
The lights inside change colour and for birthday parties the guest of honour can even choose to set the lights to their favourite hue!
Speaking of lights, you can activate a rainbow inside this interactive light tunnel arch!
….while the intriguing wall of hanging tubes offers curious kids twelve different sounds that they have to try and recognise.
Everyone loves the wind tunnel chutes that shoot soft scarves high into the air!
The back-covered conservatory area is for eating, with bench seating on the sides for adults to supervise while kids play with the Imagination Playground foam parts.
Outside food is not allowed inside the venue so there is a cafe on site.
In the leafy courtyard, you’ll find crates that double as play equipment and furniture as well as a fun magnetic ball run wall.
When you go upstairs there’s even more fun to be had! Note that there is no lift in the building. If you have little ones you will have to supervise them around the stairs, though once you’re upstairs there are child-proof gates so that kids can’t exit without adult assistance.
Upstairs you’ll find a lovely chill-out space.
Get away from the buzz of the museum with books, bean bags and big arch windows bringing in lots of natural light.
On both sides of the ‘U’ shaped balcony there are giant two-way kaleidoscopes and digital colouring-in stations.
Lady AB has fun dressing up for the stage performance area (with lights that are activated by clapping!)…
….while Baby 2.0 spends ages testing race cars on all the different car tracks.
MoPA is a wonderful space for Geelong families and well worth a day trip from Melbourne, along with all the other things to do in Geelong with kids.
MoPA Geelong Discount Code
Are you looking for a MoPA discount coupon code?
Sorry, MoPA don’t currently offer any entry discounts. But if you’re planning to visit regularly then a MoPA Membership is a great deal!
For $98 a year (per child) and $56 per adult, you get unlimited entry, as well as 10% off at the Gift Shop. With single entry costing $19 per child and $12 per adult, if you visit more then six times within 12 months you’ll make your money back!
MoPA Geelong Parties
On each of the two sides of the ground floor are the toilets, an expansive pram parking area and creative craft/party rooms.
If you’re in Melbourne you can also visit MoPA Sandringham or MoPA Northside in Thomastown.
Hot Tips for visiting MoPA Geelong
- Suitable for kids 1-7 years approximately;
- soft play area for 0-2 years only;
- Bookings essential, maximum 100 people per session start time;
- Visitors must book and arrive during a morning, midday or afternoon session times but can stay for as long as you like;
- kinder and school groups program available;
- 2 x party rooms;
- pram parking;
- toilets, change facilities and parents room on ground floor;
- no lift to the first floor, only stairs;
- access to the first floor is via a child-proof gate;
- no outside food is to be brought in;
- onsite cafe;
- no wifi, 4G reception poor inside due to heritage building;
- heating and air-conditioning available;
- on select dates open after hours for adults-only events MoPA After Dark with food trucks and bar;
- MoPA eGift Cards can be redeemed on anything (Play, Programs, Parties, After Dark and more);
- Members enjoy unlimited Play Sessions and discounts across Programs, Parties, After Dark (adult members only) and more.
- MoPA has a small visitor carpark with 12 spaces, accessible via Cullins Place;
- surrounding streets have 2 hour or unlimited parking;
- South Geelong train station is approximately 10 minute walk, Geelong train station is approximately 20 minute walk.