Queensland Museum Kurilpa is the state’s natural history and cultural museum, on the corner of Grey and Melbourne Streets at South Bank. General entry is free, and it holds dinosaur skeletons, Queensland wildlife, a First World War tank and SparkLab, a ticketed hands-on science centre for school-age kids.
It sits inside the Queensland Cultural Centre, a few minutes’ walk from South Bank Parklands, so it pairs easily with a swim or a picnic. This guide covers what is free, what costs money, parking and how to get there.
What to see at Queensland Museum Kurilpa
The main entrance and foyer are on Level 2, and the permanent galleries are spread over several levels. Lifts in the centre of the building reach every floor.
Dinosaurs Unearthed
Dinosaurs Unearthed explores prehistoric Queensland and is on Level 2, just off the foyer. Outside on Level 0 there is also a Dinosaur Garden.
Wild State and the Discovery Centre
Wild State takes you through Queensland’s environments, and the Discovery Centre holds more than 1,300 objects with digital displays and hands-on spaces. Both are up on Level 4, along with INVENTory.
Anzac Legacy Gallery and Mephisto
On Level 1, the Anzac Legacy Gallery tells the story of Queensland in the First World War through the objects of people at the front and at home. Its centrepiece is Mephisto, a 30-tonne German A7V tank that is the only one of its kind to survive. It was recovered in 1918 by troops of the 26th Battalion AIF, mostly Queenslanders. Entry is free.
More galleries
Stories of Country and a ceramics collection are on Level 2, and a minerals gallery is on the mezzanine, Level 1 and a half. Gallery lists change over time, so check the floor map on the day.
SparkLab: is it worth paying for?
SparkLab is a permanent hands-on science, technology, engineering and maths exhibition on Level 1, with about 40 interactive exhibits across three zones, a Science Bar with live experiments and a Maker Space. It is recommended for ages 6 to 13.
It is the one part of a normal visit you pay for. Adult tickets are about $17, child tickets (5 to 15) about $14, and a family ticket is $50, with concession, Health Care Card and Companion Card prices as well. Entry is in half-hour sessions and numbers are limited, so book online first, especially in school holidays.
Planning your visit
- Cost: General entry is free. SparkLab, some temporary exhibitions and some events need a ticket, bought online through the museum’s hours and admission page.
- Opening hours: Daily, 9:30 am to 5 pm. Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and open 1:30 pm to 5 pm on Anzac Day. Check the website before you go.
- Food: Cafe Muse on Level 2 is open 7:30 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 9:30 am to 5 pm on weekends. The Museum Shop is open the same hours as the museum.
Facilities and accessibility
- Toilets: Accessible all-gender toilets are on Levels 0, 1 (in SparkLab) and 2 (including in Cafe Muse). Family rooms are on Levels 0 and 2, and fold-down change tables are in the Level 1 toilets and SparkLab.
- Wheelchairs: Every entrance and gallery is wheelchair accessible. You can borrow a wheelchair free from the Cloakroom on Level 2, subject to availability, and motorised wheelchairs are allowed.
- Sensory support: Noise-cancelling headphones and sensory kits are available at the Cloakroom and the SparkLab entry, and sensory floor maps are published for the main museum and SparkLab.
- Dogs: Service dogs are welcome. All other animals must stay at home.
Getting there and parking
From Brisbane CBD it is about 2 km and about 5 minutes by car without traffic. On foot, cross the river via Victoria Bridge or Kurilpa Bridge, which is a short walk from the CBD.
Public transport
The museum is in TransLink zone 1 and within walking distance of South Brisbane railway station, Cultural Centre busway station and the South Bank CityCat and ferry terminals. Plan your trip on TransLink. The cross-river ferries are another way over from the CBD side.
Parking
The Queensland Cultural Centre car park (P2) is underneath the museum, entered from Stanley Place with a 2 metre height limit. It costs $20 per entry per day and takes cards only, no cash. It is open 7 am to midnight and closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. Vehicles leave by the Grey Street exit. Lifts from the car park go up to the main entrance on Level 2.
Visitors with disability permits can ask the attendant at the pay station intercom about accessible bays, or phone (07) 3840 7334. A temporary set-down area on Stanley Place is for taxis, coaches and school buses. See the museum’s getting here page.
A short history
The museum was founded in 1862 and spent its early years in borrowed buildings, starting in the Old Windmill. It moved to its current home in the Queensland Cultural Centre in 1986.
Nearby
- Gallery of Modern Art – the Cultural Centre’s art gallery, a short walk along the same precinct.
- South Bank Parklands – playgrounds, gardens and the lagoon next door.
- Streets Beach – the free swimming lagoon, good after a morning inside.
- West End Markets – a short way down the road for lunch on market days.
- Museum of Brisbane – the city’s own history museum, across the river at City Hall.
- Brisbane City Botanic Gardens – a green walk on the CBD side of the river.
More ideas are in the museums and indoors categories, or browse everything in Brisbane.
Quick answers
Is Queensland Museum free?
General entry is free and you do not need to book. SparkLab, some temporary exhibitions and some events are ticketed.
What are the Queensland Museum Kurilpa opening hours?
Daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm. It is closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and opens at 1:30 pm on Anzac Day.
How much is parking at Queensland Museum?
The car park underneath is $20 per entry per day, by card only. It is open 7 am to midnight.
Can you take a dog to Queensland Museum?
Only service dogs. All other animals must be left at home.
How do you get to Queensland Museum by public transport?
It is within walking distance of South Brisbane railway station, Cultural Centre busway station and the South Bank ferry and CityCat terminals.
How old should kids be for SparkLab?
SparkLab is recommended for ages 6 to 13. Child tickets cover ages 5 to 15, and 3 and 4 year olds have a lower price.
Details can change, so check the museum’s website before you go.
0 Comments