Planning your school or group visit
What you need to know to plan your school or group visit to the Sciencentre.
Booking your visit
Bookings are essential for all schools and groups.
If your visit includes Queensland Museum exhibitions or School Programs please also read planning your school or group visit to Queensland Museum.
We encourage you to make group bookings as early as possible, as often the Sciencentre can be booked to capacity at peak times (final months of each semester).
Session Times
All groups move through the galleries (Action Stations, Body Zone and Playing with Light) and Show Zone within a two-hour visit.
Two session times are available for group visits:
Morning session
9.45am - 11:45am
Please arrive at 9.30am to take care of registration, cloaking, payment and toilet needs.
Afternoon session
12.15pm - 2:15pm
Please arrive at 12.00pm to take care of registration, cloaking, payment and toilet needs.
Special arrangements
If you cannot arrive at the Sciencentre for a 9.45am start or if you must leave prior to 2:15pm because of travel time, please discuss your needs with our Booking Officer (call +61 (0) 7 3840 7608) or make a note on your Booking Form.
We recommend booking your visit a semester in advance if you need to make special arrangements.
Group size
Minimum group size required to receive the group rate is 10 paying people.
There are three spaces within the Sciencentre (Action Stations and Body Zone are combined into one space on your itinerary). Maximum group size in each space is 70 people, which includes adults AND children. Groups of more than 70 will be split into smaller groups and will begin their visit in separate spaces.
Small groups
Due to science theatre shows being led by museum staff, we can only offer shows to groups with a minimum of 20 paying visitors.
Where possible, we try to book 2 small groups of a similar age in together. These 2 groups then progress through the three galleries and the Show Zone together.
Cost
The Sciencentre is a charged exhibition for which you can be invoiced. If paying by cheque please make payable to Queensland Museum & Sciencentre. Exhibition charges DO NOT incur GST.
Students and group members
$9 (GST free)
Supervisors
Adult/child ratio
| Number of children |
|---|
| Prep | Primary | Years 8-10 | Years 11 and above |
|---|
| 1 adult FREE for every |
3 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
Additional adults will be charged at $11 per adult.
Getting here
The Sciencentre is located on Level 1 of Queensland Museum & Sciencentre. The Museum is on the corner of Grey and Melbourne Streets, within the South Bank Cultural Precinct.
By bus
Set down in Grey Street outside ENERGEX Playasaurus Place, Stanley Street Tunnel or Stanley Place.
Bus parking is located along Montague Road.
By train
Get off at South Brisbane station and cross the road at the Grey and Melbourne Streets intersection.
By car
There is a public car park directly below the Museum. Enter via the Stanley Street tunnel.
The car park is pay on entry.
You'll find more information about the museum location, with instructions on getting here by public transportation, car, and on foot in the Museum Location page.
Arriving
Please arrive 15 minutes before your session start time to take care of registration, cloaking, payment and toilet needs.
Enter through the Museum's Grey Street entrance (ENERGEX Playasaurus Place, level 0). Make contact with the Visitor Services Officer at the Museum entrance. They will confirm the details of your visit and attend to your cloaking. They will then direct your school to the Sciencentre entrance, where a Visitor Services Officer will discuss your itinerary and handle any invoicing/ payment details.
If you are visiting the Sciencentre first, then continuing into the Museum, please check in with Visitor Services staff as you enter the Museum for a welcome and further information.
Cloak room
Please do not bring school bags unless absolutely necessary.
Lunches, small eskies and bags can be stored in the bag store trolleys located on Level 0 of the Museum.
Our staff will help with your storage and retrieval. No responsibility will be taken for loss of valuables.
Supervision of students
Group supervisors are responsible for the supervision of students and children while in the Museum and Sciencentre and should remain with their students at all time.
Please allow only small, supervised groups of students into the Museum shop.
Moving through the Sciencentre
To make the most of your Sciencentre visit, groups will be rotated through the three galleries (Action Stations, Body Zone and Playing with Light) and Show Zone. The two-hour visit is made up of 45 minutes in Action Stations and Body Zone, 45 minutes in Going Places and 45 minutes in Show Zone.
An itinerary showing this rotation will be sent to you prior to your visit. Please follow the times on your itinerary.
We encourage you to divide your students into small groups with an adult allocated for each group. As the students explore the gallery exhibits, the adult can model the learning process, such as reading out the text, asking open-ended questions, testing out ideas, and suggesting possible explanations.
Lunch and Refreshments
You are welcome to bring morning tea or lunch and eat in ENERGEX Playasaurus Place (under cover), along Melbourne Street (grassed area near the water feature) or along the river bank.
You cannot eat or drink inside the Sciencentre unless you have specific medical needs.
School and group lunch packages are also available from Collectors Café; these can be booked through our online booking form, or for an add-on to an existing booking please phone the Group Bookings Officer on (07) 3840 7608.
Large school groups also have the option of booking the Cafe's terrace as a lunch space.
Toilets
On your arrival, toilets are available at the entrance on Level 0. During your visit, toilets are located in the Sciencentre Level 1.
Visitors with individual needs
We aim to provide equitable access to all visitors.
There is easy access to the Sciencentre from the car park and for bus and taxi passengers from Grey Street.
All entrances and areas are wheelchair accessible.
Disabled toilet facilities are located in the Sciencentre, and in the Museum on Levels 0 and 2.
For more information see information for visitors with individual needs or phone Group Bookings on +61 (0) 7 3840 7608 to request further assistance.
Risk Assessment (89 KB) 
Download our Risk Assessment (89 KB) for schools and groups.
