Vacation care groups

Your visit can be booked online, by clicking on the button above.

All groups can book a self-led visit (General Admission) to the Museum and may be able to access ticket discounts for special exhibitions.

Refer to our Privacy Statement outlining how we deal with your personal information.

Contact our Group Bookings Office at least two weeks prior to your visit, unless stated otherwise for a particular program or exhibition. Payment is based on the final number confirmed.

Please ensure you read the Terms and Conditions before making a booking.

Self-led visits (General Admissions) are free and include access to all our permanent exhibitions. Charges apply for educator-led programs, guided tours, and special exhibitions.

After you have confirmed your numbers with the Group Bookings Office, payment can be made by credit card over the phone also through our Group Bookings Office at least two weeks prior to your visit. If requested, a tax invoice can be issued and must be paid within 7 days from date of issue.

Payment process may vary for special exhibitions.

Please ensure you read the Terms and Conditions before making a booking.

Contact our Group Bookings Office. Changes or cancellations can be made up to two weeks before your visit, unless stated otherwise for a particular program or exhibition.

Please ensure you read the Terms and Conditions before making a booking.

Students and children must be accompanied by a teacher or supervisor. Student discipline is the responsibility of teachers and supervisors.

To support student/child management, teachers and supervisors attend free within our recommended supervision ratios.

The following ratios apply for school-aged children:

• Preschool and Years K-2: 1 adult to 5 students
• Years 3-6: 1 adult to 10 students
• Years 7-12 and tertiary: 1 adult to 15 students
• Students with additional needs: 1 adult to 1 student

Please see our Venue and Safety Information to assist you in preparing your risk assessment.

We strongly recommend teachers and group leaders visit the Museum and familiarise themselves with the site prior to their group booking.

Please read our Terms of Entry for more information.

To help keep our staff, visitors and community safe, the AM has COVID-19 protocols in place, including physical distancing, increased cleaning and hygiene practices. Facemasks are encouraged.

View our full COVID-19 safety information here.

We recommend using our visitor map to plan your visit. We also strongly recommend teachers and group leaders visit the Museum and familiarise themselves with the site prior to their group booking.

Burra is a learning space for children 0-14 years. To ensure the most positive and safe experience for all our visitors, we request that groups manage their day so that a maximum of 10 people in your group visit Burra at any one time.

We strongly encourage groups to split into smaller groups of 5-10 children/students with an adult supervisor within the exhibition spaces. Take the stairs where possible and be mindful of others who may need to use the space, such as people in wheelchairs or who have prams.

Due to the volume of visitors in school holidays, we request that you keep to your 2 hour booking window.

Further information is available about accessibility and inclusion at the Museum on our website, including our Accessibility Action Plan.

We also provide a Visual Story to help you prepare for your visit.

We suggest you plan your visit so that each of your smaller groups have a designated path through the museum. You can print copies of our map to assist in your planning. We also encourage you to use our self-led resources to engage further with the exhibitions, using thought-provoking questions, simple tasks and engaging prompts.

• Conversation starters ignite creative dialogue between students and their teachers. Through freedom of choice, fun questions and quick activities, students can investigate specimens and objects through a new lens. No prior knowledge of the exhibition is needed.

The nearest train stations are St James, Museum and Town Hall. Each are of equal distance to us and are an easy 7-minute walk. Please note that Museum Station does not offer lift access at this stage. If you have a stroller or wheelchair, please note that your journey through Hyde Park will end in stairs at each of the museum corners on College and Park Streets. Level exit is available at the St Mary's Cathedral pedestrian crossing if coming from St James Station, and at the corner of College and Liverpool Streets if coming from Museum Station.

For bus services arriving in the city centre, alight near Hyde Park or Town Hall and walk east along Park Street towards Kings Cross – a 7-to-10-minute walk.

The Australian Museum is located on the corner of College Street and William Street in central Sydney, just across the road from Hyde Park and opposite St Mary's Cathedral. For further directions, please see our Parking and Public Transport page.

No dedicated parking is available for buses at the Museum. There is a bus drop-off bay outside the Groups Entrance, on William Street, which can found at what3words.com/edit.jumped.cable.

Bus parking may be available near St Mary's Cathedral, The Domain, and around the City of Sydney.

Please enter the Museum via the Groups Entrance, at the top of the stairs on William Street (next to the bus drop-off bay).

At the top of the stairs, buzz the Security intercom on the right-hand side of the glass doors and a staff member will come and greet you. If you require level access, there is also an accessible entry with a lift directly off William Street (under the stairs).

When you arrive, there will be a short briefing about your visit in the Patricia McDonald Education Rooms on Lower Ground floor.

There are no dedicated spaces inside the Museum for food breaks. Please eat before or after your visit to the Museum.

We encourage groups to take breaks in Hyde Park or Cook & Phillip Park, however we can accommodate groups onsite during wet weather.

There are bubblers near the Patricia McDonald Education Rooms on Lower Ground and near the bathroom facilities on Level 1 and 2.

Lunch packs can be pre-ordered through our caterers, The Fresh Collective, and taken outside to eat. Lunch pack order forms are available by request through the Group Bookings Office.

We request that you keep personal belongings at your centre or on the bus, to save time on arrival and allow you maximum time to enjoy the Museum. Where capacity allows we can store essential items.

You are permitted to take photos and videos in our permanent exhibitions unless stated otherwise. Restrictions may apply to temporary exhibitions. Please ensure that your camera flash is turned off when photographing collection specimens and objects.

For more information, read our Terms of Entry.

Lost property is located at the Admissions Desk on Ground level. If you have left something behind after your visit, please contact the Museum on (02) 9320 6000.

The Museum Shop is located on Ground level. You can find a range of gifts, books, toys and resources relevant to exhibitions, science, culture and history topics.

Students and children should visit the shop in small groups and must be accompanied by a teacher or supervisor.

No food or beverages are permitted in the shop.

You can ask our staff on arrival, who will greet you and provide a briefing. Alternatively, you may ask our staff at the admissions desk.

Please call our Group Bookings Office on (02) 9320 6222 if you are running late.