Family-friendly tours of our museums
There is also a great variety of school holiday programs and workshops taking place across our museums - book now.
Family tours at Elizabeth Bay House
Take a family tour of Elizabeth Bay House to discover the secret histories and interesting stories of the Macleay Family who used to live in this gorgeous house over a century ago! Or discover what was once one of the world’s largest collections of beautiful butterflies, magical moths and interesting insects. Don’t worry, they aren’t alive!
Each tour lasts approximately 30-40 minutes.
When
Friday to Sunday in the school holidays
10am, 12pm, 2pm: Children’s Tour – Science & Specimens
11am, 1pm, 3pm: Macleay Family Tour
Where
Included with museum entry
Adult $12, Concession $8, Family $30, FREE for members and children under 5 years
In the entrance hall, Elizabeth Bay House. Photo © Stuart Miller & Hayley Richardson for Sydney Living Museums
Family tours at Meroogal
Explore the historic house Meroogal in Nowra during a family-friendly tour. Uncover the stories of the house and then get hands-on and try out some 19th century 3D and sound technology; pump water from the well, and play outside games.
When
Thursday to Saturday in the school holidays from 3 January
10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Where
Included with museum entry
Adult $12, Concession $8, Family $30, FREE for members and children under 5 years
Meroogal. Photo © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums
Family tours at Elizabeth Farm
Take a family tour of Elizabeth Farm to unlock the stories of this historic farmstead. Go back in time and be a convict servant for the Macarthurs or do the washing just as they did in the 1800s. Afterwards explore the house and abundant garden at your own leisure.
When
Daily in the school holidays from 2 January
11am, 1pm: Meet the servants children's tour
12pm, 2pm: House & garden tour for all ages
3pm: Highlights tour
Where
Included with museum entry
Adult $12, Concession $8, Family $30, FREE for members and children under 5 years
Family washing and hanging clothes in the Oak Tree Court. Photo © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums
Family tours at Rouse Hill House & Farm
Head to the farm these holidays and find out about the fascinating history of Rouse Hill House & Farm! Take a farmyard tour to explore the stables and meet the chooks, ‘Pudding’ the cow, and our horses Larry and Ziggy. Ring the school house bell and explore the 19th century school room with its animal specimens, piano and blackboard. There’s plenty to see and do!
When
Daily in the school holidays from 2 January
11am: Family farmyard tour - Meet the animals!
12pm: Rouse Hill House tour for all ages
1pm: Children’s Ring the bell! School house tour
2pm: Rouse Hill House tour for all ages
3pm: Rouse Hill highlights tour
Where
Included with museum entry
Adult $12, Concession $8, Family $30, FREE for members and children under 5 years
Saying hello to Larry the horse at Rouse Hill House & Farm Photo (c) James Horan for Sydney Living Museums
Family tours at Vaucluse House
Meet our goats and chooks, then find out how food was made, stored, served and eaten in the past in a Farmyard to Table children’s tour. Or take a family tour of the grand house and get to know the interesting lives of the Wentworths, who used to live here many, many years ago! Peak into all of the rooms, see inside the kitchen, go down into the cellar and explore the kitchen garden.
Each tour lasts approximately 40 minutes.
When
Daily in the school holidays
10am, 12pm, 2pm: Farmyard to Table Children's Tour
11am, 1pm, 3pm: Wentworth Family Tour
Where
Included with museum entry
Adult $12, Concession $8, Family $30, FREE for members and children under 5 years
Girl and boy looking through the windows at Vaucluse House. Photo © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums
Family tours of Rose Seidler House
Go back to the fifties and imagine what it would be like to live in Rose Seidler House – the most talked-about house in Sydney. Join a family-focused tour of the house to learn what all the fuss was about. Afterwards, kids are invited to use the free drawing materials to create a modernist-inspired artwork to take home. Ages 5+
When
Sundays in the school holidays
10am, 11am, 12noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Where
Included with museum entry
Adult $12, Concession $8, Family $30, FREE for members and children under 5 years
Exterior of Rose Seidler House. Photo © Nicholas Watt for Sydney Living Museums
Cop or Robber?
Experience both sides of the law in our police station
The historic Water Police Station comes to life with true tales of courageous cops and rotten robbers. Use your detective skills to track down the thief known as ‘The Duchess’ and unleash your criminal cunning to plot an escape from our holding cell.
When
Saturdays & Sundays, 10.30am (30 mins)
Where
Included with museum entry
Adult $12, Concession $8, Family $30, FREE for members and children under 5 years
Fingerprinting at Justice & Police Museum. Photo Holly Schulte © Sydney Living Museums
Bushrangers Behind Bars
Guilty or not guilty – you decide!
Step into the shoes of a notorious bushranger and take to the stand to plead your innocence. Or perhaps you’d prefer the barrister’s wig to test your powers of persuasion? Whatever your choice, take on a character and play your part in an exciting mock trial; and see first-hand how a 19th century magistrates court put Sydney’s infamous criminals behind bars.
When
Fridays in January + Saturdays & Sundays, 11.30am (30 mins)
Where
Included with museum entry
Adult $12, Concession $8, Family $30, FREE for members and children under 5 years
Bushrangers Behnd Bars at the Justice & Police Museum Photo © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums