WHERE: South Australian Museum, North Tce
WHEN: 27 September – 12 October
TIME: 10am to 5pm
See nature in focus these October school holidays at the South Australian Museum - here are four fun things to see and do with the whole family!
South Australian Museum Discovery Centre - special opening hours
The Discovery Centre is a special place for people of all ages to feed their curiosity with endless wonders to discover – like insects, fossils, meteorites and even a beehive. Located on Level 1 of the Museum, the Discovery Centre will be open to the public from 10:30am to 2:30pm every day during the school holidays.
COST: FREE
Scanning Electron Microscope at the Discovery Centre - school holidays only
For a limited time, the public is welcome to try a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) during Discovery Centre opening hours during the school holidays. The SEM is a super powerful microscope that lets us see very small things, more than what a regular microscope can show us, by using tiny electrons to create a black and white image. The magnification is so strong that it can see the pollen that sticks to the hairy bodies of bees!
Check out how strong your vision is by the Discovery Centre beehive and compare the SEM with the other microscopes also available to use so you can see what tiny hidden worlds each one allows you to discover.
COST: FREE
Brainy Games
Ever wondered about your amazing brain and how it helps you to understand the world? Ever wanted to see what a research scientist does? Adelaide University School of Psychology is at the South Australian Museum these school holidays with fun, interactive games that are part of their scientific research.
Children and adults are invited to play games which cover a wide range of topics including understanding how we use logic to think, how we show our emotions, how we recognise other people (even when they look different), and how we use someone’s appearance to make decisions about them.
Brainy Games will be in the Level 2 Learning Space, 10:30am to 3pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the school holidays.
COST: FREE
Junior Photography Quest (recommended ages 8 – 14)
An activity for exploring the Museum inside and out! The South Australian Museum is sending you on a photography quest through the Museum and into the great outdoors to snap your own nature photographs. Bring your camera or phone with you to the Museum, gain tips to improve your photography skills and try your hand at using different camera techniques.
Pick up a copy of the Junior Photography Quest from the information desk at the South Australian Museum. Share your photographs with #NPOTY or #mysamuseum and who knows, you could snap something that will end up in next year’s Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year!
COST: FREE
2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibition
Come and see nature up close through 99 stunning images by professional, emerging and junior photographers. This breathtaking exhibition allows us to witness the unique beauty of the flora, fauna and landscapes of our own backyard and the world around us. On display at the South Australian Museum until Sunday 1 February 2026.
COST: $12 for adults | $10 for concession, seniors and students | FREE for under 12s
