Join the kids for a day of learning about the wonders of science and technology at Australia’s national science centre.
Questacon is the Australian National Science and Technology Centre. It features a range of exhibits about everything from water, to electricity and light. Most exhibits are targeted at children, but there ’s plenty to see and do for adults as well.
Check out Excite@Q for fun and challenging hands-on exhibits. Play a game of four-way air hockey on the Cross Hockey Table, take the six-metre (20-foot) Free-Fall Slide, or create a tune with light beams at Optimusic. Make your way over to Awesome Earth to brush up on the geology and meteorology of our planet. You can stare at a Tesla Coil, see how a hurricane forms and experience an earthquake.
Head to H2O to learn about the dynamics of this precious resource. There are dozens of interactive exhibits about how water has helped shape our environment and affected our civilizations. You’ll see how water is used in manufacturing and learn how to design a water efficient city. You can even shoot a hydrogen-powered rocket and explore water’s chemical properties.
Stroll through the Wonderworks section to play with magnets, mirrors and pendulums. Drop by QLab to use microscopes and watch demonstrations of scientific principles by staff. Be sure to catch a Spectacular Science Show by Questacon’s in-house theatre troupe, The Excited Particles. Shows are fun for both kids and adults, with topics ranging from dinosaurs to rockets. Visitors with youngsters under six should visit MiniQ where there are fun and safe activities to help them understand the world and build an interest in science.
Questacon also hosts a range of travelling and special exhibitions. Check the website for details. The centre is located on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin along King Edward Terrace, about 1.6 kilometres (one mile) from Parliament House and about a 30-minute walk from the the city’s main business district. Pay parking is available alongside the building. There’s a cost for admission, but children under 16 get a discount and all shows and exhibitions are included. It’s open every day except Christmas Day .
