Melbourne Museum

Lonely Planet review

Museum Victoria's flagship site is truly a world-class museum. The modern exhibition space eschews glass cases of dusty, taxidermic objects in favour of vibrant thematic displays that take visitors on a journey through natural and cultural history. Walk through the 1950s, imagine yourself in 1890's or become immersed in the legend of champion racehorse (and national hero) Phar Lap.

Bunjilaka, the Aboriginal Centre, presents Aboriginal stories and objects as mediated and interpreted by Aboriginal voices. An open-air forest atrium features Victorian forest plants and animals, including a pair of tawny frogmouths. For traditionalists, the excellent natural history galleries shed new light on old topics, including the human body, dinosaurs and evolution - exhibits include some of Charles Darwin's original specimens. Little kids love the hands-on exhibits in the Children's Museum, while the quarantined tarantulas in 'Bugs Alive!' provide creepy crawly fun for all ages. Disabled access is very good. Beside the museum is Melbourne's IMAX theatre, which screens super-wide format films.