Geoscience Australia welcomes visitors to discover Earth science!

The public display area houses the National Mineral and Fossil Collection. Visitors will be captivated by a collection of minerals, fossils, and meteorites, with approximately 700 items on permanent display. Exploration can be done at one’s own pace or through the Mineral Treasure Hunt activity, accessible via a QR code on personal devices or as a paper copy obtainable from Reception.

Visitors can also touch a piece of the Moon at Geoscience Australia! A Moon rock, brought back to Earth by the Apollo 17 mission in 1972 and on loan from NASA, is the only piece of the Moon in the Southern Hemisphere that can be touched!

New exhibitions include the beautiful Yowah Moon opal, the huge Pilkington-Jackson globe, and ‘Rocks that Shape Australia’ – discover how rocks have shaped Australia’s environment, economic and social history; and how they will be important to our nation into the future.

Or pop into the Education Centre to get up close and personal with Earth science through hands-on exhibits! Here, visitors can hold a volcanic bomb, discover fossilized poo, and zoom in using the digital microscope.

Outside, the Geological TimeWalk takes you on a journey through Earth’s 4,600 million year history as you stroll 1.1 km through Geoscience Australia’s landscaped gardens.

Rocks from around Australia are displayed along the TimeWalk, and each has a story to tell.

Geoscience Australia is open weekdays, except public holidays. The TimeWalk is open every day of the year.

Visitors are welcome in the Education Centre unless it is being used for a scheduled activity. To avoid disappointment, please check availability before visiting by contacting reception via phone.

Admission is free and there is a café on site.

Photo: bidgee (CC BY-SA 2.0)