Get ready for a bug-tastic family adventure packed with hands-on discovery, fascinating creatures and interactive fun! Bartle Bugs is a hands-on early evening exploration of bugs for families of all ages, hosted by Bartle Frere State School as part of National Science Week.

Explore a series of exciting activity stations where children and adults can get up close to the incredible world of insects and invertebrates. Meet ethically bred live burrowing cockroaches, marvel at Australian Leaf Insects perfectly camouflaged in their natural environment, and chat with student experts about how they care for these amazing creatures and their habitats. Discover the secret life of native bees at our beekeeping Q&A station led be a native bee expert.

Learn how to build a simple bug light trap using everyday household materials for safe observation and release of bugs showcasing our local biodiversity, and take a closer look at bugs under the microscope. Uncover the science behind insect flight as you examine the fascinating anatomy of wings and learn about the physics that keeps bugs airborne.

Visit our compost station to see how healthy ecosystems support insects and other tiny decomposers, then step into the shoes of an insect with an immersive virtual reality experience that lets you see the world from a bug’s perspective.

Feeling adventurous? Sample edible insects at our bug tasting station and learn why bugs are becoming an important sustainable food source around the world.

Get creative at the Bug Art station, and light up the fun with our magical LED wing experience for children, and test your knowledge with weird and wonderful bug trivia for a chance to win a bug-tastic prize!

Feeling peckish? Fuel your bug-hunting adventure with a tasty sausage sizzle available throughout the evening! Meat and vegan options available.

Perfect for curious minds of all ages, this unforgettable event combines science, creativity, technology and hands-on exploration to inspire a deeper appreciation for the tiny creatures that help our world thrive.