About
Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre, is a hands-on museum in Canberra, the capital of Australia, in the Australian Capital Territory. It is built around the idea that science is best learned by doing, and its galleries invite visitors to press, pull, test and try things for themselves.
What you will find
The centre offers more than 200 interactive exhibits, so there is plenty to explore at your own pace. Among the experiences described are an earthquake simulator, which lets you feel how a tremor shakes a building, and lightning shows that bring electricity to life in front of an audience.
Who it suits
- Families with children, who can move from one exhibit to the next without much waiting
- Curious adults who enjoy understanding how things work
- Students and teachers looking for a practical complement to classroom science
- Visitors with a free afternoon who want an indoor activity in Canberra
Because the exhibits are designed to be touched and tried, the visit suits people who learn more by experimenting than by reading panels, though there is enough to engage any age group.
Around the museum
Questacon sits in the capital's central area, where it is easy to combine a visit with a walk to other attractions in the city. Canberra's national institutions, parks and lakeside paths are close by, so a museum visit can form part of a wider day out in the city.
