By skyforbes Looking for a hands-on, fun-filled day out in Geelong with the kids? MoPA: Museum of Play and Art Geelong is the perfect indoor play space, packed with interactive exhibits, art experiences, and creative play zones.
Housed in Geelong’s historic 160-year-old Wintergarden building, MoPA is more than just a museum—it’s an immersive space designed to inspire young minds. From vibrant art stations to engaging sensory play, this Geelong children’s museum blends learning with fun in the best possible way. Whether you’re after a rainy-day activity or a weekend adventure, MoPA is a must-visit for families.
MoPA Geelong Museum for Kids!
MoPA Geelong is the first of three Children’s Museums in Melbourne – each a beautiful and creative space for children and families to play and learn together.
MoPA is best suited for children aged 1 to 7, though kids of all ages (and parents, too!) will find plenty to love. From engaging sensory play to digital experiences, every corner is designed to encourage learning through play.
Grown-ups can grab a coffee from the onsite café, join in the fun, or chat with MoPA’s educators about the benefits of play-based learning.
What to Expect at MoPA Geelong
Set across two levels, this beautifully designed play space is bursting with activities:
Interactive Exhibits & Creative Play
What is most impressive about MoPA is that a lot of what you see has been custom-designed, hand-built and painted by the founders, the husband and wife team Tom Mahon and Billie Georgieff.
You can see the craftsmanship in the exhibits and it is a labour of love.
Sunset City Climbing Structure – A hand-built, multi-level cityscape perfect for little climbers. With adult-friendly peek-in panels, you can keep an eye on your kids as they explore.
Bonus: for birthday parties, the guest of honour can even choose the lighting colour!
Digital Art Wall – Become the Mona Lisa, turn your face into a Picasso, or create your own masterpiece! Kids can even submit their artwork to be displayed in a digital picture frame.
Lady AB particularly enjoys playing and interacting with the digital art wall.
Affirmation Mirror – A heartwarming experience where children hear kind messages from other kids.
Become the Mona Lisa, mime like Marcel Marceau, turn your face into a Picasso masterpiece. You can also submit your children’s artwork into the digital picture frame.
Sensory Play Zone – From a furry, purring cube to interactive light tunnels, there’s always something to touch, hear, and explore.
Or stick your head in a mirror to hear affirmations from other children and pat a furry, purring cube!
Fun for Toddlers & Babies
Children aged 0-2 years will love the soft play area, with lots of foam blocks and large-scale human face puzzles set into the wall.
I like how the wall hides pigeon holes for kids’ shoes – having shoes strewn everywhere on the floor is my pet hate!
The mirror corner with blocks is also a perfect space for babies and toddlers.
STEM & Sensory Fun
- Light Tunnel Arch – Activate a rainbow of colours with movement!
- Sound Wall – Can your child guess the twelve different sounds?
- Wind Tunnel Chutes – Watch soft scarves shoot up into the air—always a crowd favourite!
….while the intriguing wall of hanging tubes offers curious kids twelve different sounds that they have to try and recognise.
Everyone loves the wind tunnel chutes that shoot soft scarves high into the air!
As well as the permanent exhibits there is a rotating schedule of activities activations which are included in the entry fee, from yoga to dance.
Outdoor & Chill Spaces
Need a breather? The leafy courtyard offers open-ended play with magnetic ball runs and crates that double as furniture. There’s also a relaxing upstairs area with books, bean bags, and giant windows for a sunlit escape.
The back-covered conservatory area is for eating, with bench seating on the sides for adults to supervise while kids play with the Imagination Playground foam parts.
Outside food is not allowed inside the venue so there is a cafe on site.
Perform, Race & Play!
- Interactive Stage – Lights up with a simple clap—perfect for little performers!
- Car Racing Tracks – Kids can test different ramps and race their cars to victory.
- Kaleidoscope Balcony – A giant two-way kaleidoscope for endless visual fun.
When you go upstairs there’s even more fun to be had! Note that there is no lift in the building. If you have little ones you will have to supervise them around the stairs, though once you’re upstairs there are child-proof gates so that kids can’t exit without adult assistance.
Upstairs you’ll find a lovely chill-out space.
Get away from the buzz of the museum with books, bean bags and big arch windows bringing in lots of natural light.
On both sides of the ‘U’ shaped balcony there are giant two-way kaleidoscopes and digital colouring-in stations.
Lady AB has fun dressing up for the stage performance area (with lights that are activated by clapping!)…
….while Baby 2.0 spends ages testing race cars on all the different car tracks.
MoPA is a wonderful space for Geelong families and well worth a day trip from Melbourne, along with all the other things to do in Geelong with kids.
MoPA Geelong Discount Code
Are you looking for a MoPA discount coupon code?
Sorry, MoPA don’t currently offer any entry discounts. But if you’re planning to visit regularly then a MoPA Membership is a great deal!
For $98 a year (per child) and $56 per adult, you get unlimited entry, as well as 10% off at the Gift Shop. With single entry costing $19 per child and $12 per adult, if you visit more then six times within 12 months you’ll make your money back!
MoPA Geelong Parties
On each of the two sides of the ground floor are the toilets, an expansive pram parking area and creative craft/party rooms.
If you’re in Melbourne you can also visit MoPA Sandringham or MoPA Northside in Thomastown.
Hot Tips for visiting MoPA Geelong
- Suitable for kids 1-7 years approximately;
- soft play area for 0-2 years only;
- Bookings essential, maximum 100 people per session start time;
- Visitors must book and arrive during a morning, midday or afternoon session times but can stay for as long as you like;
- kinder and school groups program available;
- 2 x party rooms;
- pram parking;
- toilets, change facilities and parents room on ground floor;
- no lift to the first floor, only stairs;
- access to the first floor is via a child-proof gate;
- no outside food is to be brought in;
- onsite cafe;
- no wifi, 4G reception poor inside due to heritage building;
- heating and air-conditioning available;
- on select dates open after hours for adults-only events MoPA After Dark with food trucks and bar;
- MoPA eGift Cards can be redeemed on anything (Play, Programs, Parties, After Dark and more);
- Members enjoy unlimited Play Sessions and discounts across Programs, Parties, After Dark (adult members only) and more.
- MoPA has a small visitor carpark with 12 spaces, accessible via Cullins Place;
- surrounding streets have 2 hour or unlimited parking;
- South Geelong train station is approximately 10 minute walk, Geelong train station is approximately 20 minute walk.
Visit nearby: National Wool Museum in Geelong offers an engaging exploration of wool’s history and significance. Plus, Explore and play at the fortnightly Museum Explorers: Interactive Playgroup!
Geelong with Kids
Sign up for your FREE curated newsletter of child-friendly events and activities in Geelong and surrounds, straight to your inbox ➡Your best 5-minute read, every week!
Click here for more things to do in Geelong with kids
More of the best museums in Melbourne for kids & families
Best memberships for Melbourne families
National Wool Museum: Geelong’s Industrial History Comes To Life