15 Of The Weirdest Museums To Visit In Australia

Prepare to have your mind blown at the country’s wackiest homages to, well, whatever really.

Dinosaur bones, sculptures, ancient relics – who needs them? When we visit a museum, we’re ready to be shocked and awed by something truly out of the ordinary.

It’s why we’ve grown obsessed with Australia’s weirdest museums, scattered right across the country to shine a light on the far less explored. From a globally acclaimed poo machine and actual human specimens to Ned Kelly’s kitchen and submerged sculptures, our round-up of the oddest museums is guaranteed to entertain.

1. Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Tas

It’s plenty wonderful but the home of Tassie’s famed poo machine is categorically weird.

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is one of the Apple Isle’s most iconic attractions and while the exhibits are reliably thought-provoking and genius, nobody can argue that Cloaca Professional, which very genuinely replicates the gastroenterological food journey, is quite like anything else.

the external shot of Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) Pharos Lawn, Tas — MONA is one of Tasmania’s most iconic attractions. (Image: MONA/Jesse Hunniford)

Other onsite curiosities include the car space reserved for ‘God’ where MONA creator David Walsh parks and a wall of sculptured vulvas.

Cunts and other conversations by Greg Taylor artwork in MONA — Greg Taylor’s wall of vulvas is a must-see artwork at MONA. (Image: MONA/Jesse Hunniford)

Address: 655 Main Road, Berriedale, Tasmania

Admission price: $38 per adult.

2. Cyril Callister Museum, Vic

Putting a rose in every cheek, the Cyril Callister Museum in regional Victoria is an ode to the creator of Vegemite within a converted petrol station.

a converted petrol station at Cyril Callister Museum — The Cyril Callister Museum is an ode to the creator of Vegemite.

Opened by the Cyril Callister Foundation to share the story behind their condiment saviour, the museum charts his upbringing and achievements, so expect to see fascinating memorabilia and a stack of Vegemite merch (which, let’s be real, is why people visit).

See a stack of Vegemite merch at Cyril Callister Museum.

T-shirts, glassware, books and sweet corduroy caps provide plenty of opportunities to pay tribute to the Aussie legend beyond this weird museum.

Vegemite dress and other fascinating memorabilia at the Cyril Callister Museum — Expect to see fascinating memorabilia.

Address: 23 Neill Street, Beaufort, Victoria

Admission price: Free but donations are welcome.

3. Museum of Underwater Art, Qld

Forget everything you know about museums. This one’s from another world – an underwater world. The Museum of Underwater Art is weird in the most serene, soul-stirring way, encompassing a series of underwater sculptures that are mainly accessible via scuba diving or snorkelling.

scuba diving into the Museum of Underwater Art, Qld — Dive into the unique Museum of Underwater Art. (Image: Jason de Caires Taylor)

Dozens of works including the standout Coral Greenhouse, which broke the Guinness World Record for the largest underwater art structure, dazzle from just beyond your mask.

sculptures in the Museum of Underwater Art, Qld — This museum is from another world – an underwater world. (Image: Jason de Caires Taylor)

Address: John Brewer Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

Admission price: Free to view however if you’d like to visit via vessel, multiple tour options are available.

4. Mad Max 2 Museum, NSW

Can’t get enough of the Mad Max franchise? Fang it to Silverton, a tiny mining town near Broken Hill in outback NSW, where a Mad Max 2 Museum has set up shop.

the exterior of Mad Max 2 Museum, NSW — Film enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the Mad Max 2 Museum.

Paying homage to ‘Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior’, which was filmed in town, the museum gathers awesome photography, never-before-seen footage, original and replica vehicles and frighteningly realistic life-size characters in full costume.

The wackiest part is you’re surrounded by the red dirt backdrop made famous by the film, so it’s all just very surreal.

a look inside Mad Max 2 Museum with replica vehicles — Find original and replica vehicles in the Mad Max 2 Museum.

Address: 2 Stirling Street, Silverton, NSW

Admission price: $10 per adult.

5. The Big Camera Museum of Photography, WA

How very meta you’ll feel snapping a selfie out the front of this enormous SLR 35mm camera-shaped façade, but no visit to The Big Camera Museum of Photography is complete without it.

the camera-shaped facade of The Big Camera Museum of Photography, WA — The Big Camera Museum of Photography has an enormous SLR 35mm camera-shaped façade.

Located along the highway, it’s the perfect pitstop to explore more than 1500 fully operational cameras spanning the decades plus a bunch of projectors, slides, kaleidoscopes and more.

camera displays inside The Big Camera Museum of Photography, WA — Inside, you’ll find more than 1500 fully operational cameras.

Address: Great Eastern Highway, Meckering, WA

Admission price: Free.

6. Museum of Human Disease, NSW

If COVID got your blood pumping in more ways than one, you’re probably exactly who the Museum of Human Disease is targeting.

Located within the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, the weird museum invites the public to view its extensive human tissue specimen collection which catalogues extraordinary histories and pathologies. Think all the big guns like cancer, stroke, HIV/AIDS, heart attack, diabetes and the effects of drugs.

the Museum of Human Disease, NSW — Visit the Museum of Human Disease at UNSW.

Address: Ground Floor, Samuels Building, UNSW Sydney, High Street, Kensington, NSW

Admission price: $10 per adult.

7. The Ned Kelly History Museum and Homestead, Vic

It’s not all that weird is it, memorialising the country’s most iconic outlaw? But wait until you see his homestead. At The Ned Kelly History Museum and Homestead located in Glenrowan, a small town in northeast Victoria, there’s a precise replica of Ned’s digs, filled with items that belonged to him and donated to the museum by his family.

the exterior of The Ned Kelly History Museum and Homestead, Vic — Explore The Ned Kelly History Museum and Homestead.

Cosy up in the convicted police murderer’s single bed or sniff out the adorable marsupial cooked in a pie on the kitchen bench. Weirdness abounds every corner of this architectural feat.

a look inside The Ned Kelly History Museum and Homestead, Vic — The museum has preserved quirky items that belonged to Australia’s most iconic outlaw.

Address: 35 Gladstone Street, Glenrowan, Victoria

Admission price: $12 per adult.

8. The Museum of Fire, NSW

Setting western Sydney ablaze with fire-related memorabilia, The Museum of Fire is one helluva hot ticket.

the facade of The Museum of Fire in Penrith NSW — Step into the intriguing world of fire. (Image: The Museum of Fire)

A playground for little ones intrigued by firefighters and fire trucks, as well anybody who appreciates the heroic work our community defenders perform daily, it’s filled with historical relics that span horse-drawn steamers and ancient switchboards, kid-specific interactive areas where they can live out their dreams and so much more.

fire trucks on display inside The Museum of Fire, Penrith NSW — The Museum of Fire is filled with historical relics. (Image: The Museum of Fire)

Address: 1 Museum Drive, Penrith, NSW

Admission price: $17 per adult and $8.50 per child.

9. Qantas Guinea Airways Hangar, NT

The colourful town of Parap in the Northern Territory is coming into its own and you can thank the Qantas Guinea Airways Hangar for playing its part in propelling things. The fascinating museum is in fact a giant hangar, built in 1934 for Qantas and utilised by the first Australia-England air service operated by the airline.

an external shot of the Qantas Guinea Airways Hangar, NT — The Qantas Guinea Airways Hangar is in fact a giant hangar.

Nowadays, it charts the state’s automotive history, so you’ll spy classic cars, an old fire engine, locomotives, steam and traction engines and delivery vehicles throughout this one-stop shop.

old vehicles on display inside Qantas Guinea Airways Hangar, NT — Find a huge collection of vintage cars at Qantas Guinea Airways Hangar.

Address: 22 Macdonald Street, Parap, Darwin, NT

Admission price: Free but donations are welcome.

10. The Academy of Taxidermy, WA

It will feel rather normal strolling through the Museum of Natural History in Guildford, Western Australia. That is until you seek out its Academy of Taxidermy .

animal displays inside The Academy of Taxidermy, WA — Find far-too-lifelike animal trophies at The Academy of Taxidermy.

Home to more than 2000 brilliantly stuffed items, including endangered fauna which is surprisingly moving, the weird museum is utterly jaw-dropping. Scan the cabinets and floors to find far-too-lifelike animal trophies, dinos, marine life, birds and other critters, all lovingly preserved by Master Taxidermist Michael Buzza.

Address: 131 James Street, Guildford, WA

Admission price: Free but donations are welcome.

11. Sydney Bus Museum, NSW

Seen one bus, seen them all? Evidently not. At the Sydney Bus Museum in Sydney’s inner west, you’ll be astonished to learn just how far buses have come over time as a collection of vintage builds that date as far back as the Second World War, fill out a 100-year-old tram shed.

people entering a vintage double decker, Sydney Bus Museum, NSW — Hop aboard a vintage double-decker at the Sydney Bus Museum.

Want to see them go? Get a kick out of jumping onboard a vintage double-decker for a ride through the city.

the Sydney Bus Museum in the city — You’ll be astonished to learn just how far buses have come over time.

Address: 25 Derbyshire Road, Leichhardt, NSW

Admission price: $20 per adult.

12. Faye’s Underground Home, SA

A weird museum like no other, Faye’s Underground Home in Coober Pedy is an authentic dugout built 40 years ago to escape the sweltering daylight climate and bone-cold desert nights.

a look inside Faye’s Underground Home in Coober Pedy — Faye’s Underground Home in Coober Pedy is an authentic dugout.

Maintaining an average temperature of 23 to 25 degrees no matter how high or low the mercury fluctuates outside, these dugouts are extraordinary, and this museum allows you to inspect every nook and cranny. Built using picks and shovels, the home is an astonishing portal into the town’s rich history.

the bedroom at Faye’s Underground Home, SA — This museum allows you to inspect every nook and cranny.

Address: Old Water Tank Road, Coober Pedy, SA

Admission price: $20 per person.

13. Victoria Police Museum, Vic

Can’t get enough of true crime? Deep dive into the culture capital’s captivating crime history at the Victoria Police Museum in the heart of Melbourne. More than 300 pieces fill the space, spanning police and forensic equipment, legitimate evidence and accounts from some of the city’s weirdest and most shocking crimes.

a look inside the Victoria Police Museum, Vic — Browse through a vast collection of policing themes at the Victoria Police Museum.

And if you’re a Ned Kelly nut, they’ve also gathered the country’s largest collection of his armour, so you’re sorted for a full day of fun.

a woman looking at Ned Kelly's iconic armours on display at the Victoria Police Museum, Vic — See Ned Kelly’s iconic armour up close.

Address: 313 Spencer Street, Docklands, Melbourne, Victoria

Admission price: Free.

14. Bega Cheese Heritage Centre, NSW

Weird in the most delicious of ways, the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre speaks to us on a spiritual level and collates everything a museum should.

a woman exploring inside Bega Cheese Heritage Centre, NSW — Sample some of the award-winning cheese at Bega Cheese Heritage Centre. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Seize the opportunity to sample the fruits of the brand’s labour on NSW’s far south coast as you learn about the history of dairy farming and the brand’s road to fame. The museum itself is also impressive, made to replicate the original ‘creamery’ built in 1899.

visitors exploring inside Bega Cheese Heritage Centre, NSW — Bega Cheese Heritage Centre was built to showcase how dairy shaped Bega Valley.

Address: 11-13 Lagoon Street, Bega, NSW

Admission price: Free.

15. Australian Pinball Museum, Vic

Gamers, brace yourselves. The country’s largest collection of pinball machines can be found at the Australian Pinball Museum and you’ll count more than 60 lining the walls.

pinball machines inside the Australian Pinball Museum, Vic — The country’s largest collection of pinball machines can be found at the Australian Pinball Museum.

And when your eyes aren’t lit up over the flashing lights, scanning the vacant wall space between the machines will also provide fascinating eye candy as vintage posters used for promotions proudly hang. Intriguing picks include 2012’s AC/DC Back in Black, 1931’s Baffle Ball and 1993’s Twilight Zone machines.

a closer look at the pinball machines inside the Australian Pinball Museum, Vic — The pinball machines provide fascinating eye candy.

Address: 22 Dimboola Road, Nhill, Victoria

Admission price: Free and donations are welcome. Games can be played at $1 for older machines and $2 for modern machines.

The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns.

It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach , the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.

Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road . Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.

Split point lookout — The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.

This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities.

Lorne to Birregurra

Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park , which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.

Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.

From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.

You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae , helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.

Brae restaurant — Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Apollo Bay to The Otways

Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.

A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.

Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles

The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.

It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.

The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.

Port Campbell to Timboon

Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream , Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.

Warrnambool to Port Fairy

Warrnambool building — A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.

Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.

The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit.

The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip.

Eating there

The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.

Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.

15 of the weirdest museums to visit in Australia

Prepare to have your mind blown at the country’s wackiest homages to, well, whatever really.

1. Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Tas

2. Cyril Callister Museum, Vic

3. Museum of Underwater Art, Qld

4. Mad Max 2 Museum, NSW

5. The Big Camera Museum of Photography, WA

6. Museum of Human Disease, NSW

7. The Ned Kelly History Museum and Homestead, Vic

8. The Museum of Fire, NSW

9. Qantas Guinea Airways Hangar, NT

10. The Academy of Taxidermy, WA

11. Sydney Bus Museum, NSW

12. Faye’s Underground Home, SA

13. Victoria Police Museum, Vic

14. Bega Cheese Heritage Centre, NSW

15. Australian Pinball Museum, Vic

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Taking the route less travelled along the Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns.

Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

Lorne to Birregurra

Apollo Bay to The Otways

Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles

Port Campbell to Timboon

Warrnambool to Port Fairy

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Eating there