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.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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.

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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.

From rainforest walks and scenic drives to historic gold-rush towns and standout regional dining experiences, you can find it all in West Gippsland.

Hover over West Gippsland on Google Earth and you’ll see vast tracts of land spread out like green velveteen around the Toorongo Falls Reserve. It’s a landscape that feels almost impossibly lush for a region sitting little more than an hour from Melbourne.

Track southeast in late autumn and early winter and you’ll see pockets of the Mt Baw Baw Plateau dusted in snow. In addition to the forests of mountain ash veined with creeks and rivers, there are pastures and farmland cross-stitched together to form pretty patchworks.

But West Gippsland isn’t defined by scenery alone: in addition to its awe-inspiring nature, a Venn diagram of the region includes gold-rush history and great culinary experiences. Spend a long weekend here and it quickly becomes clear how often these three overlap.

Getting there

Messmates Dining west gippsland — Spend the weekend eating and exploring in West Gippsland. (Credit: Messmates Dining)

Getting to West Gippsland involves as easy drive – it’s just over an hour out of Melbourne along the Monash Freeway.

Not driving? Catch the train from Melbourne on the Gippsland line, terminating at either Traralgon or Bairnsdale, and hop off at Warragul or Drouin.

Visit historic villages

Walhalla historic township — Wander into Australia’s Gold Rush history at Walhalla. (Credit: Rob Blackburn)

The West Gippsland region is on the Traditional Lands of the Kulin and Kurnai nations, specifically linked to the Bunurong, Gunaikurnai and Wurundjeri Peoples, whose connection to Country stretches back thousands of years.

European settlement occurred in the 19th century as timber cutters, farmers and gold seekers pushed into the region’s dense forests. Small towns grew around sawmills and railway lines, and many of those gold rush settlements, timber towns and railway villages still shape the character of the region today.

The most evocative of these is Walhalla Historic Township, a remarkably preserved gold-rush township tucked deep in the mountains. In the late 1800s, it was one of Victoria’s richest goldfields. Today visitors can step inside that history at the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine, where underground tours reveal the scale of the mining operation that once powered the town’s prosperity. Nearby, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway retraces part of the original narrow-gauge line through the valley, offering a slow journey past forest and river scenery.

Further west, Noojee is a classic mountain village. It’s surrounded by dense forest and waterfalls and has become a natural base for exploring the Baw Baw region. Just outside town, Noojee Trestle Bridge stands as one of West Gippsland’s most striking relics of the rail era. The towering wooden structure is the tallest surviving trestle bridge in Victoria and today forms the centrepiece of an easy scenic walk with wide views across the valley.

Alpine Trout Farm west gippsland — Catch your own lunch at Alpine Trout Farm. (Credit: Nicky Cawood)

At Alpine Trout Farm near Noojee, visitors can fish for trout in mountain-fed ponds before enjoying the catch prepared fresh onsite. It’s a simple experience that reflects the area’s long connection to the surrounding waterways.

Back in Warragul, the region’s main service town, the story shifts from heritage to modern regional life. With galleries, restaurants and sweeping views across the rolling farmland of Gippsland, the town has become a lively hub linking the district’s past with its evolving food and cultural scene. Drive through the town and you’ll find heritage buildings, old pubs and weatherboard cottages that hint at the area’s early days as a frontier landscape.

In other towns the past survives in quieter ways – a historic hall here, a century-old bakery there.

Walks, waterfalls and wild places

Toorongo Falls in west gippsland — Stroll Toorongo Falls Reserve. (Credit: Nicky Cawood)

Even simple roadside stops can feel cinematic in West Gippsland. The region also delivers plenty of opportunities to lace up your walking shoes.

One of the region’s most rewarding nature escapes lies just outside Noojee at Toorongo Falls Reserve. A network of walking tracks winds through the cool-temperate rainforest where towering mountain ash trees filter the light and the air smells of rich, damp earth. The 2.2-kilometre trail to the viewing platform overlooking Toorongo Falls is short, but spectacular, as the water cascades down over moss-covered rock faces into a cool, green gully in Little Toorongo River.

Further north, the Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort offers year-round adventures. In winter, the mountain attracts skiers and snowboarders. The warmer months are just as compelling, with scenic drives to see alpine wildflowers, mountain bike trails and panoramic hiking routes that open across the plateau.

Cyclists and walkers looking for a more relaxed pace can follow the Rokeby Neerim Rail Trail, which traces a former railway line through farmland and small Gippsland villages. The mostly flat trail passes rolling paddocks, creeks and historic bridges, making it an easy way to drop it down a gear when exploring the countryside.

Taste the best eats of West Gippsland

Hogget Kitchen west gippsland — Taste the best of the region at Hogget Kitchen.

For many travellers, the real drawcards of West Gippsland are the food and wine. The region sits in the heart of Victoria’s fertile dairy country, and that agricultural backdrop has helped shape a dining scene where seasonal produce and local provenance take centre stage.

Hogget Kitchen has helped put Warragul firmly on the radar for serious regional dining in West Gippsland. Here, head chef and owner Trevor Perkins runs the kitchen alongside well-known winemakers William (Bill) Downie and Pat Sullivan. Hogget Kitchen lives up to its promise of exceptional destination dining; what lands on the table depends largely on what nearby farms have harvested that week as well as a wine list from Wild Dog Winery and other Gippsland producers.

Warragul is also where you’ll find Messmates Dining where the kitchen team is led by Michelin-trained chefs. The Euro-leaning bistro and wine bar brings a polished edge to the local dining scene using produce sourced from across West Gippsland.

For something more casual, the century-old Noojee Hotel is the kind of hub that every traveller dreams of finding after a long drive. Expect generous pub classics served on the sunny deck in summer or beside the crackle of a log fire in winter. Nearby, rustic Toolshed Bar, Bistro & Cabins is the place to go for a wood-fired pizza topped with smoked local trout paired with Gippsland wine, making it a rewarding stop for lunch or an overnight stay.

Time your visit with the Truffle Festival

Food lovers visiting in winter should consider timing their trip to coincide with Noojee Truffle Festival, running from 10 July to 2 August 2026. The inaugural event celebrates the region’s emerging truffle industry with tastings, special menus and events built around one of winter’s most prized ingredients.

Start planning your long weekend in West Gippsland at visitgippsland.com.au.

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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Good food, beautiful nature & history: your guide to a long weekend in West Gippsland

From rainforest walks and scenic drives to historic gold-rush towns and standout regional dining experiences, you can find it all in West Gippsland.

Getting there

Visit historic villages

Walks, waterfalls and wild places

Taste the best eats of West Gippsland

Time your visit with the Truffle Festival

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

AI Prompt

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

The Aussie hotels missing from Condé Nast’s Triple Crown Hotels list

13 weekends worth of winter breaks around Australia

Still holding onto your COVID Virgin travel credit? It’s about to expire

The most exciting winter festivals around Australia

From rainforest walks and scenic drives to historic gold-rush towns and standout regional dining experiences, you can find it all in West Gippsland.

Getting there

Visit historic villages

Walks, waterfalls and wild places

Taste the best eats of West Gippsland

Time your visit with the Truffle Festival