Sydney Science Trail FAQs

Students will participate in four different sessions across the day:

• Saving Species Talk (secondary students) or Science Show (primary students and diverse learners) at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
• Science Expo at the Australian Museum
• Interactive STEM Workshop (choose one from four options) at either the Australian Museum or the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
• Self-guided experience at either the Australian Museum or the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

All activities are delivered by experienced science communicators from the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Australian Museum, partnering universities and research institutions, and professional science education providers.

• Secondary students (years 7-11): Monday 12 - Wednesday 14 August
• Primary students (years 3-6): Thursday 15 August
• Diverse learners* (years 3-11): Friday 16 August

*Home-school groups, support classes, EAL/D students or any groups with students with diverse needs.

Education bookings are available to NSW public schools and registered non-government schools.

Diverse Learners Day on Friday 16 August is open to both primary and secondary students across years 3-11. 

This day is designed for groups or families requiring a more flexible timetable or higher educator-to-student ratios, such as home school groups, support classes, EAL/D students or any group with students with diverse needs.

• AUSLAN Interpreters (if required) at the science show and workshops
• A quiet room/space will be available at both the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Australian Museum
• Low sensory exhibition space options at Australian Museum (for self-guided experience)
• A Sydney Science Trail social story will be emailed prior to the event
• Wheelchair access
• Group size: there are no minimum group sizes, group size is capped at 30 pax (inclusive of adults and students).
• Educators and supervising adults: all educators and supervising adults must purchase an educator ticket, free of charge, and are included in the attending numbers per group. There is no cap on supervising adults/educators. There must be at least one adult per 15 students to attend with each group.
• Timetable: a flexible timetable can be negotiated depending on students requirements. Groups can choose to skip a session if they require a longer lunch or need to arrive or leave early. Please contact us directly to discuss this: [email protected] or 9231 8333.
• Tickets: tickets for Diverse Learners Day must be purchased online. Educator tickets are required on Diverse Learners Day for all educators and supervising adults but are free of charge.
• Mobility: if you have students with mobility issues or would like to discuss a flexible timetable without the walk between the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and the Australian Museum, please contact [email protected] to discuss options.    
• Children under the age of 8 (non-participating siblings): please note due to limited venue space, we are unable to accommodate prams and non-participating children. Please contact us directly [email protected] for more information.

Students should arrive by 9am at either the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney or the Australian Museum. This will allow students to have a snack and use the bathroom before activities commence at 9:30am sharp.  

Class groups rotate through four 60-minute sessions across two historic venues – two sessions at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and two sessions at the Australian Museum.

• Morning sessions: 9:30am – 10:30am and 10:30am – 11:30am
• Lunch and change venues: 11:30am – 12:30pm
• Afternoon sessions: 12:30pm – 1:30pm and 1:30pm – 2:30pm 

There is one 60-minute break scheduled between 11:30am – 12:30pm. This will allow students to have lunch and walk between the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and the Australian Museum.

All students will walk from one site to the other during the day. Instructions on the specific meeting locations for different groups will be provided after booking.  

Activities are scheduled to finish at 2:30pm. Students that started at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney will finish at the Australian Museum, and vice-versa. Please check your confirmed program for your start and finish points.  

Students will need to complete one walk from either the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to the Australian Museum or vice-versa.  

We have allowed a 60-minute break for groups to undertake this walk. It is an easy, flat walk covering 1.2km, and takes approximately 13 minutes. 

All students and teachers will be escorted by a Sydney Science Trail volunteer along the safest pedestrian route.

If you have students with mobility issues, please contact [email protected] to discuss options.   

Yes, schools are responsible for bringing students and teachers to and from site.   

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: accessible parking bays are provided near the Woolloomooloo Gate and outside the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Limited metered parking is available. Public transport is recommended.

Australian Museum: there is no public car parking available at the Australian Museum. There is a bus bay and accessible parking drop off zone on William Street. Public transport is recommended.

Students will be placed into Group A, B, C or D with a maximum of 120 students in each group. 

Each group of up to 120 will visit the Science Expo at the Australian Museum and attend the Saving Species Talk (secondary students) or Science Show (primary students and diverse learners) at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney as a whole group.

Workshops and self-guided experiences will have groups of a maximum size of 30 and will be held at either the Australian Museum or the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Students will be kept within their school groups as much as possible.  

Yes, allocate at least one adult per 15 students to attend with each group Monday – Thursday. Additional teacher places up to one student per teacher are provided for the Diverse Learners Day on Friday. Schools/educators retain duty of care for all their students on the excursion.  

Teachers can book places for students through the form on the Botanic Gardens of Sydney website from 29 April until COB 1 August 2024. 

The receiving of a booking confirmation document by email constitutes an agreement that your excursion is booked and confirmed and subject to our cancellation policy. 

Invoices based on final numbers will be issued in the week of 5 August 2024.

Payment options will be included on the invoice, including credit card options. American Express, cash and cheque payments are not accepted under any circumstances. 

Once issued, invoices are final with payment terms of 30 days.  

Diverse Learners Day tickets for the Friday can only be booked online and must be paid at the time of booking. Changes to these bookings can be made up to COB 5 August by contacting [email protected].

Participation is $20 (incl. gst) per student. Supervising teachers or educators do not incur a cost as duty of care remains the responsibility of the booked school or group.  

A minimum charge of 20 students per school group applies.

There is no minimum booking for the Diverse Learners Day.

Through the generous support of the Australian Museum Foundation and the Neilson Foundation, A Day at the Museum is supporting 500 eligible primary and secondary students with free entry to the Sydney Science Trail.

Eligible students include those from Australian primary and secondary schools with an Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) value of less than 1000, or a special school, as defined by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).

Funding is limited to 30 students per school.

Home schools are not eligible to apply.

Funds will be allocated on a first come, first served basis through the booking process.

Workshop and talks bookings will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Our bookings team will get in touch to let you know your final schedule.

Step 1: Choose your preferred day(s) 

Step 2: Choose your preferred Interactive STEM Workshop(s) 

Step 3: Choose your preferred Saving Species Talk(s) (secondary students only) 

480 student places are available each day, Monday to Thursday.

480 places in total for both students and educators are available on Friday. Student places are reduced for this Diverse Learners Day.

No, primary school students are not able to attend on the secondary school days. However, they are welcome to attend on the primary days as well as the Diverse Learners Day on Friday. Students are encouraged to ask questions to extend the offering to meet their level of learning.

If you need to cancel or make changes to your numbers, notification must be made in writing to [email protected] by COB 1 August 2023.