Sydney Science Trail FAQs

Students will participate in four different sessions across the day:

• Scientist Panel or a Science Show at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
• Science Expo at the Australian Museum
• Interactive STEM workshop at either the Australian Museum or the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
• Teacher-led 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.

• Primary students (years 3-6): Monday 11 – Tuesday 12 August
• Secondary students (years 7-11): Wednesday 13 – Friday 15 August
• Diverse learners* (years 3-11): Sessions available on Monday 11, Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 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.

The Diverse Learners Program is available for students 7+ years of age on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 August, and for students 11 - 17 years of age on Wednesday 13 August.

This program 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 teacher-led 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 the Diverse Learners Program must be purchased online. Educator tickets are required 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 space, we are unable to accommodate prams and non-participating children in some workshop, show and expo venues. Please contact us directly [email protected] for more information.

Your excursion information pack will be sent to you prior to the event and will instruct you to bring students to either the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney or the Australian Museum ready to start by 9am. This will allow students to have a snack and use the bathroom before activities commence at 9.30am sharp.

Student 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.

What is the schedule for the Diverse Learner Program?

Daily Schedule:

• Morning program at the Australian Museum: 9.30 - 11:30am
• Lunch and walk (15-20 min) to Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: 11.30 – 12.30pm
• Afternoon program at Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney : 12.30 - 2:30pm
• Participants should plan to arrive around 9am at the Australian Museum. This will allow time for a snack and to use the bathroom before activities commence at 9:30am.

Final schedules with workshop and self guided group allocations will be emailed prior to the event with full event information.

Group allocations: All Diverse Learners Program participants will attend the Science Show/Scientist Panel and Science Expo together. STEM workshop groups will have a maximum of 30 (adults and children) and you will remain with this group for the teacher-led experience. 

If you indicated you were with a group on the booking form, we will endeavour to apply this to the STEM workshop group you are allocated to. We are not able to offer choices of workshop this year, workshops will be allocated to best suit the groupings.

Final schedules with workshop and teacher-led experience group allocations will be emailed prior to the event with full event information.

Group allocations

All Diverse Learners Program participants will attend the Science Show/Scientist Panel and Science Expo together. STEM workshop groups will have a maximum of 30 (adults and children) and you will remain with this group for the teacher-led experience. 

If you indicated you were with a group on the booking form, we will endeavour to apply this to the STEM workshop group you are allocated to. We are not able to offer choices of workshop this year, workshops will be allocated to best suit the groupings.

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: bus bay and 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 150 students in each group.

Each group of up to 150 will visit the Science Expo at the Australian Museum and attend the Scientist Panel or Science Show at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney as a whole group.

Workshops and teacher-led 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 (primary and high school). 

Additional adult places - up to one student per adult, are provided for the Diverse Learners Program. Schools/educators retain duty of care for all their students on the excursion.

Teachers can book places for students through the Botanic Gardens of Sydney website from 3 February until COB 27 June 2025. 

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 once final numbers have been confirmed (four weeks from the booking date). Any bookings received after 27 June will be invoiced immediately and require payment within 7 days.

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 14 days (unless bookings are made after 27 June, where payment terms are 7 days). 

Tickets for the Diverse Learner Program can only be booked online and must be paid at the time of booking. Changes to these bookings can be made up to COB 4 July 2025 by contacting [email protected].

Participation is $25 (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 Program.

Through the generous support of the Australian Museum Foundation, the Neilson Foundation and generous donors of the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, we are pleased to offer eligible primary and secondary students, 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).

Home schools are not eligible to apply.

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

The Sydney Science Trail Education Program covers a range of scientific topics and is designed to generate excitement and engagement in STEM areas amongst your students in celebration of National Science Week. 

In 2025, it will not be possible to select a preferred Scientist Panel or STEM workshop, however you will be advised which of these you will be attending well in advance of your excursion date so you can prepare students accordingly if you wish. The full education program will be available online from 28 April 2025. 

There are capacity limits for each day of the program. If you have a large group, it is best to book early. Our bookings team will work with you to accommodate group bookings of all sizes. 

No, primary school students are not able to attend on the secondary school days. Our STEM workshops are delivered by trained educators and students are encouraged to ask questions to extend the offering to meet their level of learning. 

For schools: After your booking has been confirmed, final numbers are due within four weeks or by 27 June 2025 (whichever comes first). Your invoice will be issued within two business days and once paid, no further changes can be made. If you need to cancel or make changes to your numbers, notification must be made in writing to [email protected]. 

For the Diverse Learners Program: Changes or cancellations can be made up until 11 July 2025. after this date, bookings are not refundable.