Whether you be a local,
an interstate visitor or even on vacation from overseas
the multi-award-winning Museum of Tropical Queensland
(MTQ) is a definitely on the ‘to do list’
in North Queensland. The Museum provides an unforgettable,
inexpensive experience for all family members with captivating
exhibits catering for the young and old. Visitors will
be entertained, fascinated and even educated by the
many exhibits provided by this multi award winning museum.
As you delve into the history and heritage of Queensland,
the younger generation can be entertained and occupied
by children friendly exhibits such as the Mind-Zone,
a hyperzone of activity with many exhibits appears to
interest not only the younger age group but also adults!
Education
Take a journey through Tropical Queensland's
history, culture, science and heritage. MTQ
is a world class facility and the Museum’s
exhibitions house internationally significant
collections – including every coral
species found on the Great Barrier Reef and
the historic artefacts from HMS Pandora.
The Museum is recognised as Queensland’s
centre of Marine Archaeology … You’ll
discover more at MTQ!
HMS Pandora
One of the most famous attractions
at the Museum of Tropical Queensland is the
Pandora Exhibition. The exhibit tells the
story of the Royal Navy Warship, the HMS Pandora
which was sent out in the wild seas to capture
the Bounty mutineers. What actually happened
the night the ship wreck sank taking with
it its 35 lives and 4 prisoners? Where was
the ship going? What was life like on the
ship? Throughout the famous exhibit the breathtaking
stories and experiences of the prisoners and
crew members, the unique recovered artefacts,
and the detail of this historical and enthralling
tale will be told.
* Learn the legend of the HMS
Pandora, a frigate which sank into deep waters
off the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1790, after
being sent to search for mutineers on board
the infamous Bounty. Townsville's Museum of
TNQ has recreated a life-size replica of Pandora,
complete with relics salvaged from the shipwreck.
Pre Historic
Can you ever imaging comparing
your foot to that of dinosaur bones that existed
millions of years ago? Or ever wondered what
type of spiders and creatures are lurking in
your own backyard? The Discover Tropical Queensland
exhibit provides a diverse range of experiences
from mangroves to the Great Barrier Reef to
the time when dinosaurs roamed this land! The
unique and eventful lives of the creatures living
in the North Queensland environment are explored
along with a display of hundreds of spiders
and bugs, a scene not for the faint hearted!
Information
Best time of year
to go
The Museum is open
from 9.30am-5.00pm, 7 days a week excluding Good
Friday, Christmas day and the Morning of the Anzac
parade.
What to take
• Camera
Useful information
• Children
must be accompanied by an adult.
• To fully appreciate the museum you need
to spend at least 3 hours to explore the six
public galleries.
• Covered shoes must be worn to
participate in the cannon firing activity.
The Museum of Tropical North Queensland
is located at 70-102 Flinders St. Townsville
QLD 4810 Australia.
The Museum of Tropical Queensland
is located next to Reef HQ, on Flinders St East.
MTQ is in easy walking distance from Flinders
Mall or the Magnetic Island ferry terminal.
The Museum of Tropical
Queensland is apart of six campuses that form the Queensland
Museum, and one of Townsville’s leading attractions
and educational centres.
MTQ has 3 levels and six public galleries.
The main entrance from Flinders St opens onto the ground
floor where the gift shop is located. The first level
is where the Great Gallery, Pandora Gallery and Troppo
ehibition are located. The Mezannnine floor is home
to Mindzone and the second level is the Discover Tropical
Queensland Gallery.
and much more...
• 6 Public
Galleries
• Gift
Shop
• Interactive
Displays
Troppo Exhibition
The Troppo North Queensland Larger than Life
display features the quirky yet accurate representation
of life in the North Queensland tropics. The
words of ‘big, bright and bold’
have been effectively used to describe the
exhibition which hosts caricatures representing
the history of Townsville and Thuringowa.
The exhibit combines contemporary art whilst
making local history more fun, interesting
and appealing to the human eye! Interactive
touch screens and videos add extra yet accurate
and precise detail to the artwork and cover
topics from maritime history, indigenous and
ethnic cultures, our reef and military to
name just a few.
Rock Rangers Space Lab
A recent attraction to the Museum of Tropical
North Queensland is the popular Rock Rangers
Space Lab. If you have ever dreamt about traveling
to space this exhibit allows you to travel
beyond our land of earth to view our amazing
planet from space, whilst interacting with
multimedia screens and satellite images. With
the current mining industry booming the display
features new and exhilarating scientific procedures
the current workforce is using in todays world
whilst providing an educated yet fun filled
experience.
Gift Shop
The Museum has a gift shop which features
many intriquiticies from treasured souvenirs,
informative books, postcards, puzzles, childrens
toys and Aboriginal artwork. Ask the friendly
staff to organize postage to anywhere in the
world!
Volunteer Work
If you enjoyed your visit and would like
to continue your interest in the museum volunteer
work is appreciated. Guides are recruited
once a year and more information can be found
by contacting the Volunteer supervisor at
the museum.
If you are a diving enthusiast you must
experience the S.S. Yongala, it will leave you with memories
that will remain forever. It’s certainly a dive experience
you will never forget.
