MoPA’s Hot Weather Policy

Does MoPA have Air Conditioning?

MoPA operates a network of Children’s Museums and all of the Museums do have air conditioning installed. A host of variables impacts the outcomes each solution delivers to each Museum, and the way that hot weather is best managed. Factors include a building’s age, size and thermal properties, the weather type (humidity or dry heat) and the specifications of the AC system installed. Location-specific details can be found further below.

Similar to the Early Learning and Education sectors, on top of a utilisation strategy for air conditioning, MoPA also employs a Hot Weather Policy to ensure the comfort and safety of all guests, at all times. 

MoPA’s hot weather policy:

1. PROACTIVE MEASURES: Our goal is to ensure that every time you book to visit MoPA, it will be a magical experience. For this reason, when the forecast is exceptionally hot – and we therefore do not have full confidence in our AC’s ability to manage that heat comfortably – we will actually close the Museum on this day, and not allow for tickets to be purchased online for that session. This means that if any time you are able to buy tickets to any given session, it’s because we are 100% confident that the weather on the day that you’re booking for will be manageable. If you are unable to book at any given time, it will be because there are no tickets left for that time, or because a forecast indicates the AC will not be able to keep up.

2. REACTIVE MEASURES: When the weather catches us by surprise (which can happen from time to time!) and this results in an uncomfortable environment, a full credit is available for guests to re-book a visit for another time. We will do our best to contact affected bookings in advance of their visit, but if you do visit the Museum and are not comfortable staying, all you need to do is ask our friendly team within 15-mins of your arrival, and they will happily process a credit for you.  

AIR CONDITIONING AT MoPA Geelong

The building that houses MoPA Geelong has excellent thermal qualities and the evaporative cooling fends off the warmer days well. Our Geelong Museum is blessed with a glorious outdoor space and for safety reasons the doors leading to this area remain open, even on warmer days; as a result, there are some areas of the Museum that will warm up more than others on very hot days.

AIR CONDITIONING AT MoPA Sandringham

Yes, MoPA Sandringham has fully refrigerated air-conditioning. This Museum is a very comfortable environment all year around – both a great escape from the heat but also the perfect rainy-day getaway!

AIR CONDITIONING AT MoPA Thomastown

Yes, MoPA Thomastown now has fully refrigerated air-conditioning installed in the main Museum space, and down both the East and West wings’ of the Museum (which covers all the party rooms, the art rooms, the cinema, the craft room, and all key exhibits). The Museum also has 6 ‘giant thermal fans’ to circulate all the fresh air!

AIR CONDITIONING AT MoPA NUNAWADING

Yes, MoPA Nunawading has fully refrigerated air-conditioning – and enjoys the best-controlled climate of all our Museums. This Museum is therefore a perfectly comfortable environment all year around; it provides a wonderful escape from all extreme cool or hot weather conditions.

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Until FEB 27, Grandparents are FREE at MoPA!!

Why? Because we are celebrating these special humans and the priceless role they play in our children’s development. You ROCK Yaya, and Bubbe, Babushka, Nonnie, Nana, Gran, and おじい 5₺h, Mimi, Meemaw, Nene, Gigi, Glam, Pa, Zayde, Pop, Babu, 4743, and Grandad, Gramps, Abuel; we’ll see you all soon!! 🕺🥳😍
FREE Sunnies!! Whoa… Do. NOT. Miss. This!

Every lil’ munchkin that visits MoPA this summer is invited to sticker-up and take-home their very own pair of personalised sunnies. One of our most popular ever activations - so so so so cute!! 😎❤️
Grandparents are FREE… Right NOW!!! 

QUICK. Call Mum & Dad. Right NOW!!!

Each year we celebrate our wisest, most patient, and most awesomely unconditionally loving family members of all - our dear grandparents!! And we call this special celebration FOREVER YOUNG. (And Yes, our own folks help us name the celebration 🤣)

To celebrate these special humans, we welcome them to the Museum any time and any day, for FREE. No special codes or passwords are required — you’ll see in the checkout that adding grandparents tickets to your booking shows a $0 price. Simple as that.

At this time of year in particular, during these extended holiday breaks and the grown ups ‘return to work’ period into February, we know how many grandparents are chipping in to help juggle family life; but one great example of the integral role our grandparents can play in the family unit. And we hope all our wisest family members take full advantage of this special time of year. 

Ok. So this is happening. All grandparents tickets FREE - right NOW… And right up until February 27th. Yeehah!!
We are soOoOoO proud of our partnership with MacKillop Family Services (MFS). The beautiful families from the MFS Foster Care Community all enjoy free access to our Museum’s all year around and our team have formed some really special friendships with the children and carers that frequent our network of Museums. Some of the most precious memories our team have made in 2025 have been these special interactions. 

This year, some our educators also volunteered their time to support the annual gift appeal, and throughout the uber busy school holiday period we have been collecting donations to help support the huge array of foster care services provided by the MFS community. 

Meeting the families from this community and hearing their stories is one of the most humbling experiences you will ever have. Just so much ❤️ packed into one small organisation. 

If you’re in a position to help, in any capacity, you won’t regret reaching out to learn more. 

Dear @mackillopfamilyservices , from our team to yours, we wish you a safe and happy year ahead full of immeasurable impact on one part of our community here in Australia that needs it the most. You are truly incredible people, and an inspiration to us all. 

xx MoPA 😍
130 million babies came into the world this year (just 300,000 of whom started their lives in Australia). And whilst the world that these bubba’s entered seems less certain than ever, there are some beautiful reassuring certainties that give us reason for incredible optimism for their futures. 

- The love and kindness they have for one another, and the world(s?) they live in, has the potential to make life better for them than it ever has been for us. May we teach them to love and care like no one has before ❤️

- Technology can be scary and challenging, but it also gives us the tools to build an understanding of our existence that our ancestors could only have dreamed, and to do more good with that comprehension in future, than any of us can imagine today 🤖 

- Life is a journey of discovery, adventure and learning. And these bubba’s stand on the shoulders of all of us who came before, to discover, adventure and learn things that will make our hearts soft with pride well beyond our lifetime watching on. 

From the MoPA family to yours, wishing you the most incredible year ahead! May it be full of play, creativity and learning, to pave the way to a bright future. 

x MoPA
❤️ 🕶️ FREE SUNNIES 🕶️ ❤️ (starts TODAY!)

YES... This is happening. It’s a thing! Say hello to “Sticker Sunnies”; Our brand new activation where every little artist that visits MoPA in JAN will choose a pair of sunnies to decorate and take home!* 

Free sunnies for all the kids? Yep.

Stickers, shapes, textures and colour? Yep.

A whole lot of open-ended creativity? You bet ya!

All of MoPA’s activities are designed to inspire learning and creative-exploration through play, and this adorable acitivity is no exception. The kids are gonna LOVE it!
Yes!!! All of our Museum’s 🕍 are open ALL DAY, every single day of the school holidays, including Boxing Day (26/12) New Years Eve (31/12), New Years Day (1/1), and Australia Day (26/1). ❤️
Just…. Adorable. That’s all. ❤️
And YOU get a snow globe, and YOU get a snow globe… WE ALL GET SNOW GLOBES!! 

From now until Christmas eve, every child that visits MoPA is invited to join in and create the most gorgeous DIY take-home snow dome — to display at home, gift to a special someone, or show off at kindy!! 

⛄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ⛄️

FOREVER YOUNG 💛

Grandparents are FREE!!!

Quick, call Mum & Dad! This summer we’re celebrating our wisest (and most patient!) family members, with FREE entry for all grandparents – any day, any time, until Feb 28.

OK, thank you!