If your idea of a perfect family day out includes happy kids, hands-on learning that actually feels like fun, and something a little out of the ordinary, then WA Museum Boola Bardip should be at the top of your list. A brand-new, world-class exhibition has just arrived, and it’s making a splash.
Introducing OceanXperience, an Australia-first, international exhibition running from April 4th to October 11th. Designed for ocean lovers, curious minds, and families ready for an adventure, this interactive experience transforms a museum visit into an underwater journey far beyond the shoreline.
Inspired by National Geographic’s OceanXplorers documentary series, OceanXperience blends cutting-edge technology, real-world marine research, and interactive displays to bring deep-sea exploration to life. It’s hands-on, visually stunning, and built to spark curiosity, inviting visitors of all ages to step into the world of ocean discovery.
All aboard
A highlight of the exhibition is the opportunity to experience life aboard the OceanXplorer through an interactive recreation of its most vital research spaces. Step into the role of Xplorer, choose your own mission, and move through the ship, exploring the workspaces scientists use to study the ocean every day during deep-sea expeditions.
Start in Mission Control, where live data is transformed into detailed visualisations of the ocean floor, allowing researchers to navigate and investigate underwater ecosystems. On the Bridge, navigation becomes the focus, with over 100 switches and systems used by the crew to steer the vessel, monitor environmental conditions, and track deployed research vessels.
Next, head over to the Wet Lab to see how aquarium technology enables scientists to study live deep-sea organisms while on a mission. The Dry Lab then extends this work with microscopes and genetic sequencers, allowing scientists to use these state-of-the-art tools and to study samples collected in the Wet Lab up close.
Finally, the Sub Hanger showcases deep-sea vehicles such as Nadir and Neptune, along with ROVs and AUVs, highlighting how these technologies allow scientists to reach extreme depths, survey vast areas, and uncover new knowledge about the ocean’s hidden environments.
Explore after hours
Get after-hours access to the OceanXperience exhibition at Dive Bar. A monthly Friday night pop-up bar featuring a fresh mix of marine science experts each month, alongside local musicians inspired by the Indian Ocean, so that you can wind down after work in a way that’s a little different from the usual. The Dive Bar runs from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm, so give yourself enough time to explore everything and catch the entertainment.
Dive deeper
If you’re keen to take things up a notch, there’s also an optional mixed-reality HoloLab experience available to add on to your OceanXperience visit. Using HoloLens technology, you’ll dive even deeper into the world of marine science through holograms and guided interaction. It’s a pretty unique way to see how cutting-edge tech is shaping real-world research… but even without it, there’s more than enough here to fill a few hours.
Beyond the exhibition itself, there’s even more to explore, with additional displays showcasing the WA Museum’s own marine research, plus a lineup of science-themed activities and live events happening throughout the season. It all ties into a bigger picture, helping visitors not just see the ocean, but understand it, and maybe even walk away caring a little more about protecting it.
More information and tickets to the exhibition can be found on the WA Museum website.
