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See Mammoths the Giants of the Ice Age

This weekend we are going back in time.

42,000 years into the past to be precise. How are we time traveling? Well, we don’t have a Delorean or a Tardis. Personally, this is a tragedy but not the end of the world.

Due to not having any of these fancy time travel machines, we will be roughing it by walking to our destination after parking the car.

How are we time traveling? Well, we don’t have a Delorean or a Tardis. Personally, this is a tragedy but not the end of the world. Due to not having any of these fancy time travel machines, we will be roughing it by walking to our destination after parking the car.

Due to not having any of these fancy time travel machines, we will be roughing it by walking to our destination after parking the car.

Woolly Mammoths Mural. Illustration by Velizar Simeonovski, The Field Museum.
Woolly Mammoths Mural. Illustration by Velizar Simeonovski, The Field Museum.

So where are we off to that requires us to flash back thousands of years?

We are having a sneak peek at the Australian Museum’s latest exhibition. Yes, we are visiting a museum and in a way that means we are being whisked away in time. The kids, hubby and I are going to learn about the Mammoths – Giants of the Ice Age

The Mammoths – Giants of the Ice Age is an exhibition that is in partnership with Destination NSW, the Australian Museum (AAM’s) major exhibition will feature Lyuba , (pronounced Lay – oo – baa ) – a 40,000 – year – old baby woolly mammoth, discovered in 2007 by a Siberian herder and his two sons. This will be the first time the near fully intact baby mammoth has been on display in the southern hemisphere.

Lyuba , (pronounced Lay - oo - baa ) – a 40,000 - year - old baby woolly mammoth.
Lyuba , (pronounced Lay – oo – baa ) – a 40,000 – year – old baby woolly mammoth.

Fancy having history come to life and getting closer to what these animals would have been like.

Australia didn’t have mammoths, so this might be your only chance to see them.

What will you see at the exhibition?

Developed by the internationally renowned Field Museum in Chicago, the exhibition includes a rich collection of fossils, casts and cave drawings showing evidence of how early humans hunted and honoured these massive creatures. Mammoths lived alongside humans for thousands of years and were a source of food for early people, as well as artistic inspiration. Artwork dating from between 35,000 and 10,000 years ago will also be on display in the form of miniature carvings made of bone, stone and mammoth ivory from mammoth tusks. How amazing is it that this artwork has survived.

Did you know? Mammoths are an extinct group of elephants of the genus Mammuthus, whose ancestors migrated out of Africa about 3.5 million years ago.

This image of a human next to mammoths gives you an idea of how big they were. I must say I wouldn't want to be next to one, it would be rather scary.
This image of a human next to mammoths gives you an idea of how big they were. I must say I wouldn’t want to be next to one, it would be rather scary.

I cannot wait to show the kids these amazing and enormous animals. I’m also keen to learn more at the exhibition about what life must have been like alongside this massive creatures. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be close to a mammoth and to learn more about the time, the animals and much more. Make sure that you don’t miss this amazing exhibit from the Australian Museum.

 

What are the dates of The Mammoths Giant of the Ice Age Exhibit

The Mammoths Giants of the Ice Age is open from 19th November 2017 to 13th May 2018

Book your ticket today to see the Mammoths - Giants of the Ice Age at the Australian Museum.
Book your ticket today to see the Mammoths – Giants of the Ice Age at the Australian Museum.

Get tickets to see this amazing event

You can purchase tickets online at the Australian Museum website. Online prices: Adult $10 AM Member, $20 non-Member, Concession $8 AM Member, $16 non-Member, Child 5+ $6 AM Member, $12 non-Member. Kids under 5 go free.   Having this on the list of things to do for the soon to be summer school holidays is a good idea. I always like to have some good places to take the kids that they don’t normally go to often. A museum is a good excuse to stay in the city, relax at a swish hotel and have dinner out. Follow the blog on Instagram to see all the updates at the exhibition and while we are in the city.

A big thank you to The Australian Museum for our invite to look at the exhibit before it officially opens. We are all very excited and cannot wait.

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See the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum

Theban mummy and coffin from the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum. Details of the Egyptian 'mummy' which was exhibited in 'Life Beyond the Tomb' Exhibition, 2005
Theban mummy and coffin from the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum. Details of the Egyptian 'mummy' which was exhibited in 'Life Beyond the Tomb' Exhibition, 2005

I love museums and history.

History was one of my favourite subjects at school. Was it yours as well?

I liked thinking about what it must have been like in ancient Egypt or in the early days of Australia.

Going to a museum allows you to see treasures from explorers like Captain Cook and Sir Douglas Mawson, plus all sorts of other amazing things. It also allows you for a brief moment to experience what it might have been like for the early settlers of Australia, Explorers, allows you to learn more about animals and different cultures.

The Australian Museum has a new permanent exhibition opening tomorrow (14th of October 2017).

Theban mummy and coffin from the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum.
Theban mummy and coffin from the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum.

The exhibition is called: 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum

Not only does the museum have a fantastic new exhibit, they have also restored the oldest part of the museum. Many people worked many hours to preserve the

The Westpac Long Gallery has been restored with a $9 million dollars of funding. This was in equal partnership with Westpac, the NSW Government and the Australian Museum Foundation. Below you can see the drawings and learn how long it has taken to revamp this historical space at the museum. This part of the museum is one of my favourite spaces as it has all the charm of the old original building.

The 100 treasures of history, science, and culture also include:

  • The body of a preserved Thylacine pup, dating back to 1886;
  • The Sydney funnel-web spider responsible for the only recorded human death by this species;
  • A bird-shaped stone pestle made in Papua New Guinea between 3000 and 8000 years ago;
  • A 2800-year-old Egyptian mummy in a wooden coffin painted with mythological scenes;
  • A sledge and ice pick from Sir Douglas Mawson’s expedition to Antarctica, 1911-1914;
  • A prehistoric Irish Elk skeleton with enormous antlers, discovered in peat bog deposits;
  • Australia’s first bank note, issued on April 8, 1817; and
  • A 10-kilogram gold nugget discovered in 1887, the only remaining example of its kind from the early gold-rush years in NSW.

The 100 treasured objects are matched by 100 people who have helped shape the nation through contributions to history, science, nature, sport or culture, such as Cathy Freeman, Sir Donald Bradman, Professor Fred Hollows, Eddie Mabo, Ned Kelly and Kylie Minogue.

 

A great video from The Australian Museum about conserving our treasures

 

DID YOU KNOW?

The Australian Museum marks its 190-year this year.  Happy Birthday Australian Museum, not sure what card or pressie I get you for being 190. Maybe a nice cup of tea and a lunch might do.

The museum is  celebrating by giving free entry to people on their birthday. Spend your birthday at the museum and get in for free. All you need to do is to register for your free voucher (see link above)

 

Eric the opalised pliosaur from the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum.
Eric the opalised pliosaur from the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum.

The Australian Museum 1 William Street, Sydney 

Free after general admission. Adults $15, kids go free

Exploring a museum with kids is always fun. Everyone learns something, sees something new and it is a great day out.

Another reason to love museums is that they are educational, although the learning is not considered learning when it is a fun family day out. (Just don’t tell the kids this!)

 

I hope this gives you another fun place to take the kids or just for you if you wish to see this wonderful exhibition.

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Get Up Close with Dinosaurs

Do you need an idea of where to take the kids? Well this one will keep kids and adults occupied for hours! Yes the whole family will find something of interest. Recently we took the twins to the “Tyrannosaurs, Meet the Family exhibition at The Australian Museum.” It was amazing and very interactive for the kids. So if you need somewhere for the kids that is different and also educational this is a great place to go!

Excited and cannot wait to go and meet the Tyrannosaurs
Excited and cannot wait to go and meet the Tyrannosaurs

 

Here is a sneak peek of what the exhibition is like.


When we all walked in the kids were super excited and we did not know what to expect. There was a walkway and to each side screens with video on them. On the screen was images of Sydney one at the Opera House and the other looks like it is Phillip Street. The video below shows what happened when we went through this walkway to access the exhibition.

I obviously did not care if my kids or hubby were attacked by a dinosaur. I was too busy giggling and filming on my iPhone.

Once we were at the exhibition there were places for the kids to touch dinosaur bones, interact with the screens. This interactive screen allowed you to click on an egg, hatch a baby dinosaur and drag it onto the right time where they would have lived. I had no idea when where to put them but it was very clever and a fun way to get kids interested and involved.

The girls playing with the touch screen.
The girls playing with the touch screen.
There is now a dinosaur on the loose
There is now a dinosaur on the loose

 

A Dinosaur Shadow Comes to Life

Turn the volume up to experience full roar!

The twins were rather shocked that the shadow came to life. The noise was very loud!

We had tickets that allowed us entry at a certain time. I think we could enter at 12.30, so we had time before we went to the Tyrannosaurs exhibition. This allowed us to see the rest of the museum as well. It was a good experience for the kids. In the bone and skeleton section there was a lady with bones and items that kids could touch. She told the kids all about the bones and asked questions of the girls. One thing that she asked the twins was why is it that the pelican bones are so much lighter and more hollow than the elephant or other bones. The answer of course was barbecue pelicans fly and need lighter bones to be in the air. Yes the girls got that one right!

Domestic Bliss. Reading the paper while the dog is at your feet. The cat is chasing a mouse. While the bird is in its cage.
Domestic Bliss. Reading the paper while the dog is at your feet. The cat is chasing a mouse. While the bird is in its cage.
A horseman on his horse. Yeehaa!
A horseman on his horse. Yeehaa!
The girls at one of the skeleton remains of a dinosaur.
The girls at one of the skeleton remains of a dinosaur.

We also looked at some very nice and big lumps of gemstone! Yes I would have loved to have left with a lot of it in my bag. I know it would be obvious I would have it as I could not lift it and therefore, would have to drag my bag out of the building. Plus it is all behind glass and I would not be able to get to it is a big deterrent and of course getting to trouble is BIGGER ONE!

Just amazing and impressive gemstones on display.
Just amazing and impressive gemstones on display.

More About Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family

How much are tickets?

$62 for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids if you buy at the museum on the same day

$57 for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids if you purchase tickets in advance

Kids under 5 are free!

You can see all the museum as well as the Dinosaur exhibit with this ticket. Great value to see everything.

If you are a member of the museum it is cheaper.

When does it end?

The Tyrannosaurs exhibition closes on July 27th. Better get there to experience the fun before it ends.

A Bit of Fun

You can download the Tyrannosaurs Photo Bomb App and enter the competition to win tickets and a trip to Sydney.

Hope this has given you another idea for the kids. After we left the museum we decided to go to the Botanical Gardens so the girls could run around and get some energy released, this worked out well as we had a long trip back to the mountains. I find it best when kids can have some time playing and running around before they get back into a car where they cannot move much and are rather restricted.