Updated in October 2026, this WA Museum Boola Bardip guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
WA Museum Boola Bardip is the Western Australian Museum’s main museum in the Perth Cultural Centre, in central Perth. General admission costs $15 for adults and is free for visitors aged 15 and under, and the museum has no car park of its own. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the current admission prices, the public holiday hours and the public transport routes.
Quick facts: WA Museum Boola Bardip
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 9.30am to 5pm daily. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day. |
| Ticket prices | Adult $15. Concession $10. Junior (15 and under) free. Special exhibitions cost extra. |
| Address | Perth Cultural Centre, Perth WA 6000 |
| Nearest transport or parking | Perth Station is a 200 m walk. No on-site parking. Public car parks are nearby. |
| Typical time needed | About 2 to 3 hours |
WA Museum Boola Bardip opening hours
The museum is open every day from 9.30am to 5pm. The hours are the same all year, and there are no seasonal changes. Public holiday hours differ:
- Good Friday and Christmas Day: closed.
- Anzac Day: open from 1pm to 5pm.
- Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and all other public holidays: open 9.30am to 5pm.
The Epoch café is on the ground level facing Beaufort Street and is open seven days. The Museum Shop is at the main entrance on the ground level.
WA Museum Boola Bardip ticket prices
General admission to WA Museum Boola Bardip costs $15 for an adult. It gives access to all permanent exhibitions. Special exhibitions and events may charge an extra fee.
- Standard general admission: $15.
- Concession: $10, for students, seniors, health care card holders and Veteran Gold Card holders.
- Junior (15 years and under): free.
- Carers: free with a valid WA Companion Card.
- Members: free with membership.
- Special exhibitions and events: prices vary.
A WA Museum membership gives unlimited general admission to the museums of your choice for 12 months. It starts from as little as $15.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
5 great things to do in Perth
- 🚲 Take the ferry to Rottnest Island – then cycle to the beaches and quokkas.
- 🌌 Dine in the desert and go stargazing – on an evening Pinnacles tour.
- 🐬 Swim with wild dolphins – on a wildlife adventure to Rockingham.
- 🍷 Combine a Swan River cruise with wine-tasting in the Swan Valley.
- 🏟️ Go behind the scenes – on an Optus Stadium tour.
How to get to WA Museum Boola Bardip
The museum is in the Perth Cultural Centre, a short walk from Perth Station. It is about 200 m from the station through the Cultural Centre.
- By train: Perth Station is served by the Armadale, Fremantle, Joondalup, Mandurah and Midland lines and the Australind service.
- By bus: inbound buses stop on Beaufort Street at stop 26623. Routes include 41, 42, 48, 55, 60, 66, 67, 68 and 950.
- Outbound by bus: buses leave from Beaufort Street stops 12132 and 12131. You can also use the Blue CAT Museum stop.
- By bike: bike racks are throughout the Perth Cultural Centre.
Use the Transperth journey planner for current services.
Parking at WA Museum Boola Bardip
The museum has no parking of its own. Many public car parks are nearby.
- City of Perth State Library car park: the nearest car park with accessible (ACROD) bays.
- City of Perth Cultural Centre car park: the other main car park nearby.
Rates vary, so check each car park’s website before you travel.
How long to spend at WA Museum Boola Bardip
Plan about 2 to 3 hours for the permanent exhibitions. This allows time for the main galleries and a stop at the café. Visitors who add a special exhibition or the daily Otto’s Symphony session should allow longer.
The GOGO Digital Guide uses QR codes around the museum to unlock extra stories and content. Use it to focus on the exhibitions that interest you most.
Accessibility at WA Museum Boola Bardip
The museum is fully accessible. All entry points have universal access, and six public lifts serve the levels.
Wheelchairs and walking aids can be borrowed from the information desk. A tactile map and a braille visitor guide are free to borrow from the same desk. Gender neutral, female, male and universal access toilets are on each level, with baby change in each universal access restroom.
A parenting room on the ground floor has a sink, microwave and filtered water. Privacy pods for feeding babies and young children are on levels two and three. Quiet Hour sessions support children and adults with autism and sensory needs. Resources were created with the Autism Association of Western Australia.
Assistance animals are welcome. Ask at the information desk for a bed, water bowl or waste bag. Specialised tours run throughout the year. Email reception@museum.wa.gov.au for details. Public Wi-Fi is available, and lost property is handled at the information desk.
What to see at WA Museum Boola Bardip
The museum has eight permanent exhibitions in three themes: Being Western Australian, Discovering Western Australia and Exploring the World. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices run through all of them.
WA Treasures Gallery shows highlights from the State’s collections. A blue whale skeleton hangs above visitors. Ngalang Koort Boodja Wirn in the Wesfarmers Gallery explores “our heart, Country, spirit”.
Origins covers land, water and sky and includes a colourful mineral tunnel. Wild Life shows nature’s diversity, including coral specimens. Changes looks at transforming landscapes.
Reflections shares the stories of Western Australians. Innovations in the Rio Tinto Gallery shows creative minds and amazing ideas. Connections in the Tianqi Lithium Gallery looks at Western Australia’s place in the world.
Otto’s Symphony lets visitors experience Otto the blue whale skeleton with an original composition by the Perth Symphony Orchestra. It is listed daily at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm.
Curious Kids programs run daily for children under five. They include sensory play, storytelling and hands-on discovery.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive for Otto’s Symphony at 10.30am, 12.30pm or 2.30pm, or ask at the information desk about times. |
| Crowds | Quiet Hour sessions offer a lower-sensory visit. Lounge seating is outside all exhibitions. |
| Layout | The museum has several levels served by six lifts. A visitor map is available on the museum’s website. |
| Entry process | Buy tickets at the museum or online. Large bags and backpacks must go in cloaking at the information desk. |
| On-site logistics | Food and drink are not allowed inside exhibitions. Photography is allowed, but flash is not. |
Frequently asked questions about WA Museum Boola Bardip
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is WA Museum Boola Bardip free to enter? | No for adults. General admission is $15. Visitors aged 15 and under enter free. |
| Is WA Museum Boola Bardip suitable for children? | Yes. Junior entry is free, and the museum runs daily Curious Kids programs for under 5s. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for WA Museum Boola Bardip? | No booking is needed for general admission. Special exhibitions and some events need tickets. |
| Is WA Museum Boola Bardip open on Sundays? | Yes. The museum is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm, except Good Friday and Christmas Day. |
| Are bags allowed at WA Museum Boola Bardip? | Small bags are allowed. Large bags, backpacks and bulky items must be cloaked at the information desk. |
Things to do near WA Museum Boola Bardip
- Art Gallery of Western Australia: the state art gallery, also in the Perth Cultural Centre.
- State Library of Western Australia: the state library, in the Perth Cultural Centre. Its car park is the nearest to the museum with accessible bays.
- Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts: a contemporary art space in the Perth Cultural Centre.
- Perth Station: the main rail hub, about 200 m from the museum.
- Northbridge: the dining and entertainment district directly north of the Perth Cultural Centre.
Alternative attractions
- WA Maritime Museum, Fremantle: a maritime museum on Victoria Quay Road with the America’s Cup winner Australia II and the submarine HMAS Ovens, about 25 minutes from Perth by train.
- WA Shipwrecks Museum, Fremantle: a museum on Cliff Street with objects from wrecks along the Western Australian coast.
- Scitech: a hands-on science centre at the City West Centre in West Perth.
- Perth Mint: a heritage mint at 310 Hay Street with tours and a gold pour.
- Wadjemup Museum, Rottnest Island: a museum in the Old Mill and Hay Store about the island’s natural and human history.
More Perth travel
Other Perth travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Visitor tips for the Western Australian Botanic Garden in Perth.
- Practical Perth beach guides: Plan a visit to Scarborough Beach, Cottesloe Beach or Coogee Beach.
- Quokkas by the beach on Rottnest Island.
- Practical tips for visiting the Caversham Wildlife Park.
- Why the Swan Valley is a perfect stopover.
