ANTOPIA: A FANTASTIC ADVENTURE INTO ONE OF NATURE’S GREATEST MARVELS

Get ready to explore a hidden world beneath our feet, where you will shrink down to the size of an ant and experience a day in the life of the miniscule yet mighty insect when Antopia opens at Melbourne Museum this Saturday 14 December.

Antopia is an immersive digital adventure for all ages that brings to life the awe and wonder of nature’s little giants through a kaleidoscope of multisensory installations, interactive projections, atmospheric soundscapes and stunning imagery.

Developed in-house by Museums Victoria, the creators of 2022’s award-winning exhibition Tyama, Antopia pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in a museum, embracing new ways of communicating through the contemporary fusion of art and science.

Ants may be small, but don’t let their size fool you. These insects live in sprawling, multi-generational colonies where thousands – even millions – of ants work collectively as a single superorganism. Their subterranean societies are bustling communities that thrive on teamwork and the efficient division of labor, where every ant contributes to the success of the colony through foraging, building, protecting the nest and caring for the young. At the beating heart of it all is the queen, orchestrating the colony’s growth and ensuring its survival.

Essential to the success of the superorganism is the intricate system of invisible senses ants use to communicate. Ants lay pheromone trails, chemical signals that act like the colony’s GPS, to organise, navigate and harmonise colony life.

Antopia vividly brings pheromone trails to life with luminous swirls of colour, revealing a secret world of senses, and a reality beyond human perception.

As the ants’ special guests, visitors enter through a portal that shrinks them down to ant-size as they are welcomed into the superorganism.

Visitors will follow the pheromone trails and immerse themselves in the inner workings of their underground universe, from the bustling activities of worker ants, to cultivating food in the fungus farm, joining scouts on outdoor expeditions, caring for the next generation of ants in the nursery and stepping into the queen’s chamber.

Museums Victoria CEO and director Lynley Crosswell said, ‘Antopia ignites curiosity and passion for the natural world. Through innovative, playful and experiential storytelling, visitors big and small will be blown away by the eye-opening new perspectives they will gain from this captivating exhibition.’

On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December, be among the first to discover the brilli-ant new exhibition by joining the Antopia Opening Weekend celebrations with Tiny Tours, roving puppets and Polyglot Theatre’s enchanting interactive performance featuring giant ants as big as humans.

‘Antopia is an incredible opportunity for families to explore the hidden world of ants and discover the magic of nature through cutting-edge technology and storytelling. Melbourne Museum continues to inspire curiosity and connection with the natural world through its unique exhibitions and engaging programs,’ said Parliamentary Secretary for Creative Industries Katie Hall.

At IMAX, Bugs 3D: Micro Monsters brings the incredible superpowers of ants, scorpions and beetles to the giant screen. Come face-to-face with some of the natural world’s most incredible creatures – Australian Green Tree Ants that build intricate nests, massive Goliath Beetles locked in an epic battle for a mate and a luminescent Scorpion who dances under the moonlight, all in epic 3D.

For kids curious about our small, hardworking neighbours, Museums Victoria Publishing’s newly released An Ant’s Guide to Being an Ant is a picture book dedicated to improving ant PR. Backed by Museums Victoria’s expert entomologists, this playful and humorous book reveals 11 rules of ant life, guaranteed to have readers inviting ants to their next picnic rather than shooing them away.

Museums Victoria Research Institute senior curator of entomology Dr Ken Walker said, ‘Ants are much like humans: we both build cities; rear our young until adulthood; farm animals; gather, grow and store food; and we even both have designated cemeteries. While an ant colony may look like chaos, every individual has a job – and every individual communicates through pheromones that allow the colony to be connected all of the time.’

Families looking to upsize their summer school holidays can visit Melbourne Museum for a range of fun and interactive programs and events that bring the miniature world of insects to life that encourage imaginative play, collaboration and an appreciation for the interconnectedness of life.

Don’t miss your chance to inhabit the hidden realm of ants in a transformative journey that will redefine the way you see our shared planet and reveal the extraordinary beauty that lies right beneath your feet.

Antopia: Explore a world of secret senses
Open: Saturday 14 December 2024 – Monday 10 March 2025
Location: Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Tickets: Tickets on sale now at Melbourne Museum and online
Members: $19 | Flexible ticket: $39 | Adult: $33 | Concession: $28 | Children: $23
Tickets should be prebooked as entry is timed, flexible entry tickets are available. Tickets include general admission to Melbourne Museum featuring Bugs Alive!, Forest Gallery, Gandel Gondwana Garden and Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs

Antopia summer school holidays programming at Melbourne Museum

Antopia Opening Weekend 
Saturday 14 December – Sunday 15 December | 10.00am–2.00pm | Included with general entry to Melbourne Museum; Antopia ticket is an optional add-on

Join in the opening weekend celebrations for Antopia with Tiny Tours, interactive story time and puppet performances from Polyglot Theatre.

Bugs 3D: Micro Monsters at IMAX 
Saturday 14 December – Monday 10 March | Single ticket from $12–$26.50 | Bugs 3D: Micro Monsters and Antopia timed entry available | Adult: $48 | Concession: $40 | Child: $35 | Member: $29 | Tickets include general entry to Melbourne Museum | Tickets on sale now

Discover the incredible superpowers of ants, scorpions, beetles and many more micro monsters in IMAX 3D! Come face-to-face with some of the natural world’s most incredible creatures – Australian Green Tree Ants that build intricate nests, massive Goliath Beetles locked in an epic battle for a mate and a luminescent Scorpion who dances under the moonlight.

Creative Lab – Antopia
Thursday 2 January – Saturday 25 January | $10–$12, bookings essential
This ticket does not include entry to Melbourne Museum or Antopia; tickets available separately

Designed for children aged 5 to 12, this is a hands-on, creative workshop bringing the miniature world of ants to life with interactive activities and imagination. Children will have the opportunity to see a live ant colony and create a one-of-a-kind ant diorama.

Tiny Tours: Ant to Apple
Saturday 14 December – Sunday 15 December, and Fridays from 3 January to 7 March | 10am–10.45am | $19–$33 | Includes general entry to Melbourne Museum and Antopia | Bookings essential

Discover the unseen heroes of our food system – ants and other insects! This tour takes young explorers on a journey to learn how insects support everything from pollination to pest control. Children and adults will get to explore Antopia, Forest Gallery, Gandel Gondwana Garden and Bugs Alive!. 

Ants by Polyglot Theatre
Wednesday 8 January – Saturday 25 January (excluding 13, 14 and 20 January) | 10.00am (outdoors on Museum Plaza, free) | 11.00am, 1.00pm, 2.00pm (indoors in foyer) | Free with museum entry

Join the interactive adventure of Ants. Kick off each day with a free performance on the Museum Plaza, before heading inside for an exciting lineup of performances within Melbourne Museum. Giant ants invite children into a whimsical experience filled with curious insects. As kids collaborate, a captivating world unfolds, transforming everyday spaces into magical landscapes. This enchanting performance explores the nature of work and how children connect with their surroundings.

This season of Ants is supported by the City of Melbourne.

Antenna Antics 
Wednesday 8 January – Saturday 25 January, excluding 13, 14 and 20 January | 9.30am –2.30pm | Includes general entry to Melbourne Museum

Embrace your inner ant and create and wear a fun paper headband with special antennae to discover how ants communicate and survive. This hands-on activity perfectly complements the Antopia exhibition, gearing you up for the enchanting Ants performance by Polyglot Theatre.