There is so much exciting news at the moment – podcasts, dinosaurs, school holiday programs, and more – that it’s easy to miss something amazing. Here’s a round-up of everything that’s caught my attention lately. If you have any hot tips, please share them in the comments or over on our Facebook page!
The new issue of Travel Without Limits is here!
Of course, this is the biggest news in the Jones household this month: the Spring/Summer 2023 issue of Travel Without Limits is finally here! We’ve been working around the clock to make sure it’s full to the brim with information and inspiration for travels around the world. If you’ve enjoyed following along with our Gold Coast adventures this year, you’ll be pleased to hear this issue has a comprehensive accessibility guide for Queensland’s iconic beach. You can get a sneak peek at everything in the Spring/Summer issue here, and get your copy here.
Dinosaurs are coming back to life at the Australian Museum
Did you know that the Australian Museum runs a Dinosaur Festival every year for the Spring school holidays? Whether it’s your first year visiting or your fifth, the 2023 festival is going to be one for the ages!
It all starts with Hologram Dinosaurs, which runs from 2 November – 15 October in Hintze Hall. This virtual installation takes visitors into pre-historic environments, where they can encounter and interact with herds of dinosaurs in their natural habitats. They’ve used cutting-edge hologram technology to bring the dinosaurs and their environs to life, without the need to wear VR headsets.
Hologram Dinosaurs will be followed by a bumper line-up of dinosaur-themed events over September and October, including:
- T.rex Autopsy: peel back the skin and dive deep inside one of the Earth’s most mysterious creatures, and discover how these massive 66-million-year-old lizard monsters may have lived.
- Dinosaurs Down Under: adventure into prehistoric Australia to learn how local dinosaurs walked, swam, flew, slithered and crawled.
- Jurassic Poo: a hilarious, seriously stinky, and highly informative adventure into the origin of… well, poo!
- Paleo Illustration workshops: become a paleo artist, combining your imagination with scientific evidence to illustrate dinosaur discoveries
Access is excellent at the Australian Museum for visitors of all ages. There are ramps/lifts to move between areas and exhibitions. They have a Changing Places bathroom on Level 2 with hoist, adult-sized change table and push button access, as well as standard wheelchair accessible toilets on all public gallery floors. The Museum also provides a Visual Story, advice on quiet times to visit, and support for people wearing Hidden Disability Sunflower Lanyards.
Find out more about all the amazing Dinosaur Festival events and book tickets on the Australian Museum website.
Talking accessible travel on Accessed That
Another great step forward in Queensland’s Year of Accessible Travel: a brand-new podcast! The Accessed That podcast series explores what it’s really like to travel with a disability. Over 11 episodes, travellers with a range of disabilities share their stories of having ‘been there, accessed that’. The goal is to “inspire travel without limitation”, which is definitely something I can get behind!
The conversations are hosted by Oliver Hunter (an award-winning stand-up comedian who lives with Cerebral Palsy), and Karni Liddell (a Paralympic swimmer and TV presenter who was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy as a child).
Keep an eye out for a forthcoming episode featuring a very special guest… yours truly!
Accessed That is streamed via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, with new episodes dropping every Monday. There are also transcripts available, plus bonus content, on the podcast website.
More school holiday fun at the Australian National Maritime Museum
You all know that our transport-loving guy loves the Australian National Maritime Museum. He won’t be the only one having a great time there with their school holiday activity line-up!
From 24 September – 8 October, the Museum will be running a bunch of special programs to inspire and educate kids and kids-at-heart.
- Kids On Deck: sculpt, collage, and weave your own amazing artworks and take home slippery and spectacular science experiments
- Story Sundays and Weaving Wednesdays: cultural activities facilitated by First Nations artists and elders, with stories, music, and weaving workshops
- Young Inventors: learn about different vessels and how they work, then invent your very own!
- Rock The Boat: create and star in your own imaginative music video inspired by the Museum’s vessels and exhibitions
- Cabinet of Curiosities: explore wonderful and curious specimens, tools, art works, and materials in this hands-on gallery activity
Plus lots more! There’s a complete program guide available on the Museum website, and answers to access questions on the Accessibility page.
