2yo - Melbourne museum or Melbourne zoo?

So, DS2 is about to turn 2!!

I am taking the morning off, and don't need to be at work until 2pm.

Deciding between two options: Melbourne museum or Melbourne zoo.

He LOVES dinosaurs, but I'm not sure how long the dinosaur room will keep him occupied, and I don't know if he's too little to get much out if the bugs room or the kids room.

I hear there's a great playground though.

He loves the zoo - but we have an annual pass, and can go anytime.

DS1 will love either.

Thoughts ?

How did you 2yo fare at the museum?

I hven't taken the girls to the museum, but exDH did, again only a few weeks ago.
The first time he took DD2 she was 2 and loved it.

May I suggest a third option, though? Both my girls have always *adored* SciTech and Scinece Works and have gone from a young age - so I would suggest Science Works as a great and interactive place that will keep them both amused.

My son always enjoyed the museum. The hands on kids area is fun, and he loved all the stuffed animals and phar lap. The outdoor path is fun and playing outside at the cafe is fun. It's a great place.

For another option- we always had a great time with him at the aquarium. He loved the penguins and the big tanks. It's great for little ones :)

I say museum. I have taken both mine since they were crawling. I find the zoo tiring, but the museum you can sit and watch them play. The kids area is great for toddlers too. My kids love the rainforest walk and the dinosaurs and the giant squid bit. We go upstairs to see phar lap too.

I vote zoo.

We were in Melbourne just 2 weeks ago and had planned to do the Zoo but it was far too hot so we went to the museum and both our girls loved it - so did we. DD1 is nearly 4.5 yrs and DD2 turned 2 in mid Dec.

The Melbourne Zoo is beautiful though and both our girls LOVE going to our zoo (we are members so just pop in regularly) so that would be my pick if the weather is favourable. Take a stroller though, it's big!

We've also been to the Aquarium when DD1 was 2.5 yrs and she loved it. She still talks about it! So that's another great option if it's hot or raining and therefore no good for the Zoo.

Both are great fun weather dependant thought, Zoo is great can run and explore. Museum the kids space is great fun and can touch and climb on things, the dinosaurs and bugs. Also if you go upstairs and see phar lap and the little house is fun as well. Explore the rainforests and find the lizards and the Aboriginal gardens are nice as well.

Looking at weather I say museum

DH and I went to Melbourne last year and did both, I'm studying to be a zoo keeper so I vote the zoo but I also loved the museum and we've said we'll take the kids sometime this year. DS2 is 2 and I no he'd love the museum just as much as the zoo, so our decision would be weather dependant also, have fun either way :)

I would pick museum - there is so much hands on stuff for 2 year olds at the museum and like Arcadia says is pretty easy too. The zoo is great of course, (and keepers kids is indoors) but I would pick the museum - Scienceworks is great too but if you have to be at work by 2:00 the museum or zoo don't have that added travel time.

Apologies for not reading through all the replies, so may be repeating here. But, our two boys have each been taken to Scienceworks for their 2nd birthday and we have all had a great time! There is heaps of interactive displays to explore, plus there is two playgrounds and a cafe.

I love scienceworks, but we're saving that for when we have a whole day - we can go in later, to avoid peak hour, and I won't have to rush off to get to work :)

The aquarium is too expensive (same goes for Pollywoodside and Puffing Billy). The Collingwood Childrens' Farm was the other vague thought, but it's the same with the driving - with the zoo and the museum (particularly the museum) it's just a tram ride down to work afterwards, rather than having to allow time to leave, get to the car, get to work, etc...

Thanks for all the comments! I think I'm leaning towards the museum ... :)

If I was to choose between the zoo and museum, I would go the museum :) Just because it wouldn't matter about the weather, I know they have a cool kids area and not as overwhelming as maybe the zoo might feel.

Also, we have a FORZ pass (my parents' annual Christmas prezzie to the boys) so DH can take them anytime the wind moves them - and if they've had enough after a couple if hours, there's no great pressure to stay and get more "value" out of it. We've already gone to Melbourne and Werribee zoos once, and Healesville 3-4 times since Christmas. It's awesome value.

You wont regret the museum :)

We had an annual pass for the aquarium and that made the price worth it. My son enjoyed it more than the zoo when he was little as everything was closer and easier to see.

The annual pass to the museum is well worth it too - it was $70 for family pass - and we have been 3 times to the museum and 1 to scienceworks, we got 2 free tickets to the Bond exhibit when got the annual pass which would have cost 22 dollars each so - we have easily made our money back in the 3 months have had it. It also gives you a discount on the parking underneath if you need it which is good (we went to the museum on a couple of those really hot days - so drove there instead of going on PT as would normally) - you also don't need to be going to the museum to use the parking discount - e.g. just the IMAX, or stuff on at the exhibition building.

For Future Reference
We have done Pollywoodside when DD was younger, I think they get more out of it when they are older (Entertainment book has voucher to bring cost down). Puffing Billy also has voucher in entertainment book as does the Aquarium which can make quite a bit cheaper.

Thanks!!