What's On at the Australian National Maritime Museum this Australia Day

Don't miss the Australian National Maritime Museum this Australia Day (26 January). To celebrate this special day, the museum is offering a full program of activities including a discount on its major attractions, on-water experiences on Sydney Harbour, pop up exhibitions and a thought provoking roof projection.

For Australia Day only the museum is offering families the opportunity to spend the day enjoying a sample of its most popular attractions for the special price of $24 per adult, $14.40 per child or $60 per family. Included in this Australia Day Experience ticket is the brand new $12 million interactive Action Stations experience, lifting the lid on life in the Royal Australian Navy, Daring class destroyer HMAS Vampire, submarine Onslow (subject to availability) the major new interactive exhibition Horrible Histories: Pirates and the Shackleton exhibition. The museum's waterside café Yots will be serving Australia Day specials throughout the day.

For those who would like to spend the day on the water, there's still the opportunity to join in the action on Sydney Harbour on board the museum's magnificent Endeavour replica which will be sailing out to watch the parade, take part in the famous Tall Ships Race and will call into Circular Quay for the festivities. Spaces on the Endeavour Australia Day sail are $250 each and include a full day of entertainment, morning tea and picnic lunch. Or for families there is an exclusive charter to enjoy the action on the harbour for $175 per family (BYO picnic, with complimentary tea and coffee). For more information or to book call 9298 3777.

If you are out and about in Circular Quay, look out for two National Maritime Museum pop up exhibitions at the Overseas Passenger Terminal where the museum honors our first nations peoples by showcasing extensive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs with an Indigenous canoe building demonstration and a panel display and videos about traditional watercraft and canoe culture around Australia. In addition, an intimate panel and digital exhibition will tell migration stories from the museum's Welcome Wall which stands in honour of those who have come from overseas to make Australia home.

The day will culminate with the Waves of Migration projection on the museum's roof exploring the history of migration to Australia and the compelling stories of those who've come across the seas.

Launching on Australia Day and running after dark until 14 February is the thought-provoking 8 -minute animated projection, weaving together Australia's rich tapestry of migration.