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Discovering Ancient Egypt
Book online to secure your preferred time.
Recommended for all ages.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by a carer or guardian.
Please read the subject matter warning before visiting.
About
Journey back through time to explore the mysteries, artistry and rituals from one of the world's most captivating civilisations in Discovering Ancient Egypt.
This remarkable exhibition from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) offers a rare glimpse into the culture, daily life and beliefs practiced in ancient Egypt.
Explore stunning 3D light projections of the Temple of Taffeh, ornate sculptures and design, excerpts from sacred ceremonies including rare Book of the Dead scrolls, precious jewellery and collections of artefacts and artwork that transcend time and exemplify the Egyptian’s famed craftsmanship.
Book online in advance to secure your preferred time. Popular entry times sell out in advance.
Curated events & experiences
Dine in the Temple Bar, learn from an Egyptologist and discover ancient Egypt in a whole new way.
FAQs
The Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) brings archaeology and the ancient world to life with one of the world’s top ten Egyptian collections. Their collections are defined by the age-old civilisations of Egypt, the Classical World, the ancient Near East, and the Netherlands in prehistoric, Roman, and medieval times.
This is not a hands-on exhibition due to the nature of the displays and exhibits. We kindly ask our visitors to take note of the signs and be respectful throughout their visit.
Please allow 60 minutes to experience the exhibition.
Photography is permitted for personal use only, no commercial photography. No flash, tripods or selfie sticks please. No photography of mummified human and animal remains. Please follow sign directions.
Yes, a limited number of season passes are available until sold out. To purchase, select 'Buy a Season Pass' via the exhibition booking page and follow the prompts.
Acknowledgements
The Australian tour of the Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition is a partnership between the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Queensland Museum, the National Museum of Australia and the Western Australian Museum.
The exhibition is supported by the Australian Government International Exhibitions Insurance (AGIEI) Program. The program provides funding for the purchase of insurance for significant cultural exhibitions. Without AGIEI, the high cost of insuring significant cultural items would prohibit this major exhibition from touring to Australia.
Events & Programs
Delve deeper into the Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition with our exciting program of events designed to enhance your museum experience.
Subscribe to stay up to date on when new events and programs are released.
Introduction to Ancient Egypt
Take an introductory course in Egyptology with our weekly series of lectures on Ancient Egypt, delivered by Dr Serena Love.
Expedition: Egypt - the Theban Tombs Project
Join us for this fascinating insight into the world of Egyptian archaeology.
Sensory Friendly Event: Discovering Ancient Egypt
Our Sensory Friendly Sessions offer a relaxed, fun and supportive atmosphere that welcomes people on the autism spectrum or with other access requirements to experience the museum and Discovering Ancient Egypt.
Visit as a school
Bookings are essential for all school and children’s group visits.
A discounted price of $15 per ticket is available for booked groups. A group is identified as 10+ ticketed visitors attending together.
- School group (Prep – Year 12)
- Children’s group (children aged 3 - 15 years)
- Teachers and adult supervisors are FREE within our visit ratios. Extra adult supervisors are charged the discounted adult concession price.
Schools experiencing socio-educational disadvantage (ICSEA below 1000) may be able to book discounted exhibition tickets.
Teacher resources
Discovering Ancient Egypt supports Year 3 - Year 4 HASS, Year 5 - Year 6 HASS, Year 7 History and Ancient History Unit 1 learning areas of the Australian National Curriculum v.9.0.
Download teacher resources here.
- Teacher Resource: Discovering Ancient Egypt HASS Year 3 - Year 4
- Teacher Resource: Discovering Ancient Egypt HASS Year 5 - Year 6
- Teacher Resource: Discovering Ancient Egypt History Year 7
- Teacher Resource: Discovering Ancient Egypt Ancient History Senior syllabus Unit 1
Upcoming events
Museum Meet Up Term 4: Ancient Egypt & Archaeology
Explore this unique school program with a focus on The Ancient World and Science as a Human Endeavour. Suitable for Year 7.
This Masterclass program is a whole-day package which includes a Curator presentation, visit to Discovering Ancient Egypt and interactive mummification workshop.
Curriculum links available (Year 7 History and Science v8.4 & 9.0).
Bookings available in October and November 2024. Spaces are limited.
Queensland Museum Kurilpa Educators Evening
You're invited to an after-school hours opportunity to learn about out 2025 program for schools, with exclusive previews to Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition and an exclusive visit into the science centre, SparkLab.
Thursday 14 November 2024. Bookings essential.
Museum Meet Up Term 4 Masterclass: Ancient Egypt & Archaeology
Spend a day at Queensland Museum Kurilpa with this immersive learning opportunity focussed on Ancient Lives and Science as a Human Endeavour.
Educators Evening
An after-school hours opportunity for teachers and educators to learn about out 2025 program for schools, with exclusive previews to Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition and the science centre, SparkLab.
QM Loans
Become a QM Loans subscriber and borrow curriculum aligned kits of museum specimens from QM Loans to engage learners in your classroom. A range of subscriptions are available for schools and community groups.
QM Loans
Borrow museum objects to connect learners with Queensland’s diverse cultures, histories and natural environments.
Discovering Ancient Egypt self-guided tours
Discovering Ancient Egypt is a new exhibition from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities that presents more than 220 fascinating objects spanning over 3,000 years of society and culture.
Take a free self-guided audio or Auslan tour, before, during or after your visit. Please bring your own headphones and use your device to connect to the museum's free wifi.
Self-guided tour
Discover more about the exhibition’s most intriguing objects, as chosen by our curators, and presented by Egyptian–Australian actor Helana Sawires.
Kids tour
Join guides Cleocatra the cat and Ahmose the ba bird as they explore the exhibition. Perfect for kids and families.
Auslan tour
Discover more about the exhibition’s most intriguing objects, as chosen by our curators and signed by Expression Australia.
Discovering Ancient Egypt Competition
Win a $1,000 Queensland Museum voucher to shop like Egyptian royalty in our retail space.
When you visit Discovering Ancient Egypt, we’re giving one lucky winner the chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree at Queensland Museum Kurilpa’s retail space. The prize includes:
- 1 x $1,000 Queensland Museum Shop voucher (valid for 12 months from issue date).
This competition runs between Thursday 24 October 2024 and Monday 18 August 2025. The winner will be drawn Friday 22 August 2025 and notified by phone or email by Friday 29 August 2025.
Book your tickets to Discovering Ancient Egypt and don’t forget to enter the competition at the end of your visit. Good luck!
Read the competition Terms and Conditions.
Find out more about Queensland Museum’s Privacy Policy.
Additional information
Please be advised that this exhibition includes sensitive subject matter, including the display of human and animal remains. In a separate gallery, there are five mummified individuals, the woman Ta(net)kharu or Tadis, the young girl Sensaos, the man Harerem, an unknown male and an unknown female.
Visitors have the option to bypass this gallery if they prefer.
While these remains are in the Museum’s care, we honour them with respect and dignity. We have consulted with First Nations groups and Egyptian–Australian communities about their display.
We approach this matter with a deep sense of responsibility and the trust placed in us. The existence of these remains encourages contemplation of profound questions about life, death, and the evolution of funerary rites and practices over time.
We hope the exhibition prompts visitors to reflect on these same big questions.
We offer a range of downloadable accessibility and sensory resources for moving around the museum, to help plan your visit.
You can discover more about the exhibition’s most intriguing objects during your visit with our Discovering Ancient Egypt Auslan tour, signed by Expression Australia.
For accessibility assistance and resources for this exhibition, please visit our accessibility page or contact the museum on (07) 3153 3000.
Learn morePresenting partners
Major partner
Plan your visit
Plan your visit to Queensland Museum Kurilpa, centrally located at the Queensland Cultural Centre, South Bank.
How to get here & parking
Queensland Museum Kurilpa is easily accessible by foot, on public transport or by car.
Accessibility
Accessibility and sensory information to help you plan your visit to Queensland Museum Kurilpa.
What's on
View our calendar of exhibitions, events, activities and school programs.
Introduction to Ancient Egypt
Take an introductory course in Egyptology with our weekly series of lectures on Ancient Egypt, delivered by Dr Serena Love.
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On the 30th anniversary of National Recognition for Australian South Sea Islanders, this exhibition brings into focus the community's tumultuous history and how in its aftermath a new community was born.