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  • 9am–5pm
  • Free general admission

Join Friends for member benefits including events and discounts in our Cafe and Shop.

Let’s be Friends

Tailor your one-year membership with individual or group options.

Renew

Members using this system for the first time will need to reset their password using the ‘Forgot your password?’ button.

Once your account has been reset and you're logged in, select Memberships to purchase the renewal.

Renew your membership

Join Friends

Follow these steps to join Friends.

Step 1 Choose your membership type: standard or exhibition
Step 2

Create an account

Step 3 Add members (optional)
Step 4 Pay for your membership    

Standard memberships start at $50. Add additional members for $20 per member.

Buy new standard membership

Exhibition memberships start at $100. Add additional Exhibition Members for $70 per member.

Exhibition Members enjoy unlimited access to paid exhibitions. Any children listed on an exhibition membership also receive free entry to paid exhibitions.

Buy new exhibition membership

Existing Friends members

Members must log in to access Friends pricing when booking tickets.

BenefitsStandardExhibition
10% discount at the Museum Shop and Cafe

Discounted entry to Museum exhibitions and events

Free entry to the Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre (for adults and children listed on a membership)
Subscription to the Museum’s magazine
Exclusive tours, previews and programs
Behind-the-scenes access to curators, conservators and other Museum staff
Access to our lakeside Friends Lounge
Unlimited access to paid exhibitions (also applies to any children listed on membership)  

Present your Friends card to receive free general admission and discounts at partner institutions. Terms and conditions apply – please contact institution for more information.

NSW

  • Australian Museum, Sydney
  • Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney
  • Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

Qld

  • Queensland Museum, South Bank, Brisbane, including SparkLab plus:
    • Workshops Rail Museum, Ipswich
  • Museum of Tropical Queensland, Townsville

Vic

  • Museums Victoria, Melbourne:
    • Melbourne Museum
    • Immigration Museum
    • Scienceworks

SA

  • South Australian Museum, Adelaide

Friends enjoy free access to the Sharing Stories series of special events.

Event Sharing Stories: First Nations directions Time: 11am–12pm Date: Friday, June 26, 2026 Ticket information: Free, bookings essential Ticket information: Book tickets

Meet Dr Jilda Andrews, Deputy Director First Nations at the Museum. Join us as Jilda outlines the commitment to integrating First Nations stories, material, content, perspective, culture and ideas in the work we do, and hear how future strategy will safeguard communities as the authority of their histories and cultural knowledge to deliver an inclusive national narrative.

Event Sharing Stories: Heart of Ice Time: 12pm–1pm Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 Ticket information: Costs apply, bookings essential

Transform how you think about Antarctica’s ice – its sheets, glaciers, shelves and sea ice – in this compelling talk by environmental historian Dr Joy McCann. Joy's latest book is Heart of Ice: A journey into Antarctica's frozen realm. Friends go free!  Join Friends

Sharing Stories: Bringing Antarctica to life Time: 11am–12pm Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026 Ticket information: Costs apply, bookings essential

Discover how the Museum’s new Antarctica exhibition evolved from first ideas to final realisation in this behind-the-scenes chat with curator Dr Laura Cook. Friends go free! Join Friends

2026 Book Club reading list

February

Rose: The Extraordinary Story of Rose de Freycinet by Suzanne Falkiner, ISBN 9780733342356

Buy in Museum Shop

March

Warra Warra Wai: How Indigenous Australians Discovered Captain Cook by Darren Rix and Craig Cormick, ISBN 9781761424021

Buy in Museum Shop

Who needs to be on my membership?

Anyone who will be visiting the Museum. Children 0–16 years old need to be accompanied by an adult and should be included on your membership.

Do I need to pay for my child who is 6 months old?

Children under the age of 1 are free, however they need to be included on your membership to enjoy access to the Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre.

Are there benefits for children?

Children from birth to 6 years enjoy free entry to the Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre. Children must be listed on your membership to enjoy events and programs for their age group.

What benefits do I get when upgrading to Exhibition Member?

Exhibition Members enjoy unlimited access to paid exhibitions. Any children listed on an Exhibition membership also receive free entry to paid exhibitions.

Is free parking included in my membership?

No. Parking is monitored weekdays by the National Capital Authority. We encourage visitors to check the short-stay and long-stay signs and to contact the NCA for more details.

Parking is free for all visitors on weekends and public holidays and always for limited mobility spaces and motorbikes.

How do I check my membership status?

To check your membership status log in to your account online. You may also contact the Friends team on 6208 5108 or email friends@nma.gov.au

Can I add people to my membership midway through my membership?

We recommend including additional members at the time of your membership renewal. However, if you wish to add people to your current membership, please contact the Friends team on 6208 5108 or email friends@nma.gov.au

General terms and conditions

  • Friends membership is valid until the expiry date printed on your membership card.
  • Membership is not transferable or refundable.
  • There is an additional cost for child members between 1 and 16 years of age. Children under the age of 1 are free.
  • Memberships are capped at 10 members.
  • You must produce your membership card to obtain the benefit.
  • Member prices, events, benefits, reciprocal arrangements and terms are subject to change at the Museum’s discretion.
  • It is your responsibility to notify the Museum of any change of address or contact information.
  • If your card is lost or stolen, please notify us as soon as possible to organise a replacement card.
  • The Museum has no control over the reciprocal benefits offered by other museums and galleries, or special offers made by our external partners. The Museum is not responsible for any changes to benefits or offers made by those organisations.

Discovery Centre

  • Free entry to the Discovery Centre applies only to the children listed on your membership.

Exhibition members

  • Upgrades to Exhibition membership are per member, per year.
  • Free entry to paid exhibitions applies to children listed on your membership.

Where to find us

Friends Lounge
Lawson Cres, Acton Peninsula
Canberra ACT 2601

Membership enquiries

9.30am to 4.30pm weekdays
Phone +61 2 6208 5108
Email friends@nma.gov.au

Bookings

Weekdays
Phone +61 2 6208 5021

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