Frequently Asked Questions

What you need to know about participating in the MFDC’s Holiday programs.

We are  looking forward to seeing you all again.

To visit the MFDC or take part in an activity you must have booked in BEFORE you come to visit us.

We have maximum capacity limits of people in place for the MFDC and on activities to make it a more safe, comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Having visitors book their tickers also  allows us to gather contact information which could be crucial in the event that circumstances change suddenly, and we need to contact people quickly.,

How do I book?

Contact us via phone or email.

How do I pay?

Card payments

Credit card details which will be taken, as is our usual practice,  at the time you make the booking.

We are accepting cash to pay for your visit to the MFDC.

What happens if I or one of my booked group is unwell?

If you are unwell, please stay at home.

Please ring us or email us to tell us and we cancel the booking.

You will not be charged.

What happens if we are unable to attend, for another reason?

Please call us on 5258-3344, as soon as you know so we can give others on the waiting list an opportunity to attend.

If you do not tell us you cannot come, you will be charged.

When will I find out if an activity is to be cancelled due to bad weather?

You will be notified the afternoon before if possible or on the morning of the event – weather can be somewhat unpredictable along our coastline.

You will not be charged for the activity, if we cancel.

How long can we spend in the Centre?

50 minutes.

There will be six sessions each day - Centre experiences will run every hour at 10am, 11am, 12 noon, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.

Each MFDC experience will be 50 minutes, allowing staff time to sanitise and wipe down surfaces before the next group.

Do I need to practice physical distancing at the Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre?

Yes, please stay 1.5m away from anyone who is not a part of your group when you visit the Centre.

Please help us by:

• staying together and moving around in a tight group
• holding onto your children’s hands when visiting

What happens if I am late?

Please arrive on time for your booking as we can’t go over your allocated time.

Do you require any other information?

You will be asked to provide your mobile phone number and email address and names of each member of your party, when you make your booking, as Covid-19 restrictions requires us to keep a record of all visitors for 28 days.

Can I visit the Centre on any day during the holiday program without making a booking?

NO; all bookings must be made in advance and via phone or email.

What is the minimum age of participants?
Does my baby need to be registered?

We require everyone to be registered for admission, regardless of age.
Children 3 and under are FREE.

I need to cancel my registration or swap for a new date, how do I do this?

You won’t be able to change these details online.

Call (5258-3344) or send an email (marine.discovery@vfa.vic.gov.au)  to the Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Outside of these hours you can leave a message and somebody from our team will get back to you asap.

Changes are dependent on spaces available.

How do I know the MFDC or the activity are safe to visit?

The health risks associated with visiting MFDC are low.

This is because we have put in place a wide range of measures to ensure social distance is maintained and, we have cleaners present throughout the day.

Ensuring the safety and well-being of our staff, visitors and animals is our priority. We have a number of measures in place, including:

• Limiting number of visitors to allow for social distancing
• Signs and staff to ensure physical distancing
• Hand sanitiser stations
• Reminding everyone to practice good hygiene
• Increased cleaning schedules throughout the MFDC
• Additional information for staff and visitors to reduce transmission
• And don’t worry, the safety and wellbeing of the animals in our care is always our priority. We’re keeping them safe too.