ACMI Alice in Wonderland Exhibition: Falling Down the Rabbit Hole

There is always something to do in Melbourne. Whether its exploring hidden laneway gems, taking in the sights or taking in a bit of culture, Melbourne doesn't disappoint. In case you were unaware, Alice in Wonderland is a story that is near and dear to my heart. For those who did not know, the title of this blog was inspired by my mild Alice obsession. When I found out an Alice in Wonderland exhibition was coming to Melbourne, you bet your bottom dollar my booty was going. 

Start your journey down the rabbit hole in this immersive and theatrical exhibit. As you wander down the stairs, you're greeted by a staff member who will give you the 'Lost Map'. This map gives you a specific Alice character and allows for a more immersive experience (I was the Mad Hatter), it's your job to find out how to enter the exhibition. There are a few different ways to enter. In true Alice fashion, I crawled my booty way in through the smallest door. 

Follow me down the rabbit hole. 

Each room unlocks more and more to Alice. Once you've made your way through the tiny door, you get to explore a bunch of rooms that share background information about Lewis Carroll and little Alice. My personal favourite? Getting to see one of the original copies of Alice's Adventures Underground. Did you know that was the original title of Alice in Wonderland?

The interactive adventure continues giving you a glimpse of the Alice in Wonderland ballet costumes, the cinematic evolution from the first B&W picture to modern Disney favourites, the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, painting the roses red, and finally a look at Tim Burton's take on Alice. 

While waiting for your tea party, in true Alice fashion, you're faced with a riddle to solve. Being the masterminds my friend and me are, we're 99% we solved the riddle. The only downside, none of the staff members had been told the answer to the riddle. We had no idea if we had solved the entire puzzle or if we needed to do a bit more digging. 

After exiting the tea party, head over to the 'Queen's Croquet Ground' and let your inner child loose to help paint the roses red. Create your own character with the stickers provided, scan it, and watch your creation come to life. It's fun for both kiddos and adults. 

It was incredible to see the evolution and the many interpretations of Lewis Carroll's beloved story. The exhibition concluded with costumes from the Tim Burton films and an 18 screen tribute to Alice. 

The Wonderland exhibit is a wonderful time for adults and children. The little ones can engage in the interactive activities while the adults take the time to read about Alice's evolution. You will absolutely be swept away by this curious exhibition.

Wonderland Exhibit

WHERE: ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne
WHEN: 5 April –  7 Oct 2018
Open daily 10am–5pm
HOW MUCH: Full $25 Family $65 Concession $21 Child $16 Member $20

And until next time...

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