When: 10am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday, and during school holidays (but not Good Friday – Easter Monday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day)

Where: next to Jeff’s Shed, 2A Clarendon Street, South Wharf

Cost: Admission fees child $9.50, adult $16, (click here for more information) unless you are a National Trust member.

Review

We probably spent almost an hour and a quarter on the ship and about 15 minutes visiting the gallery on the way out.

To get onto Polly Woodside you do pass through the gallery (which is quite interactive and informative – geared more to school-aged children, but Charlie (3) enjoyed checking out the models and pressing a few buttons) but there was a school group visiting when we arrived so we saved the gallery for afterward – which worked well as we needed a good 20 minutes to explore the ship before we could settle down for the story time that was happening that day.

FYI there are only drinks and ice creams for sale – so this is not an outing to make without snacks packed or on an empty tummy.  There is a rule of no eating on the boat – but on shore, there are tables and chairs provided.

Right next door is The Boatbuilders Yard – we had a quick coffee there before heading home, and I have to say I would happily go back there for lunch as it had a BBQ which smelt amazing and the sandwiches/pides looked delicious!  Not exactly kid friendly though (the deck surrounding it is unfenced and just drops straight down to Yarra River!) but the staff were friendly.

NB/ First Sunday of the month is Pirate Day (except Easter Sunday) and you are invited to dress as a pirate and come help search for elusive treasure, walk the plank, join in pirate arts and crafts and have your face painted.  Click here for more info.