Brisbane's New Pop-Up Dessert Museum Will Give You the Ultimate Sugar Rush

A giant gumball machine that you can climb inside. An adult-sized ballpit in bubblegum-pink hues. A dedicated fairy floss room with its own swing. Throw in ice cream, sweet and snack tastings, plus the ability to jump out of a giant birthday cake — and Brisbane's new pop-up dessert museum sounds like the kind of place that Willy Wonka might own.

Called Sugar Republic and heading our way now that its Melbourne season has wrapped up, it's actually a short-term exhibition at Valley Metro on Brunswick Street. Running from September 23, the pop-up brings sugary delights to folks with a sweet tooth, boasting an array of spaces filled with all things chocolate, confectionery and dessert-oriented. When you're not making yourself a soft serve and showering it in sprinkles, you'll be spinning a wheel o' treats.

Other highlights include a sherbet-filled rainbow bridge, a 'press for confetti' button, an interactive sprinkles wall, a neon art wall and other dessert-centric art. And it wouldn't be a celebration of all things sweet without a huge lolly store, of course.

Basically, if you missed out on visiting New York's Museum of Ice Cream back in 2016, this is Australia's equivalent. Typically these kind of places are designed to be as photogenic as possible, so expect plenty of pics to clog your Instagram feed. If you're keen to take some of your own, tickets cost $35 for adults, which includes tastings over your 60-minute stay.

Find Sugar Republic at Valley Metro, 230 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley from September 23. For more information, visit the museum's website.