Aussie museums rank among the world’s most boring attractions
Melbourne's Luna Park was ranked among the most boring tourism attractions in the world. Photo: Getty
Ever wanted to know what to avoid when on holiday? Scared of being bored while abroad?
Well, the world’s most boring tourist hot spots have been named.
“We analysed 66.7 million Google reviews of 3,290 popular tourist attractions worldwide, spanning 384 cities across 71 countries, focusing on 11 keywords indicative of tiresome, lifeless, and downright boring impressions,” online gaming company Solitaired said, based on research it commissioned.
“We ranked the attractions by the frequency with which tourists mentioned boredom-related keywords, comparing the mentions to the total reviews for each spot.”
According to the study, Branson Scenic Railway in Branson, Missouri, is the most boring destination in the world and while US attractions mainly round out the top 10, there are plenty of Australian attractions in the top 100.
The Branson Scenic Railway was ranked the most boring attraction in the world.
Australia’s most boring tourist spots
The first Australian entry on the list is the WA Museum Boola Bardip, which is in Perth and is the state’s “premier cultural organisation”.
Home to Western Australia’s scientific and cultural collection, through research, exhibitions and public programs, the museum makes the state’s “natural and social heritage accessible and engaging”.
On the list, it came in at No.16, with 3446 reviews and a “Boredom Score” of 2.5 out of 5.
It’s not the only Australian museum to make the list. The Museum of Sydney was ranked the 32nd most boring tourist destination, with a score of 2.20.
Melbourne’s Immigration Museum also made the cut, coming in at No. 52 and the famed MONA in Tasmania was ranked 76th.
Tasmania’s famed MONA made the most “boring” list.
Playing with LEGO is a beloved pastime that is sure to bring back childhood memories for many. But apparently the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Melbourne is anything but fun.
Coming in 24th on the list, the discovery centre got a score of 2.30.
Melbourne’s Luna Park also made an appearance in the top 100 and the final Australia location on the list was Perth’s Bell Tower, sitting at No. 92.
Australia, US and Canada the ‘most boring’ countries
The US, Canada and Australia hold the most spots on the list.
It seems people just don’t appreciate museums, not only in Australia but also abroad. Of all the travel spots, museums make up 33 per cent of the list.
New York’s Museum of Ice Cream, the Hershey Story Museum in Pennsylvania, and the International UFO Museum in New Mexico all made the cut.
Solitaired also found that people find death boring, and stated that the less people know about a subject, the more boring they will find it.
Apparently people found the International UFO Museum in New Mexico boring.
“There is a theme in the data that tourists allegedly find death boring. Specifically, the Museum of Death in New Orleans is the dullest in Louisiana,” it said.
“There is also a theme that the less we publicly know about a subject, the more boring tourists find its specialty museum. This theme is true of Georgia’s 4th most boring attraction, the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, and the #1 most boring attraction in New Mexico, the International UFO Museum in Roswell.
“It also appears true of the International Spy Museum, the #1 most boring attraction in Washington, D.C., where you apparently need a double-0-level clearance to uncover some excitement.”
Top most boring tourist attractions
- Branson Scenic Railway, Missouri, US
- Illiminarium Atlanta, Georgia, US
- Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride, Tennessee, US
- Salem Witch Museum, Massachusetts, US
- LEGO Discover Centre Atlanta, Georgia, US
- Adler Planetarium, Illinois, US
- Museum of Science and Industry, Florida, US
- Shrek’s Adventure London, UK
- LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, US
- LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Toronto, Vaughan, Canada
