SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium | Opening Hours, Shows & Price of Admission

Enjoy an underwater adventure during your trip to Sydney with a visit to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. A perfect, all-weather activity for visitors of all ages, the aquarium offers a chance to get up close and personal with a wide variety of marine animals. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is considered to be one of the premier tourist attractions in the city, with more than half of its annual visitors coming from out of the country. It is located along the popular Darling Harbour, right next to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo. Plan a full day of wildlife adventure at both parks or pair your visit to the aquarium with a sunset harbor cruise.

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Overview

Built to resemble like a giant wave, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium introduces visitors to Australia’s diverse aquatic environments. Come explore a variety of underwater habitats that are home to over 13,000 individual animals from more than 700 species. You’ll get to meet penguins, sharks, stingrays, turtles, dugongs, tropical and freshwater fish, cephalopods, seahorses, and many more fantastic creatures.

Opening Hours

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is open every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with final entry at 5 p.m.). As an indoor attraction, the aquarium is open rain or shine. Expect larger crowds and longer lines on weekends and holidays.

Ticket Prices

The price of a general admission ticket to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is $46 AUD for adults (16+) and $33 AUD for children (3-15). If you purchase your ticket online ahead of time, then the ticket cost is only $36.80 AUD for adults and $26.40 AUD for children.

Location & Transport

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is easily accessible from anywhere in the city. If you are coming from the popular tourist area of Circular Quay, then you can take a ferry to Darling Harbour from Circular Quay Wharf 5. The aquarium is also only a short walk away from Town Hall Station and Wynyard Station on the Sydney Trains network.

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SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Exhibits

Visitors to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium can immerse themselves in eight different “zones,” which feature different types of marine habitats and marine life. You will encounter these zones as you make your way through the museum. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect at each one.

Day and Night on the Reef

Embark on a journey through the Great Barrier Reef and witness its transition through day and night with the help of state-of-the-art technology. This incredible exhibit features a 1.7-million-liter display home to 500 creatures that recreate life on the reef. You’ll get the chance to see swarms of jellyfish, spawning coral, bioluminescent caves and beaches, and much more.

Penguin Expedition

Penguin Expedition is a one-of-a-kind boat ride experience included in the price of general admission. Take an enchanting and educational trip through the sub-Antarctic landscape of Macquarie Island, where the aquarium’s colony of King and Gentoo penguins live and play. The boat rides operate every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Shark Valley

Go for a walk on the wild side at the Shark Valley exhibit. Venture into the underwater tunnels and look up to see some of the world’s biggest marine predators, including the wobbegong shark and the grey nurse shark. You’ll also get a chance to see the giant smooth stingray swimming gracefully overhead.

Dugong Island

Come meet SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium‘s resident dugong, named “Pig,” at the Dugong Island exhibit. Pig can be seen both from above the tank and from the viewing tunnels below. Other animals in the exhibit include bamboo sharks and white-spotted eagle rays. You can also catch a Dugong Talk every day at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Discovery Rock Pool

Discovery Rock Pool is a tactile exhibit where you can get a feel for life under the water. Roll up your sleeves and, guided by one of the aquarium’s experts, you’ll get the chance to touch coral, shells, sea stars, shark eggs, and more!

South Coast Shipwreck

Explore an intriguing beached shipwreck and discover the creatures who have decided to take up residence there. This is where you will find perhaps the cutest species at the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium: little penguins. The smallest species of penguin on earth, you can watch them waddle cutely around the beach.

Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour is one of the most iconic and well-known harbors in the world, and its aquatic environment has been recreated at the aquarium. The exhibit provides a snapshot of the more than 600 species of animals that live beneath the platform decks and piers, including Sydney cardinalfish, eastern water dragons, and weedy seadragons.

Jurassic Seas

See where life began and learn about evolution in the Jurassic Seas exhibit. Some of the strange but wonderful creatures you will encounter here include lungfish, hagfish, cuttlefish, octopus, and mudskippers.

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SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Experiences

In addition to its fantastic exhibits, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium offers four incredible experiences that let visitors go behind the scenes and have an even closer look at the aquarium’s inhabitants. Take your pick from the following adventures for a truly memorable visit.

Shark Dive Xtreme

The most exhilarating experience at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Shark Dive Xtreme lets visitors have an encounter with the kings of the underwater world. Swim alongside the museum’s colony of grey nurse sharks, wobbegong sharks, and Port Jackson sharks. The experience consists of a 90-minute training session and a 30-minute dive where you will come face-to-face with the sea life – no cages involved!

Tickets for Shark Dive Xtreme start at $239 AUD per person, and participants must be 14 years of age or older. Previous diving experience is not required.

Penguin Passport

Penguin Passport is an unforgettable, 75-minute tour through the backstage areas of the Penguin Expedition exhibit. Step into the icy world of the sub-Antarctic King and Gentoo penguin colony and learn all about how the aquarium maintains their chilly habitat. You’ll get to see the penguins hard at play with their enrichment activities, and there will be plenty of opportunities to take pictures as well.

Tickets for Penguin Passport start at $129 AUD per person, and participants must be 14 years of age or older. You will be provided with proper snow gear for the experience.

Glass Bottom Boat Tour

Cruise above the waters of the Day and Night on the Reef exhibit in a glass-bottom boat that provides rare views of the marine life below. The fun and educational experience lasts 30 minutes and is a great choice for families.

Tickets for the Glass Bottom Boat Tour start at $56.80 AUD for adults and $46 AUD for children. Children must be at least 3 years of age to participate.

Private Dining

Treat someone special to one of the most exclusive private dining experiences in Sydney. The evening begins with an after-hours aquarium tour, followed by a three-course dinner at one of six stunning locations in the Day and Night on the Reef zone. Watch hundreds of species of marine life through the floor-to-ceiling windows as you enjoy your meal.

A Private Dining experience ranges from $450 AUD to $550 AUD per couple.

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Dining & Souvenirs

The main spot to enjoy a snack or a meal at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is at The Wharf Kitchen in the exit foyer. Select from a delicious menu that includes fish & chips, wraps, sandwiches, and salads. Other tasty goodies include cakes, ice cream, pie, and sausage rolls, and you can get your coffee fix here as well. All of the seafood served at The Wharf Kitchen is sustainably sourced and Marine Stewardship Council certified.

• The main gift shop at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is located just before The Wharf Kitchen. Here, you will be able to find a wide array of souvenirs, including clothing, plush toys, DVDs, novelty items, and more. Another gift shop to look out for as you make your way through the aquarium is Coral Cove, which sells confectionery treats and novelty toys for kids.

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