SEA-LIFE Sydney Aquarium: Under the Sea

Its a hot summer day in Sydney. You’re looking for a place to get out of the heat. Take a dip miles beneath the ocean at one of the city’s more famous tourist attractions, the SEA-LIFE Sydney Aquarium.

Located on the east side of Darling Harbour’s boardwalk, sharing the same premises as Madame Tussauds and WILD-LIFE Sydney Zoo, this world class aquarium houses over 17,000 species of fish, sharks, dugongs and other marine life.

The Basics:

• Where? 1-5 Wheat Road, Sydney NSW 2000
• When? 9.30am – 6.00pm daily (last entry at 5.00pm)
• How much? $36.80 AUD (adult), $26.40 AUD (child) – online prices, more expensive at the door.
• How to get here? Darling Harbour is a short walk from Town Hall or Wynyard Stations in the Sydney Central Business District.
• Website: https://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/

NOTE: Admission to SEA-LIFE Sydney Aquarium can also be purchased as part of a multi-attraction ticket valid for 30 days which also provides entrance to WILD-LIFE Sydney Zoo, Madame Tussauds and the Sydney Tower Eye. For more details, click here.

Down in the Depths

SEA-LIFE Sydney Aquarium has been a premier attraction of Sydney since 1988 and is a place that I’d recommend to escape indoors for a few hours at Darling Harbour and learn about the incredible diversity of life that exists in the oceans and other water bodies covering our planet. I’d definitely recommend booking tickets online for two reasons – you’ll save around 30% on your admission and you’ll also avoid the huge crowds lining up to purchase tickets in peak seasons (such as school holidays). With your ticket in hand (or on your phone), you’ll be able to jump the line and head inside to see the various forms of marine life ahead.

The museum starts out small scale. You’ll pass through sections highlighting smaller river species before venturing into the South Coast Shipwreck (home of the adorable Little Penguins), Jurassic Seas (fossils and evolution of marine life) and Sydney Harbour (species inhabiting the very depths outside). You’ll eventually make it to Dugong Island, where you can view “Pig” the Dugong (or Manatee for those from the other side of the world), both from above or under the water. The excellent staff of SEA LIFE also provide information talks in this exhibit twice a day (around 11.30am and 2.30pm) so try to time your arrival for one of these sessions.

Sharks Ahoy!

My personal favourite part of the aquarium is Shark Valley. If you’ve been to a decent aquarium, you’ve probably seen one of these types of exhibits. Its the typical walk through tunnels that run underneath the water tanks housing the “big species” of the Grey Nurse Shark, Wobbegong Shark and various rays. Venturing through underneath really allows you to become immersed in the underwater environment. Also, lets face it, there’s something about that “face of gills” on the underside of a ray that always looks amusing. There’s also shark feedings that take place throughout the day so you might see some scuba divers out there as well.

Penguin Expedition

The Penguin Expedition is an enjoyable experience included in your admission on which you’ll board a small boat for a quick 2 minute ride through the King Penguin exhibit. Sure, its over before you know it, and its incredibly cold (naturally to ensure the penguins are subjected to their normal environment), but as its part of your admission I’d say do it unless there’s a huge line stopping you. That said, I think you’ll get just as much from watching the penguins from walk the regular part of the exhibit and I wouldn’t consider it a must-do part of the aquarium.

Closing Thoughts

I enjoyed my visit to the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. I enjoy these kinds of attractions when visiting cities, so its no surprise that I’ve been to this one in my own backyard a fair few times. Its a good way to spend an hour or two and get a closer look at the marine species. I’d definitely recommend arriving early morning or late afternoon (it gets seriously packed with tourists during the middle of the day). I also suggest combining the aquarium with other attractions in the area, and grab a bite to eat around Darling Harbour afterwards. Sure, its probably the most touristy part of Sydney, but you’ll always find something to do.