SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is one of the city's top attractions
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is one of the world's largest with an amazing 13,000 animals representing 700 different species in a total of 14 themed displays representing different regions and habitats.
Displays are divided between exhibits inside the main building and two huge floating oceanariums that are filled with seawater from Darling Harbour and maintained at a precise temperature. One of these is home to the world's largest population of sharks that are in captivity with some weighing in at nearly 300 kilograms.
Exhibits focus on marine life in and around Australia and include the tropical Bay of Rays, Discovery Rockpool, Sydney Harbour and the largest Great Barrier Reef display in the world. You should allow no less than 90 minutes for your visit.
If you dare, you can walk above huge sharks on the Shark Walk or you can descend down into Shark Valley where you will be greeted with the skeleton of a huge whale, crumbling ruins of an ancient stone temple and a wide array of sharks and rays.
Other remarkable sea-life that you will witness up close include two of only six dugongs on display in the entire world, massive stingrays, platypuses, turtles, penguins and, of course, a huge assortment of tropical fish.
For an additional fee visitors to the aquarium can enjoy the experience of a lifetime. Choose from the Glass Bottom Boat Tour, the Shark Reef Snorkel Experience or a small group Behind the Scenes Tour. Please see the official website for more information and pricing on these options.
The aquarium is involved in all kinds of marine research both on its own and in co-operation with major universities.
Nearby attractions: Darling Harbour, Madame Tussauds, Imax Theatre, Wild Life Sydney and the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes.SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Address: 1-5 Wheat Rd, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: (02) 9333 9200
Official Website: SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Reviews
Rated out of 5![]()
Opened in 1988.
Highlights: dugong (one of only four on display in the world), sharks, stingrays, penguins, and tropical fish, among others.
The penguin ride is quite cold - make sure you clothed appropriately.
The underwater galleries are awesome: you can see various sharks and stingrays casually floating above. I recommend shooting videos there.
Vadim Solodukhin - 2 weeks ago
Incredible experience – especially the dugongs!
"SEA LIFE Sydney is easily one of the best aquariums I’ve visited. The absolute highlight was seeing Pig the dugong—it’s rare to see them in captivity and he is such a character! The shark tunnels are also massive and give you a great view from underneath. The layout flows really well, and the 'Day and Night on the Reef' exhibit was stunning. Definitely buy tickets online in advance to save time at the door. Highly recommended!"
Rahul kapadia - 2 months ago
Great aquarium- the kids definitely enjoyed looking at all the different species. Intriguing layout always keeping you excited for the next. The best part was the penguins. Some tanks needed maintenance esp the one with the tunnel. But overall was a good experience ☺️
Rola Daoud - a month ago
Located in the heart of Darling Harbour, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is a world-class destination that offers a captivating journey through Australia’s diverse aquatic ecosystems.
The highlight for many is the immersive shark tunnel, where massive grey nurse sharks and stingrays glide directly overhead, providing a thrilling face-to-fin perspective.
Families shouldn’t miss the unique Penguin Expedition, a chilly boat ride that gets you remarkably close to a colony of sub-Antarctic King and Gentoo penguins.
Other standouts include the vibrant Great Barrier Reef exhibit and the chance to see Pig, the rescued dugong. While it can get crowded during school holidays, the well-maintained displays and educational interactive zones make it an essential stop for marine lovers of all ages.
Steven Cheng - 2 months ago
We visited Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, which is a good option for a rainy or cloudy day. The exhibition is well organised, the venue is clean, and the bathrooms were well maintained.
However, the overall experience felt a bit underwhelming. I expected a more impressive infrastructure or more open spaces, as much of the aquarium feels quite enclosed and lacks natural light, which affects the visitor experience.
It does the job, but there is room for improvement in terms of immersion.
Lucas Videla - a month ago
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Directions
| Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Light Rail | L1- Pyrmont Bay or L2 - Town Hall | 10 minutes |
| T1, T2, T3 or T4 | Town Hall | 10 minutes |
| Ferry | Darling Harbour Aquarium Wharf | 1 minute |
How to get to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium by
By Light Rail L1 Exit at Pyrmont Bay and cross Murray Street and walk across the Pyrmont Bay Bridge. The Aquarium is located on the pier immediately north of the east end of the bridge.
By Train or Light Rail L2: From Town Hall Station go north to Druit Street and proceed west watching for the pedestrian ramp off to your right. Follow the ramp to the harbourside and go left (south) along the harbour.
You can also access SEA LIFE Syndey via pedestrian ramps by walking west along Market Street or King Street from the CBD.
By Ferry: Take a Darling Harbour Ferry from Circular Quary Wharf 5.
Map & Instant Route Finder
Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.
Accommodations near SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium:
Photo Gallery
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A frog blending with its habitat at the Sydney Aquarium cc licensed photo by corrieb -
Photo Credit: Travolution360 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: D-Stanley - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Sidneiensis - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Sidneiensis - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Sidneiensis - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Sidneiensis - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Sidneiensis - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Sidneiensis - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Sidneiensis - cc license via Flickr

