SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is one of the city's top attractions

Seeing sharks up close and personal at the Sydney Aquarium
Seeing sharks up close and personal at the Sydney Aquarium cc licensed photo by Ellimac Enileuqcaj

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: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Sunday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 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 4.3 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Fantastic place to see a huge variety of marine life. A great experience for both adults and kids. Tip: When visiting the penguins, it’s definitely worth waiting in line for the boat ride (Penguin Expedition). The immersion is incredible—you go into a climate-controlled environment mimicking Antarctica where the penguins live, allowing you to see them up close. Tickets can be purchased on-site or online. Tip: Buying a combo ticket that includes two, three, or all four attractions (including the Sydney Tower Eye) makes it much cheaper.
Juan Vargas - a month ago

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5 Star Rating SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium was one of the highlights of our Sydney trip. Having visited many aquariums around the world, we were genuinely impressed by the collection here. The diversity of marine life is outstanding, with many unique fish and sea creatures that we had never seen before. Every section seemed to have something new and fascinating to discover, making it enjoyable for both adults and children. One of the absolute highlights was the Penguin Expedition ride. Getting so close to the penguins was an incredible experience, and watching them from almost eye level made it feel very special. It was easily one of our family’s favourite moments. What we appreciated most was the strong focus on Australia’s marine ecosystems. Rather than being just another aquarium, SEA LIFE Sydney does a fantastic job showcasing the unique sea life found around Australia, making the experience both entertaining and educational. The only thing that could make the visit even better would be more convenient parking directly nearby, although we understand that’s probably difficult given the location in Darling Harbour. Overall, this is a world-class aquarium with an amazing collection of marine life, memorable exhibits, and experiences that are well worth the visit. Highly recommended for families and anyone with an interest in the ocean.
Willie Tan - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating One of the best experiences in Sydney. I recommend pre booking your tickets to get good discounts and to avoid hassle when entering. And the combo ticket to visit Madam Toussad, Sea Life Acquarium, Zoo and the Tower is definitely a good bargain since you can visit in a span of 60 days. It is a diverse experience of sea life and vivid demonstration of every sea creature you have ever known. Very organised and entire run is wheel chair accessible so you can bring your child stroller without a hassle. Has small outlet which has snacks in the middle which is an added advantage. Overall highly recommended.
Malintha Lahiru - a month ago

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5 Star Rating SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is an amazing place to visit! The huge tanks are filled with so many beautiful fish and marine creatures. Walking through the underwater tunnels feels like being under the ocean. Everything was well maintained, and there was plenty to see for all ages. A great place to spend a few hours, learn about marine life, and enjoy some incredible underwater views. Highly recommended for families, tourists
Rasika ranasooriya - 3 months ago

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3 Star Rating ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5) Visited the Sydney Aquarium recently and found it to be a decent attraction, but not quite worth the admission price. At around $55 per person, I expected a more memorable and engaging experience. The aquarium itself is well maintained and features a good variety of marine life. The underwater tunnels are enjoyable, and there are some impressive displays featuring sharks, rays, penguins, and other sea creatures. It’s a pleasant environment and suitable for families, especially those with young children who may find the exhibits more exciting. However, the overall experience felt fairly average rather than extraordinary. One aspect that stood out for the wrong reasons was the penguin boat ride. Visitors have to wait in a long queue for what amounts to a ride lasting only about two minutes. It felt like an unnecessary gimmick that added little value to the visit. The penguin enclosure could easily be viewed without the lengthy wait, and the ride itself was not particularly interesting or immersive. The entire aquarium can be comfortably explored in about 90 minutes, which makes the ticket price feel even harder to justify. While the exhibits are enjoyable enough, there wasn’t anything particularly unique or spectacular that made the experience stand out from other aquariums I have visited. To be fair, the facility is clean, organised, and staff were generally helpful. If you are a tourist with children or have never visited an aquarium before, you may still enjoy it. However, for the price charged, I was expecting a longer and more impressive experience. Overall, Sydney Aquarium is a decent attraction, but in my opinion it is somewhat overpriced for what it offers. Worth considering if you can get discounted tickets, but I wouldn’t pay full price again.
Diwa Venkata - 3 months ago

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Directions

Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Light RailL1- Pyrmont Bay or L2 - Town Hall10 minutes
T1, T2, T3 or T4Town Hall10 minutes
FerryDarling Harbour Aquarium Wharf1 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.

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