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The ultimate guide to SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Dive into SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium for a great day out filled with exotic sea creatures. Here’s what you need to know about Melbourne’s top aquarium.
Discover an amazing underwater world right in the heart of Melbourne at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, where you can come face-to-fin with majestic ocean creatures. Here are your questions about Melbourne's biggest and best aquarium answered.
Everything you need to know about SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
What is there to see at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium?
With over 10,000 aquatic animals on display, there’s plenty to see and do at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium as you dive into 12 different habitat zones.
At Penguin Playground, watch the majestic King and cheeky Gentoo penguins slip and slide across snow and ice, splash around in the penguin pool, and steal each other’s rocks to build their nests.
Explore three interactive zones pulsing with thousands of jellyfish and spectacular light projections at Ocean Invaders. The Jelly Lab allows guests to look behind the scenes at aquarium staff tending to these beautiful, sometimes deadly creatures.
Spot Fiddler rays, Port Jackson sharks and other residents of Melbourne’s iconic Port Phillip Bay at Bay of Rays, complete with a crawl-through display for kids.
There are plenty of exotic sea critters in the colourful underwater wonderland of Coral Atoll. See if you can find Nemo the Clown Fish and Dory the Southern Blue Tang!
Experience a rainbow of beautiful seahorse and sea dragon species at Seahorse Pier, home to the internationally recognised Weedy Seadragon breeding program.
You can get your hands wet and touch sea critters like shark eggs and sea stars under the supervision of aquarium staff at the Discovery Rockpools: a popular activity with the kids.
Meet Pinjarra, one of Australia’s largest saltwater crocodiles at over five metres long and 750kg heavy, at Crocodile Lair. This 55-year-old male croc is housed in a unique exhibit that you can investigate from 360 degrees over two spectacular viewing levels.
Emerge into a lush, humid tropical environment at Rainforest Adventure to meet turtles, snakes, lizards and frogs. Here you’ll find the unique lungfish, which can breathe air, wriggle over land and live up to 50 years old.
Submerged is an interactive digital experience that takes guests on a digital journey through living light inspired by the bioluminescent underwater world and the incredible ocean animals that live in it, like the dazzling firefly squid. This large-scale temporary exhibition will be open until December 2023, while SEA LIFE Melbourne's 2.2 million litre Ocranarium display undergoes renovations.
Finally, join some of your favourite on-screen characters as they have an icy adventure that you’ll share in thanks to fun 4D technology in the 4D cinema experience.
See thousands of jellyfish at Ocean Invaders. Image: Tourism Australia
Are there daily talks and feedings at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium?
Yes! Don’t miss the daily talks and feeding sessions for the rays (10.30am), penguins (11.30am), Coral Atoll fish (1.30pm) and Pinjarra the crocodile (11am daily talk, with a feeding on Thursdays).
What special experiences are there at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium?
If you want to take your visit to the next level, there are currently two special ticketed experiences at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. The Jelly Lab Experience (ages 5+) takes you behind the scenes in the Jelly Lab, where you’ll don a lab coat and feed live jellyfish while learning what’s involved in the breeding process. Or, if you love the penguins, a Penguin Passport ticket (ages 12+) will have you suiting up in Antarctic snow gear for a 45-minute tour of the King and Gentoo penguins’ exhibit.
Where is SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium? How do I get there?
SEA LIFE Melbourne is located on the corner of Flinders Street and King Street in Melbourne. It is by the Yarra River, opposite Southbank entertainment precinct.
There are several secure carparks just a short walk from SEA LIFE Melbourne, such as Secure Parking at 522 Flinders Lane, where visitors can get a discounted parking rate if they present their parking ticket to the SEA LIFE Melbourne admissions team.
Catching public transport? Use the arevo journey planner app to find the most efficient route to SEA LIFE Melbourne. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is a 10-minute walk from Flinders Street or Southern Cross train stations. Alternatively, tram routes 70, 75 and the free City Circle Tram all stop right outside SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium (Stop 2, Melbourne Aquarium Flinders Street).
What are SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium’s opening hours?
SEA LIFE Aquarium is open 10am to 5pm during the week, and 9.30am to 5pm during weekends, school holidays and public holidays. Final entry is at 4pm on all days.
Pinjarra is a mighty big croc. Image: Tourism Australia
How much are SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium tickets?
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium tickets are priced from $47 for a standard adult ticket, with optional additional experiences adding to the price. RACV Members save on SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium tickets.
Can children go to SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium?
Children will have a great day out at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, where there are lots of weird and wonderful sea creatures to see and learn about. The hands-on touch pool and 4D cinema show prove particularly popular with the kids.
Please note that all children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Can I buy food and drink at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium?
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium has an onsite cantina, the Adventurer’s Café, which serves a wide range of hot and cold foods like burgers, wraps, salads, and fish and chips. There are also kids’ options, ice cream and other treats, and baked items like muffins.
Currently the aquarium’s café is undergoing renovations, but guests are welcome to bring their own food, with café seating provided.
Submerged is an interactive digital exibit open until December 2023. Image: Supplied
Does SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium do any conservation work?
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is partnered with the SEA LIFE Trust, which creates new protected marine areas, reduces marine litter, and runs conservation projects. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium’s funding has helped SEA LIFE Trust to rescue, rehabilitate and release hundreds of sick and injured seal pups; protect sea turtles in their natural habitat; and create the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary in Iceland. Your entry tickets to SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium will directly help support these projects.
