Sydney Aquarium

Sydney Aquarium is the world's largest indoor system of Australian marine life, with 60 tanks and three oceanaria filled with more than 12,000 animals from 650 different species. After purchasing tickets your walk through the aquarium corridor begins.  

Window-sized displays feature live turtles, sea horses, crabs, jellyfish and odd-looking fish of all shapes and colours. Around the corner is the Little Penguin habitat where these non-arctic creatures jump in and out of their large saltwater pool. Next, visit the Sydney Harbour exhibit to discover the creatures that travel along the east Australian current to the warm summer waters of our Harbour. 

But let's be honest: you're here to see Jaws, aren't you? Soon enough, the corridor opens into Shark HQ where a life-size animatronic Great White is suspended in mid air, waving its fins. This robot is a mere teaser for what's to come. The main pathway descends below ground level and arrives at the Open Ocean Oceanarium: an enormous tank where the Aquarium's largest sharks, sea turtles and stingrays reside. Built within the Oceanarium are two long glass tunnels that take you directly under the tank. If you have ever wondered what a 3.5m shark looks like from the ocean floor, now's your chance to find out. Catch a shark feeding at 11am, or for $15 extra feed the sharks yourself from a glass-bottomed boat.

The Aquarium's newest attraction is The Future Is Wild, a display hypothesising what the planet's marine life will look like in seven million years. Dugongs, sea slugs, crab larvae, cod, and molluscs are placed beside their hypothetical evolutionary versions, realised through special effects. For instance, find out how an ocean squid might evolve into a four-metre tall mega squid that walks on land. With this and plenty of real-life wonders, the Sydney Aquarium can't be accused of lacking in wow factor.