Oceanworld

First published on 5 Aug 2008. Updated on 11 Jan 2011.

Located a couple of hundred metres from Manly’s ferry terminal, Oceanworld is about as good as aquaria get. The three-level attraction has a floor devoted to dangerous Australian creatures (poisonous snakes, funnel-web spiders, giant monitor lizards, crocodiles) and another to tropical fish, corals and venomous sea creatures. The main attraction, on the lower level, is the oceanarium, which holds the largest sharks in captivity in Australia, plus giant rays and sea turtles – all seen via a 110m (360ft) underwater viewing tunnel. Fish and sharks are fed at 11am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and there’s a Dangerous Australian Animals show at noon daily. Other attractions include the ‘touch pool’, where you can get up close and personal with hermit crabs and starfish. For the really adventurous there’s Shark Dive Xtreme ($180-$245), a chance to dive with huge grey nurse sharks. Ferry Manly. Open 10am-5.30pm daily. Admission $17.95; $9.50-$12.95 reductions; $29.95-$43.95 family; 15% discount after 3.30pm. Credit AmEx, MC, V.