The people of Perth, Western Australia are justifiably proud of their local aquarium, AQWA. Considered to be the largest aquarium in Australia and possibly the best aquarium in the southern hemisphere, it houses a large range of marine life and interesting exhibits displaying the sea and river habitats all the way along the Western Australian coast.
Sharks and the Tunnel at AQWA
AQWA’s main aquarium tank measures 40 meters by 20 meters and holds 3 million liters of water. You can travel through and under the tank on a travelator through a 98 meter long tunnel. Among the hundreds of species of marine life living in this huge aquarium, the highlights are the sharks, sting rays and turtles. If you time your visit well, you can see them being fed, and after many years of life in the aquarium, handlers have trained the sharks to feed in a different area to the other animals, and they usually avoid eating each other. A scary thing to note is that the curvature of the glass tunnel makes the creatures seem smaller than they really are.
Seals, Touch Pool and Other Exhibits at AQWA
Outside and above the tunnel, numerous other exhibits explain the different kinds of marine life along the Western Australian coast. There is a touch pool where you are encouraged to get your hands wet and learn how a star fish or other kinds of fish feel. The seals are one of the most popular exhibits, housed in an enclosure known as “Seal Island”, and shows including the seals take place throughout the day.
Visiting AQWA
Entry price for adults is A$25 and children between 4 and 15 years old are $14; younger children can enter for free, and family passes are also available. AQWA is open from 10am to 5pm every day.
AQWA is located at the Hillarys Boat Harbour, often referred to as Sorrento Quay. Take the number 423 bus from Warwick Train Station on the Joondalup line, or take a taxi from the city. If you’re asking locals for directions, you’ll probably hear them refer to AQWA as Underwater World, the name it used until 2001.
After your visit to AQWA, consider having lunch at the Hillarys Boat Harbour, where numerous cafes and restaurants are located along a boardwalk over the ocean. A typically Australian meal to finish your day with would be a good serve of fish and chips eaten out on the boardwalk: just beware of the sea gulls who want to steal your chips!
Amanda Kendle - I'm an writer, travel addict and English teacher; I'm currently based in my home country, Australia, but I'm obsessed with travel and ...
