AQWA: sharks, seadragons and Western Australia's underwater world

A shark passing overhead is the moment many visitors come for at AQWA. Stay a little longer, though, and the smaller animals start to compete for attention: a seadragon almost disappearing against its surroundings, a cuttlefish changing colour, or tiny fish sheltering among seagrass.

The Aquarium of Western Australia sits at Hillarys Boat Harbour, north of Perth. Its focus is the state's own marine life, from southern coastal waters to tropical reefs. That makes it a useful introduction to what lives beyond the beaches, especially if diving or snorkelling is not part of your holiday.

Plan your visit

Hours and advertised fares checked 27 September 2026 against AQWA's visitor information and official booking page.

General admission includes the displays, scheduled Ocean Guide talks and feeds, and the Ocean Playroom. Tickets last for the day; keep yours if you leave for lunch and return. Booking online does not provide priority entry. Boat trips, behind-the-scenes tours and shark swims have separate bookings.

What to see

The Shipwreck Coast tunnel

The main aquarium holds three million litres of seawater, with a tunnel nearly 100 metres long passing beneath it. A moving walkway carries visitors through the underwater view, while a stationary section lets you take more time. Watch above you as well as ahead: rays crossing the roof of the tunnel can be as arresting as the sharks.

Look for grey nurse sharks and their conspicuous teeth. Those teeth grip slippery prey; these sharks swallow fish rather than chew them. They can also swallow air to help control their buoyancy, which explains their surprisingly unhurried hovering. AQWA's grey nurse shark facts add context to the encounter.

Seadragons, octopuses and the smaller coastal displays

The Great Southern Coast section includes leafy seadragons and pineapplefish. On the Perth Coast, look for the gloomy octopus, western rock lobster, blue devil and cuttlefish. The Far North and Coral Coast section changes the scene to tropical reef fish, soft corals and a young crocodile.

Give these smaller windows time. A useful family game is to choose one display and see who notices an animal that everyone else has missed. Species and individual animals can change, so treat the exhibit guide as an introduction rather than a guaranteed checklist.

Coral that is alive

Glowing Ocean uses ultraviolet lighting to reveal fluorescence, while the Coral Conservatory introduces the work of growing and conserving corals. The Coral Bank of Western Australia is a living collection, not a shelf of dried specimens.

In the underwater gallery, compare the Coral Reef with the neighbouring Seagrass Meadow. The reef is busy and colourful; the meadow rewards a slower search for small animals. Seating makes this a sensible pause before returning to the more active parts of your visit.

Danger Zone, the Touch Pool and rescue turtles

Danger Zone introduces marine animals with defensive tools such as venom and powerful strikes. At the Touch Pool, follow the guide's instructions, touch gently and keep animals underwater. Feeding sessions are hands-out periods.

The Turtle Rescue Centre explains rehabilitation and release. Rescue patients may be absent or off-display, so a turtle talk does not always include a feeding. AQWA also has a resident turtle in the Shipwreck Coast aquarium. This distinction matters if seeing a turtle is a child's main reason for visiting.

A straightforward 2-3 hour visit

Use this as a suggested order, adjusting it around the day's talks and interactions.

1. Start with the coastal displays and tunnel. Allow around 45-60 minutes, including time to repeat a section that interests you.
2. Move to Danger Zone and the coral displays. Spend another 25-35 minutes looking closely rather than trying to read every label.
3. Join an outdoor talk. Current listings include Touch Pool sessions at 10am and 12.30pm, turtle talks at 10.30am and 1.30pm, and a noon schooling-fish feed at Marina Bay. Animals' needs can alter the schedule.
4. Finish with the underwater gallery or Ocean Playroom. Leave 20-30 minutes for children to play or for a quiet seated look at the reef.

These are suggested allowances, not a timed tour. Use AQWA's guide map to locate the exhibits, and collect the day's timetable at reception. For a quieter visit, AQWA suggests arriving from 1.30pm. That leaves up to 2½ hours before a 4pm closing, but come earlier if you want to catch the outdoor talks listed above.

Are the extra experiences worth adding?

The Glass Bottom Boat offers a view down into the main aquarium with a guide. It suits visitors who want another perspective without getting wet. The ride is approximately 15-20 minutes, admission is included in the combined ticket, and participants must be at least four. Children aged 4-12 need a paying adult accompanying them, and supplied lifejackets must be worn.

The Behind The Scenes Pass adds a guided look at restricted working areas, an animal-feeding activity, the Coral Bank and a boat ride. Allow about an hour for the experience. The minimum age is four, children aged 4-12 need a paying adult, and participants must manage stairs and more than 30 minutes of walking. General aquarium access arrangements do not mean every extra experience is accessible.

Snorkel With Sharks is for confident, experienced snorkellers aged 14 and above, with approximately 30 minutes in the water. It is not a beginner lesson. Dive With Sharks also has a minimum age of 14 and requires recognised scuba certification, plus a dive in the past 12 months or an extensive dive log. Both include equipment and aquarium admission, require independent equipment management and have health exclusions. Allow one to two hours for the whole experience, including preparation. Read the full participation requirements before booking; bring bathers and a towel.

Families, food and accessibility

The Ocean Playroom has a digital drawing activity and an interactive sandbox, and is aimed at children aged two and over. It is included in entry but may temporarily close for booked education sessions. The café has indoor seating and outdoor terraces; its kitchen normally closes at 2pm, before the aquarium closes.

Prams are welcome, with parking near reception. Large pull-along wagons are not allowed in the exhibit areas, apart from medical equipment. Baby-changing facilities and accessible toilets are available near reception and outside near the Touch Pool.

There are entrance ramps and a lift to the tunnel. Marina Bay requires staff-assisted access through a gate. Wheelchairs are available free of charge. The tunnel's moving walkway is 1.2 metres wide and its stationary platform 1.1 metres wide, with a small lip at the moving walkway exit. Ask staff for help or for the conveyor to be stopped if needed. Valid Companion Cards allow a companion free admission with the paying cardholder. The accessibility FAQ gives the practical detail needed to plan around a particular mobility aid.

Getting there and making a half-day of it

By public transport, take the Yanchep Line to Warwick Station, then bus 423 to Hillarys Boat Harbour, as described by Hillarys Boardwalk. Allow for the walk through the harbour precinct to AQWA on its southern side. Use Transperth JourneyPlanner for connections on your travel date.

Drivers should allow roughly 30 minutes from central Perth in favourable traffic, plus time to park. AQWA advertises four hours of free parking, so read the bay signs if combining the aquarium with a long harbour visit. Afterward, browse the Boardwalk or have lunch beside the water; there is no need to drive to a second attraction.

Three things to notice

• The aquarium began as Underwater World in 1988, with one main aquarium. Its history explains how the attraction grew.
• Cuttlefish have eight arms and two feeding tentacles. They can change skin colour in less than a second, so a motionless animal can still be worth watching. AQWA cuttlefish facts.
• The next expansion is still ahead. AQWA's redevelopment announcement says the first new attractions are expected in 2027. The proposed Two Oceans Theatre is not part of the current visit.

Official visitor information

• Opening hours, directions and facilities
• General admission tickets
• Exhibits and marine life
• Accessibility and admission questions