Sydney Aquarium

Description:

• Let's face it; most people come for the sharks. And there are eight different 'jaws' experiences spread throughout the 60 tanks and 3 ocean pools on the city's western edge in Darling Harbor.
  Sure there are platypus and Murray Cod; and creatures from the big reef up north and sea dragons and penguins from icy waters down south. Two big dugongs – Pig and Wuru – occupy their own purpose-built habitat; Mermaid Lagoon.
  All up, about 12,000 marine animals from 650 different species make up the Aquarium's inventory. But it's the Shark HQ (only opened in mid 2010) that attracts the most interest. And it's easy to see why. The exhibit welcomes you with an animatronic Great White replica suspended from the ceiling, just to set the mood. A hatchery with baby sharks also has live eggs on display too. A path eventually leads to two glass tunnels that take you beneath the glass enclosures where you can view these majestic man-eating machines from underneath as they prowl and slither about. Time your visit for the mid morning feeding, or better still, feed them yourself from a glass-bottomed boat.
• © NileGuide2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010