Celebrating its status as one of the world’s largest aquariums – with over 70 exhibits of 700 different species and 13,000 animals in an impressive eight million litres of water – SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium will also become home to the world’s largest variety of sharks and rays, as well as Australia’s most famed marine animals, including the iconic platypus, Little Penguins and the dugongs.
Following a meticulous and large-scale animal re-homing mission – which saw over 300 animals transitioned to temporary homes – SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium aquarists welcomed their residents back home with an inaugural feed.
Jade McKellar, Head of Merlin Sydney (owner of SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium), said: “The transition from Sydney Aquarium to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium has been a labour of love for nine months.
“The journey has seen everything from the re-homing of over 300 marine animals to the meticulous construction of a 20 metre Blue Whale skeleton, and I speak on behalf of the team when I say we are extremely proud to be sharing what is an absolute world class aquarium experience with both our loyal and new visitors.”
In celebration of one of nature’s most magnificent creatures, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium also unveiled the spectacular new Shark Walk. This glass walkway literally allows guests to walk above a stunning shoal of over 50 sharks, including Grey Nurse and Lemon Sharks as well as wobbegong and Port Jackson Sharks as they swim just inches beneath.
Encouraging visitors to come face-to-fin with these awe-inspiring creatures in their magnificent underwater display, Shark Valley spans an impressive 100 metres of ocean-tunnel walkthrough that delves deep into the underwater world.
Shark Valley is dominated by a giant whale skeleton amongst the tumbled-down ruins of an ancient Lost City temple as a collection of sharks and rays glide amongst the rocks.
Located in the heart of Sydney at Darling Harbour, visitors to the new SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium will be taken on a journey of amazing discovery through 14 newly-themed areas, including the Tropical Bay of Rays, Discovery Rockpool, Mangrove Swamps, South Coast Shipwreck, Dugong Island, new Shark Walk and the stunning new ocean tunnel walk-through, Shark Valley.