SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium — Attraction in Melbourne

Horrible & not worth the cost. Took our 3 year old on 19/11/2024 at 10am opening time. Building entrance not clearly marked , entire outside graffiti, grimy and most windows smashed.

The entrance was a mess of people trying to ither collect online tickets, buy tickets or gain entry. Entry was 2 lines with no staff, hot without air-conditioning waiting for a picture , but no advice of what was happening up ahead. Frustration of the crowd set in.

Once through the pictures the mass of people (not staggered entry) is at first pool were a man states well that's it next time at 11o'cock we can explain what's in the pool?

The first crowd of the day was well before the 4 school buses entered the aquarium.

The Aquarium is a maze with poor signage and often placed on the wrong side of were it should be, example wash station and signage for kids to wash hands before playing with interactive area. ? Once you play with sea life you see "wash your hands before."

No markings on floor or walls to show you which way to go. Even if you possess Coman sense you are baffled by crowds and which way are we going. Some people found hand out maps, but only if you bought tickets at door. Online well guess your way cause Google maps wont help , lol.

The displays are grotty, tired and poorly maintained outside. The SeaLife is awesome and the inside of the tanks are well maintained. Its the public areas that are sad , grotty and tired. Thankfully the animals are well kept.

The crowds and little to no air-conditioning make for irritable parents and kids. The vibe makes you uncomfortable.

If it was a busy day than what I experienced I would have left via a emergency exit.

The glass , Perspex and tinting on enclosures and viewing stations was worn, scratched and filthy. It looked more like a worn down graffitied public toilet or bus stop.

It was $151.00 AUD for 2 adults & 3 year old. Compared to Werribee Zoo or Sydney Aquarium it fails to compare for value.

As usual the key aspects of the Aquarium are "upselling" merchandise, personal photos and a large public area that rapidly shrinks in size and rooms get smaller herding you to the gift shop that you must walk through a snaking procession of over priced kids toys (impulse buys) from screaming kids & guilt.

The promised FREE memories of digital photographs that you stood for 30 minutes in abject heat and crowds to secure with a scanning code business card are not explained nor do staff want to speak to you if you are not buying large personal photo books from them , well the card code on card nor the QR card are accepted online, "not found" the digital photos of the hell you endured to show you kids a great Melbourne experience are not available as they formed part of the excessive unreasonable cost of you Melbourne Aquarium experience.

Go to YouTube & watch "Finding Nemo" or watch a sea life documentary rather than suffering this day out & $151 AUD it is not justified in its...

I don’t usually make reviews because I don’t care much for them, but when I feel this strongly about something, I really need to speak up. My partner and I came to Melbourne about a month ago for our anniversary, and we took a trip to Sea Life, thankfully I made a mistake with the booking and we didn’t go on our actual anniversary day, because it would’ve ruined the rest of our evening. The first tank had a dead fish. Not long after was a tank with a floating piece of plastic. Being old enough, I thought it was probably a lesson about litter and turtles mistaking plastic bags for jellyfish (as it tends to be), but there was no signage to explain this. There was more litter (such as glass bottles) littering the later tanks with fish, again with no explanation. We continued through the confusing to follow path and cramped hallways, and the more I looked the more I noticed the lack of effort put into the tanks. Plastic plants everywhere, and painfully obviously fake too. I’m no marine biologist nor do I have a degree in animal keeping, but I have common sense and prior experience as well as gathered knowledge on animals, as well as fish of my own. If we’re taught that plastic is bad for the ocean, why would plastic plants be any different? A little lesson for anyone that may not know, but REAL plants consume harmful substances like CO2, ammonia, and nitrates. Plastic plants can also tear fish fins, the longer or more delicate the fin, the higher the risk. The lighting was also extremely difficult to see with, slimy hand prints and snot on the glass didn’t help. There are a lot of people who visit throughout the day I am aware, but a simple window clean goes a long way, not to mention doesn’t take long and is super easy. From that first tank we could already tell it would be a let down, but when we reached the penguins that was really horrifying. The enclosure was much too small, the penguins looked depressed, they weren’t interacting with anything of any of their fellow penguins, and there was bird shit everywhere. We have both been to Sea World where they have penguins, and have gone for the penguin encounter not too long before visiting Melbourne, and their treatment of their animals is by far better, they were happy and the ice was clean, from our first visit at the beginning of the day to our last visit at the end of the day, there is no excuse for the poor treatment of animals. If you cannot cater towards an animals every need and upkeep that continuously and consistently, you should not own or take care of animals. My partner and I were both extremely disappointed and upset for the rest of our day, I wish we never spent our money to support such a horrible place. I highly recommend spending that little extra money to go to Sea World Australia instead, where they rescue their animals and go above and beyond to meet...

I visited the Melbourne Aquarium in September 2025 for an 11am Saturday time slot. I’d been a few times as a kid, but this was my first visit back in years and it felt really nostalgic. So much has changed since then, and the space has been transformed into a fun and engaging experience for people of all ages. The layout was easy to follow and each section had its own theme. I loved the jellyfish displays the most, they were so mesmerising to watch. There was even a kids’ activity where you could draw your own jellyfish and upload it to a digital underwater seascape, which I thought was really creative.

The crocodile and seahorse areas were other highlights, as well as the rainforest section that featured some unique creatures and a lookout over the Yarra River. I also appreciated all the information boards and display pads, which made it easy to learn more about the animals at your own pace. The giant tank with the walk through tunnel was incredible and definitely one of the must see parts of the aquarium. Downstairs, the penguin enclosure was a crowd favourite. The penguins had so much personality, and the fake ‘snow’ bubbles made it feel magical. Right nearby, the 4D Happy Feet cinema was a cute and fun extra included with the ticket.

In the centre of the aquarium, the food court had a nice variety of warm and cold foods, plus plenty of drink options. My friend enjoyed a pastry and juice, and I noticed the facilities were well kept, with clean toilets and easy to find amenities. There was also a VR experience in the café area, which we didn’t try but looked like a fun option. Staff were wonderful throughout the visit! Special shout out to Tab, who was an absolute gem and clearly passionate about her work behind the scenes. On the way out, the gift shop was a lot of fun to wander through, full of cute toys and gifts for all ages.

You can grab photos at the exit, but I loved that they also offer free digital copies through a QR code, which was convenient and money saving. The aquarium is really central, located on the Yarra with the entrance just off Flinders Street. It’s only a short walk from Flinders Street Station, and trams stop right out the front, so it’s easy to get to.

Overall, I highly recommend visiting the Melbourne Aquarium at least once. Get your tickets in advance to make sure you get the time slot you want. Between the animal feedings, informative sessions, and all the interactive exhibits, it’s both educational and entertaining. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, it’s the perfect spot for a fun day out...