SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium — Attraction in Sunshine Coast Regional

We are two mums with a toddler and anyone that has ever had a toddler knows that they live their life on their own time in their own way.

Always.

I have anxiety and can find some situations extremely overwhelming. I pre plan and like ti know what to expect to try and minimise my anxiety, but we all know toddlers throw a “plot twist” daily.

We’ve used Cérge in the past at a Brisbane swimming pool and it was extremely helpful. So when we saw SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium had launched this weekend we were SO excited.

We are from Brissy but decided to make the day trip and be a tourist on the Sunshine Coast for a day. Why wouldn’t we when we know we can have an inclusive experience and if a business has Cérge we know they care and that is a nice feeling.

We packed up our toddler and managed to make it to the coast in record time! We arrived at Sealife and had pre booked for 9am. We let them know we were coming through the Cérge app and all was going to plan.

Until it wasn’t.

Nippers was on so we couldn’t get a park and had to drive around a bit. Beau decided he had had enough which was fair, it was a big drive. ……And of course now we were going to be late.

Cérge has an in built live chat and it’s a real person, so being able to send these hiccup updates and know that they are coordinating behind the scenes and that I didn’t have to panic was such a relief. Big big sigh! No one wants to add letting someone down to the mix when you’re a mum with a toddler. Especially with my anxious thoughts.

My mind was racing but I was assured by the Cérge team that it was ok and to take my time. So good, it’s like having a little ‘pep talk’ in my pocket. I’d usually just leave and abandon cart because it would be way too much.

We arrived at Sealife and were greeted by Belinda, we knew it was day one for them with Cérge so if things weren’t smooth we understood. Yet, Belinda was amazing and so helpful, she let us know the quieter areas and times and even tips on parking for the future.

We loved the Penguins and the Clown Fish and Beau was having a great time! We just had to get a photo with the big jaws near the sea tunnel. Wow it was just so cool and his mind was blown.

It was so good to be a tourist for the day and to feel like no matter what plot twist was thrown we had people who were willing to understand. I can’t tell you what a different that makes to anxiety but also energy levels.

Now we are looking on the app at what else we...

recently had the incredible opportunity to take the "Behind the Scenes Turtle Tour" at SEA LIFE, and it was an absolutely fantastic experience! If you're looking for something truly special beyond the main exhibits, this tour is an absolute must-do.

From the moment we started, our guide (who was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate!) made the whole experience fascinating. We were given exclusive access to areas the public never sees, which really brought to life the immense effort and dedication that goes into caring for these magnificent creatures. Seeing the turtles behind-the-scenes area you saw food preparation area and quarantine tanks was eye-opening and gave me a newfound appreciation for the complex operations of the aquarium.

The absolute highlight for me was, of course, the chance to get up close and personal with the sea turtles. The resident green sea turtle' was a truly magical moment I won't soon forget! It was amazing to learn about their individual personalities and the specific care they receive. Our guide shared so many interesting facts about their diets, health, and the critical role they play in ocean ecosystems. Beyond the close encounters, the tour was incredibly informative about SEA LIFE's vital conservation efforts. Learning about their "Breed, Rescue, Protect" initiatives and how they rehabilitate injured turtles gave me a much deeper understanding of the challenges facing these animals and how we can all contribute to their protection. The small group size made the experience feel very personal, and there was plenty of opportunity to ask questions, which our guide answered with genuine enthusiasm. It truly enhanced my overall visit to SEA LIFE. I highly recommend the "Behind the Scenes Turtle Tour" to anyone – families, couples, or solo adventurers – who wants a deeper understanding of marine conservation and an unforgettable interaction with these gentle giants. It's an inspiring and educational experience that you...

This was the aquarium of my childhood. So going back as an adult with my brother and mother (late 70s early dementia) was an experience. $44 per person, booked into the 1130am session on a Friday. It was quite busy, and the queue to get scanned in was lined up outside in the rain. Buy tickets online before you go. The time you book in doesn't seem to matter though - we waited for 30mins in the queue out front and got in at 12.

SEA LIFE reminds me of ikea - there's a single route and direction you must go. The walkways are very skinny, and the route folds back onto itself. I flag this because lots and lots of prams get pushed through and discarded. This was quite difficult for my mum (in her late 70s) to navigate especially in the dim lights. Further, if covid is a worry for you, some areas create bottlenecks of people and the air con is a bit sketchy.

From an exhibits perspective; small aquariums, seahorses, frogs, African cichlids, squid, archerfish, seahorse touch pool, penguins, underwater tunnels, seals, jellyfish, crayfish, turtle. The aquariums themselves are fairly stark and bleak, lots of single animals, lots of plastic plants, the underwater tunnels have no/limited air-conditioning and there was no coral. The seahorses and the jellyfish were my favourite displays.

There's is a small children's playground inside too. I would suggest this is a great place to take the kids. Get a Kenilworth Donut and let the kids run around and have a blast. If you are into aquariums and sealife perhaps let this one go in favour of Australia Zoo.

My mum has early signs of dementia, so we are reliving places of her history. At the end of the day, mum remembers the touch pools and loved it. But we were a bit worried of her falling over in the queue to get in, getting confused on the route, no places to sit, and getting around prams and children in small dim spaces. You get free photos included in the price which is...