AQWA – The Aquarium of Western Australia is located at Hillarys Boat Harbour, a coastal tourist precinct just 20 minutes north of Perth. At AQWA, you will go on an underwater journey along Western Australia’s amazing coastline, meeting incredible sea creatures through beautiful exhibits, interactive activities, and educational programs.
Why Visit AQWA?
Explore the Underwater World
AQWA aquarium is home to over 400 species of marine life, including sharks, stingrays, turtles, and tropical fish. AQWA holds in excess of 4 million litres of seawater across its whole system. The Shipwreck Coast, which is Australia’s largest single aquarium, holds 3 million litres alone! You can also stroll through a 98-metre tunnel under the water and watch the sea animals swim above you. Visiting both the underwater tunnel (shipwreck coast aquarium) and the interactive touch pool are both part of the overall AQWA experience. Just look at the aquarium of Western Australia photos and see for yourself!
Learn About Conservation Efforts
AQWA is a centre for education and conservation. The aquarium works hard to keep the ocean safe. They have different programs and initiatives to educate people and encourage them to protect the environment. When you visit AQWA, you can learn about sea creatures and help conserve them too.
Fun for the Whole Family
AQWA is a great place for a family day out. With interactive exhibits, touch pools, and daily talks and feeds, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Kids can discover the aquatic world in an enjoyable and interactive manner, while grown-ups can admire the elegance and variety of marine life.
AQWA also offers various educational programs and events for schools, community groups, and corporate events. These programs are designed to educate and inspire people of all ages about marine life and conservation. They also offer birthday party packages for children, making AQWA a unique and exciting venue for a celebration.
What to Observe at AQWA?
AQWA Touch Pool
One of the most popular attractions at AQWA is the touch pool, where visitors can get hands-on with some of the marine life. You can touch and interact with starfish, sea cucumbers, and other creatures under the supervision of trained staff. This is a great opportunity for children to learn about these animals and their habitats.
Shipwreck Coast
The Shipwreck Coast is Australia’s largest single aquarium and holds 3 million litres of Indian Ocean seawater. It is a cool-water aquarium, home to temperate, pelagic sea creatures including large sharks, stingrays, turtles and hundreds of schooling fishes such as kingfish, trevally, snapper and breams.
Rottnest Coral Reef
The Rottnest Coral Reef is one of the world’s largest living coral exhibits and showcases the quirky sub-tropical corals, fish and seagrasses of Rottnest Island (a popular Perth tourist location). This bustling underwater city features an incredible array of the reef-building native corals of Rottnest and Perth, amid intricate limestone structures, and is the preferred home of colourful sub-tropical reef fishes like wrasses, stripeys, and parrotfishes.
AQWA Tickets and AQWA Family Pass
AQWA offers various ticket options, including single entry, annual passes, and AQWA family pass. All tickets are valid for the whole day, from 9am-4pm.
Plan Your Visit
Opening Hours
AQWA is open daily from 9am – 4pm, including public holidays. The only day of the year they close is Christmas Day.
Location – Hillarys Western Australia
AQWA is located at Hillarys Boat Harbour, just a 25-minute drive from Perth CBD. You can also take public transport, with buses and trains running regularly to Hillarys Western Australia. There is ample parking available at the harbour for those driving.
Other Things to Do at Hillarys Boat Harbour
Hillarys Boat Harbour attracts many tourists, with a wealth of other enjoyable activities in the vicinity. You can take a stroll along the boardwalk, enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants, or even take a boat tour to explore the coastline.