AQWA The Aquarium of Western Australia in Hillarys, Western Australia, Australia | Zoo

AQWA The Aquarium of Western Australia

Locality: Hillarys, Western Australia, Australia

Phone: +61 8 9447 7500

Address: 91 Southside Drive 6025 Hillarys, WA, Australia

Website: http://www.aqwa.com.au/

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• Arts and entertainment
• Aquarium
• Zoo

25.01.2022 So I'm sure today your not realllly thinking about getting your dive gear out & going into the ocean BUT it's always a good time if you havnt dived in a while to give yourself a bit of a refresh on how to set up your gear for when the sun does come out So what are you waiting for, go and dust off your BCD and regs, grab your tank and follow our dive instructor Selimah as she guides you through setting up your gear.. Hopefully our dive with sharks experience will be up and... running in no time, but for now get excited and let us make you feel comfortable with the equipment We hope to see you all again soon

24.01.2022 Well I dont think we need quite as many visitors as Raine island on the Great Barrier Reef are expecting...however we are so very excited that our doors open THIS FRIDAY :D If youve been following our stories on instagram you would have seen by no means have we been "quiet" while closed, therefore we cannot wait to show off some changes weve made. Other changes have been made to ensure the safety of our visitors and guests..... Some changes to your experience include; *You must book online *Numbers will be limited to 300 people in the building at any one time and will be a one in one out entry policy *Guided tours and scheduled talks are no longer available at this time *All lifts will not be available for use during this time *Glass Bottom Boat can only be booked at reception on the day and is limited to comply with regulations We appreciate you patience and understanding during this time and we look forward to seeing you all again. https://www.facebook.com/9NewsPerth/videos/3034834086569876/

24.01.2022 WOWEE what a weekend!! Three dine under the sea events in a row done and dusted . Even channel 10 came and checked out the experience on Friday night September dates are almost sold out so be sure to get in quick and have an experience to remember..... If youve been to a dine please comment and tell us what you thought to go in the draw to win a family pass to come back and see the aquarium by day

24.01.2022 Are you ready for this??? Wait for it.... Yes that’s exactly what you think it is,the clam in one of our exhibits spawned!!!... This was a very special moment here at AQWA,staff that have been here for over 10 years have never witnessed this before Mature clams are hermaphrodites,meaning they are both male..and female therefore release both sperm & eggs into the water when they spawn How incredible is that?!

23.01.2022 It’s FRIDAY YIPPEE!! Have you got something to celebrate? We don’t just do weddings you know??...... Check out the most extravagant cake we’ve ever seen that was for a beautiful christening hosted here last Sunday Room styled by Luxe Events Perth Cake made by Sandy's Cakes And yes of course all the balloons are 100% biodegradable You can help save our marine life AND have a beautifully decorated event too. Please make sure you educate yourself about plastic pollution or even better come down and have a chat to one of our passionate staff

23.01.2022 Mermaide Madeleine is HERE!!! Although it is very quiet without anyone here we did have one very special 'kid' that got their very own private perfomance. We hope you all enjoy this incredible performance "virtually" & we managed to put a big smile on your little ones faces. Please let us know what you thought of this performance & share with your friends who have mermaid obsessed little ones :) Congratulations @Fiona Sharp @Krystal Maddison @Bianca Crosby @Claire campbell and @Nikki Collins for sending your mermaid questions through. We were feeling quiete genorous & you have all won a family pass to come into AQWA when we re-open :) (please pm us your email address so we can get your voucher sent to you :)

23.01.2022 Today is THE day!!! Well keep it short and sweet but just a bit of a heads up on a few things Winter is here and due to social distancing restrictions you may get a little wet if we have lines out the front so please bring your rain coats and umbrellas ... book your tickets online if you can avoid bringing a pram please do as the lifts wont be operating due to covid restrictions We cant wait to see all your smiling faces soon

23.01.2022 * SHARK UPDATE* I suppose your all wondering how our animals are since we sadly had to close our doors? Rest assure we still have a dedicated team here everyday cleaning our aquariums & feeding our animals. Was nice to see our grey nurse sharks got the social distancing memo . This is a normal shark feed,when all our nurses line up & come down one by one to get their lunch from our diver...yummo! Have you ever seen our sharks get fed before?

22.01.2022 Author Kylie Howarth Creative was such a special treat to our book week workshop on Tuesday. Children got to take part in our new excursion package where they explored AQWA, got to create their own wind up curious creature..this years theme for book week and OF COURSE got to hear a cool story from the actual author..who did you know...can also play the harmonica and make incredible sounds from a conch shell All excursions during book week also went in the draw to win $300 worth of books for their school

22.01.2022 Special appearance on the today show channel 9 bright & early this morning. Check it out at 8.30am today Big shout out to Paddock To Party Ponies Annie & Pixie were beautifully behaved , Mermaid Madeleine & the Eco Faeries. Channel 9 TODAY

22.01.2022 It's give away time...and what a prize Dinner for two in our underwater tunnel with all the sharks, rays and turtle. Make sure you enter through Karinyup shopping centres post. Good luck everyone

21.01.2022 Be a Swan this school holidays & pop your little ones in a carrier Unfortunately our lift is out of order & we are patiently waiting for a whole new lift to arrive from overseas. Therefore we highly recommend (if possible) to leave your pram at home or in the car during this busy time to make it easier for you to navigate your underwater adventure.... Did you know that mother Swans act as a flotation device while their little ones learn how to swim? AQWA will be open 9.30-4pm everyday this school holidays. Can’t wait to see you all sourced from Pinterest by Kim Wormald

21.01.2022 Are you ready for our FIRST virtual tour?? Today our ocean guide will be talking to you about our Grey Nurse Sharks! Mum's and Dad's get ready you have approximately 7 minutes to either have a coffee, shower, hang the washing out or maybe a quick power snooze or....you could tune in with your kid's and learn a thing or two about sharks Congratulations to @amanda brouwer & @yvonne hughes-odgers you have won a Family pass to come visit AQWA once we re-open. Thanks for the great questions

20.01.2022 1 month old today ! We thought it was about time to let you know we have chosen a name from one of your suggestions for our baby Blue Spot Lagoon Ray ..... Let us welcome little miss "Blueberry Pancake" ... Isn't that just the cutest thing you've ever heard???? She is doing very well and is now cruising around in our baby nursery outside so you can come and see her . Thank you for all your name suggestions, there were so many amazing and meaningful ones to choose from. A few stand out that deserve a free pass to come see her include @Sarah James who chose the winning name, @Angela Connelly for your beautiful meaningful suggestions and @Marc Russo for sending us a pic of how baby rays are made . Please dm us your email address & we will send out a free pass to come visit Blueberry Pancake. Music by: https://www.purple-planet.com

20.01.2022 Everyone meet Captain, our rescued Loggerhead Turtle. These guys get their name because they have an exceptionally large head & neck so when they pop up for a breathe they look like a floating log on the surface. Tune in to see Captain being hand fed by one of our Aquarists & learn more about our rehab centre & what you can do to help save these endangered marine animals. Thanks for the great question Gracie @Shell Goffy we hope you learnt a thing or two about turtles :)

18.01.2022 AQWA: What did you say Barry?? Barry: Its the last weekend of school holidays AQWA: Sorry I couldnt quite understand you Barry, what are those things in your mouth?... Barry: Oh..these are my babies, I keep them nice and close to me for 3 days before they hatch AQWA: Whats the purpose of this information? Barry: Well I was thinking while the lift is out of operation I would encourage/recommend you bring your bubs in slings/carriers AQWA: Great idea Barry thank you, it also means that bubs get a better view of all your friends & makes it a little easier to navigate through the aquarium during this busy time Barry: Anytime humans, looking forward to seeing all your pretty faces . But just FYI if I see a better looking girl swim past Ill quickly swallow my babies and offer my mouth to her AQWA: Wow thats crazy stuff!!! A few extra hints & tips to know about visiting AQWA this weekend.... Online tickets are sold out therefore please be aware there may be a wait time to enter the aquarium if we are at our building capacity Waiting in line + wet weather = bring your umbrella/rain jacket If you are feeling unwell or have any signs of sickness we kindly ask you to re-schedule your visit for when your feeling better Quieter times are from 1-4pm We thank you in advance for your patience & for supporting us during these difficult times AQWA:

18.01.2022 I BELIEVE special school holiday event splashes off tomorrow & we have some extra information to help you plan your day. If you have purchased I Believe tickets entry will be through the function centre from 9.30am As ticket holders you will receive special entry through our Function Centre Entrance. This entrance is located to the right of our general entry. This special entry will give you direct access to our Marina Bay exhibit area where the mermaids and fairies... will be. You do not however need to arrive at 9.30am.Our Fast track will operate throughout the event. The event runs from 10-1pm with mermaid and fairy experiences replicated throughout the day. No need to rush - AQWA’s main entrance opens at 9am however there will be no access to Marina Bay from our exhibit areas until 10am to ensure that ticket holders using the fast track entry have priority. Ticket holders will continue to have priority throughout the day. No Pram Access Parents of young children please note that there is NO pram access to the Function Centre, Marina Bay or our main aquarium (underwater tunnel). Therefore if possible we highly recommend a baby carrier. This also gives the best view for your little one too Session Times Mermaids will swap the ocean for our outdoor ‘schooling fish’ aquarium 3 times during the day. Each session is the same and there is no scripted performance just the magical chance to see a mermaid underwater! You can watch them glide through the water between 10am -10.30am; 11 -11.30am and 12-12.30pm When the mermaids exit the water the magic will continue with a visit from the singing and dancing Eco Faeries. Fairies will be in Marina Bay at 10.30am; 11.30am and 12.30pm. You can leave Marina Bay at any time, to explore our other exhibits. Weather Please note this is an OUTDOOR area & you need to ensure you are adequately protected from the heat & sun (sunscreen, hats, suitable clothing etc). We can’t wait to sea you all there,please keep an eye out on here for any changes or updates

18.01.2022 Its FRIDAY YIPPEE!! Have you got something to celebrate? We dont just do weddings you know??...... Check out the most extravagant cake weve ever seen that was for a beautiful christening hosted here last Sunday Room styled by Luxe Events Perth Cake made by Sandy's Cakes And yes of course all the balloons are 100% biodegradable You can help save our marine life AND have a beautifully decorated event too. Please make sure you educate yourself about plastic pollution or even better come down and have a chat to one of our passionate staff

17.01.2022 Weve been so excited to post this special moment we were lucky enough to play a part in A big congratulations to these legends who got engaged underwater,scuba diving for the first time We wish you all the love and happiness in this big blue world

17.01.2022 IMPORTANT MESSAGE for mature aged and visitors with special requirements After 3 months of being closed we are so excited to welcome you all back As luck would have it, and keeping with the theme of 2020 our lifts have decided their days of public service are now over. ... But in all seriousness.... Due to our lifts being turned off and the environment of salt, moisture and erosion, access to the underwater tunnel is only accessible via the stairs. On a positive note it will be replaced with a 15 person lift! We understand the inconvenience this has caused so we would love to offer our visitors with special requirements an exclusive discount. * valid for seniors, disability and companion card holders https://aqwa.rezdy.com//seniors-and-disability-special-aqw

16.01.2022 SMILE :D just like this Smooth Ray! Our team & animals are so excited to welcome you all back on an underwater journey of the West Australian coastline... Our doors will re-open on the 12th of June with a few changes to the norm...... * Opening hours are 10-3pm * Tickets must be pre-purchased for the day you are coming * Slight changes to our daily talks & interactions * 300 person limit (please note the afternoons generally are quieter) Thank you for your patience and understanding in advance. We cant wait to see all your smiling faces again For further details & to book online please click on the link below https://www.aqwa.com.au/visit/

16.01.2022 Need something to keep the kids entertained? Or just interested to hear some cool facts about our amazing marine life? Weve decided to bring the animals & knowledge of our incredible ocean guides to you...in the comfort of your home! BUT...WE NEED YOUR HELP! Over the next little while we will be filming some virtual tours of our exhibits & animals; including (but not limited to) *Octopus *Crayfish... *Jellyfish *Cuttlefish *Pineapple fish *Seadragons *Clownfish *Crocodiles *Seahorses *Seasnake *Lionfish *Stonefish *Mantis Shrimp *Box fish *Sea stars *Sea cucumbers *Port Jackson sharks *Shovelnose rays *Grey nurse sharks *Smooth rays *Eagle rays *Turtles *Corals As well as dive tutorials from our amazing instructor & also some sneaky behind the scenes shots of some of our cool tours we usually run.. to get you all excited for when we re-open If you have ANY questions what so ever about any of our animals we have at AQWA, please comment below. If your question gets picked & our ocean guide answers it in their tour you go in the draw to WIN 1 x FREE FAMILY AQWA PASS once we re-open...WIN WIN! One of our marine scientists will also be there to answer any further questions you might have on the video thats posted so stay tuned guys your in for a treat So what are you waiting for...get asking See more

16.01.2022 Come and join Gemma from Little Yoga Gems and let her take you and your little one through an interactive and playful story telling experience through easy to master yoga techniques. Don't worry our classes are held inside our function centre so you keep nice and warm.. while still enjoying those magical ocean views Spots are limited so book online today ... https://aqwa.rezdy.com/404356/toddler-yoga

16.01.2022 Happy Easter everyone! Tonight was suppose to be our sold out Good Friday event & boy did we have some fun things planned for you all! We are so sad this had to be cancelled but cannot wait to see everyone when we open our doors again Stay safe & eat lots of chocolate

16.01.2022 So Im sure today your not realllly thinking about getting your dive gear out & going into the ocean BUT its always a good time if you havnt dived in a while to give yourself a bit of a refresh on how to set up your gear for when the sun does come out So what are you waiting for, go and dust off your BCD and regs, grab your tank and follow our dive instructor Selimah as she guides you through setting up your gear.. Hopefully our dive with sharks experience will be up and... running in no time, but for now get excited and let us make you feel comfortable with the equipment We hope to see you all again soon

14.01.2022 Merry Christmas all! We hope Santa was as kind to you as we was to our fishy friends.. Have a great day today Love from the AQWA family

12.01.2022 Giveaway time again So jump on board and come enjoy the ride this school holidays Enter through Hillarys Boat Harbour’s post

12.01.2022 Turtles are truly incredible..GO YOSHI!!!

11.01.2022 Dont be fooled by this colourful little shrimp.. they dont get the nickname the 'thumb splitter' for no reason! Listen in to find out why this cool dude is found in our Danger Zone exhibit. Thanks for the great question @sarah ritchie. Youve won a family pass to come to AQWA when we re-open :) Thank you Richard Fitzpatrick for allowing us to use some of your incredible footage!

11.01.2022 SSSHHH! Let's just say we may have 'forgotten' that it was actually our birthday yesterday . Like many of us with birthdays over these crazy months, I'm sure we are all on the same page when I say that we get to stay 32 years young for another year ... Also next year I promise we will make an extra large fish cake to make up for this one! This video is from a few years ago but a sure AQWA tradition, where a dedicated aquarist spends weeks leading up to the 13th April freezing layer upon layer of fish & squid..topping off with prawn icing and blue mackerel candles....yummo HAPPY BIRTHDAY AQWA!!

10.01.2022 We are very lucky to have the 2 different species of seadragons here at AQWA, the 'weedy' & the 'leafy'-can you tell which ones which? Tune in to hear all about these beautiful animals from Sam, our lovely ocean guide. Congratulations to @Josie McAlees your daughters great question "why is the male seahorse the one that has the babies?" was hopefully answered to your standards haha, you have won a family pass to come into AQWA when we re-open :)

09.01.2022 Join us as we glide through some fun facts with Bianca about the largest stingray in the world, the Smooth Ray. Did you know a group of stingrays is known as a 'fever'?

09.01.2022 Mums are pretty amazing! They support us,protect us and teach us a few life lessons or two along the way. But,did you know that some of the best mums on the planet live in our oceans?... Many marine animal mums go to great lengths to raise their young..heres a few examples.. 1. Humpback whales have one of the longest migratory journeys of any mammal on earth, the calves stay by their mummas side this whole 5000km journey as they drink an average of 200 litres of milk per day!! 2. Polar bears are one of the most fiercely independent mums since the male dosnt play an active role in raising the young. The mums do everything from finding the food and shelter to teaching the cubs to hunt when their only a few weeks old. 3. Deep sea octopus mums spend approx 4 and a half years watching over her eggs until they hatch!! She will do whatever it takes to nurture her young,including warding off predators,cleaning off debris and sediment,pushing water across to promote oxygen exchange and even foregoing her own meals to feed her babies. 4. Walruses are known to be some of the cuddliest mums around,frequently exchanging hugs and kisses with her young to provide warmth and comfort in the harsh arctic conditions. Walruses mums are also known to adopt orphaned calves. 5. Dolphins have adopted a unique cultural practise that is passed down from mother to daughter. Female dolphins have been known to wear sea sponges over their beaks to protect them while rummaging the ocean floor for prey. Scientists believe this is a learner behaviour after years of watching mum hunt,and is a skill she will pass on for generations to come. We hope all you mummas out there had a great day yesterday and your little ones spoilt you by the incredibly talented Sarah Coote

08.01.2022 AQWA: What did you say Barry?? Barry: It's the last weekend of school holidays AQWA: Sorry I couldn't quite understand you Barry, what are those things in your mouth?... Barry: Oh..these are my babies, I keep them nice and close to me for 3 days before they hatch AQWA: Whats the purpose of this information? Barry: Well I was thinking while the lift is out of operation I would encourage/recommend you bring your bubs in slings/carriers AQWA: Great idea Barry thank you, it also means that bubs get a better view of all your friends & makes it a little easier to navigate through the aquarium during this busy time Barry: Anytime humans, looking forward to seeing all your pretty faces . But just FYI if I see a better looking girl swim past I'll quickly swallow my babies and offer my mouth to her AQWA: Wow that's crazy stuff!!! A few extra hints & tips to know about visiting AQWA this weekend.... Online tickets are sold out therefore please be aware there may be a wait time to enter the aquarium if we are at our building capacity Waiting in line + wet weather = bring your umbrella/rain jacket If you are feeling unwell or have any signs of sickness we kindly ask you to re-schedule your visit for when your feeling better Quieter times are from 1-4pm We thank you in advance for your patience & for supporting us during these difficult times AQWA:

08.01.2022 Learn all about our Port Jackson Sharks as Andrea dives into our touch pool. Port Jackson Sharks, or as we call them 'PJ's' have a distinctive blunt head, harness-like markings over the head & body & are found in rocky environments along the bottom of the ocean.

06.01.2022 WE ARE OPEN Thank you for all your support...and patience during these times. Phase 4 of the restrictions commence tomorrow and your probably wondering what that means for us and your visit?... Tickets can now be bought online AND at the door We no longer have a 300 maximum capacity Unfortunately our lift is still unable to be used so if possible please avoid bringing a pram (we are working on a pram valet service) Opening hours are now 9.30-3 weekdays and 9.30-4 on the weekend Sea for yourself

05.01.2022 BABY!!! Welcome to the world little one We are extremely happy to announce the birth of this little baby blue spot lagoon ray Just to put the size into perspective her body is about the size of a closed fist ..bless!... Open to name suggestions,please comment below and our curatorial team will pick a fav

05.01.2022 Dont be fooled by this colourful little shrimp.. they dont get the nickname the thumb splitter for no reason! Listen in to find out why this cool dude is found in our Danger Zone exhibit. Thanks for the great question @sarah ritchie. Youve won a family pass to come to AQWA when we re-open :) Thank you Richard Fitzpatrick for allowing us to use some of your incredible footage!

04.01.2022 Need something to keep the kid's entertained? Or just interested to hear some cool facts about our amazing marine life? We've decided to bring the animals & knowledge of our incredible ocean guides to you...in the comfort of your home! BUT...WE NEED YOUR HELP! Over the next little while we will be filming some virtual tours of our exhibits & animals; including (but not limited to) *Octopus *Crayfish... *Jellyfish *Cuttlefish *Pineapple fish *Seadragons *Clownfish *Crocodiles *Seahorses *Seasnake *Lionfish *Stonefish *Mantis Shrimp *Box fish *Sea star's *Sea cucumbers *Port Jackson sharks *Shovelnose rays *Grey nurse sharks *Smooth rays *Eagle rays *Turtles *Corals As well as dive tutorials from our amazing instructor & also some sneaky behind the scenes shots of some of our cool tours we usually run.. to get you all excited for when we re-open If you have ANY questions what so ever about any of our animals we have at AQWA, please comment below. If your question get's picked & our ocean guide answers it in their tour you go in the draw to WIN 1 x FREE FAMILY AQWA PASS once we re-open...WIN WIN! One of our marine scientist's will also be there to answer any further questions you might have on the video that's posted so stay tuned guys your in for a treat So what are you waiting for...get asking See more

04.01.2022 Sea Cucumbers are echinoderms-like urchins and sea stars. They get their name from their elongated shape, just like the cucumbers we eat! Althought they dont look it, sea cucumbers play a very important role in the marine ecosystem. Listen in to find out why :) Thanks for your great questions @annaliese kate barnett for your question. Please private mssage for your aquarium pass :)

03.01.2022 Not long now until we have a very special visitor swimming over to say hello.....we are so excited to announce that MERMAID Madeleine is coming ! While unfortunately she won't get to see all your smiling faces in person she hopes to still sprinkle some magic & make some children very happy . She has been very kind to lend us her shell-phone to film her tricks so you can all watch from home....yay!! Madeleine will be performing for you on here next Saturday 25th April @... 11am, so if you were waiting for our next mermaid event be sure not to miss this special appearance. Might be a good video to keep & put on repeat for all the mermaid fans out there.. Does your child have a question that they've always wanted to ask a real mermaid? Comment down below as our mermaid would love to answer them for you Thank you for capturing this beautiful photo of mermaid Madeleine @mrsdavisxo

02.01.2022 SSSHHH! Lets just say we may have forgotten that it was actually our birthday yesterday . Like many of us with birthdays over these crazy months, Im sure we are all on the same page when I say that we get to stay 32 years young for another year ... Also next year I promise we will make an extra large fish cake to make up for this one! This video is from a few years ago but a sure AQWA tradition, where a dedicated aquarist spends weeks leading up to the 13th April freezing layer upon layer of fish & squid..topping off with prawn icing and blue mackerel candles....yummo HAPPY BIRTHDAY AQWA!!

02.01.2022 Well I don't think we need quite as many visitors as Raine island on the Great Barrier Reef are expecting...however we are so very excited that our doors open THIS FRIDAY :D If you've been following our stories on instagram you would have seen by no means have we been "quiet" while closed, therefore we cannot wait to show off some changes we've made. Other changes have been made to ensure the safety of our visitors and guests..... Some changes to your experience include; *You must book online *Numbers will be limited to 300 people in the building at any one time and will be a one in one out entry policy *Guided tours and scheduled talks are no longer available at this time *All lifts will not be available for use during this time *Glass Bottom Boat can only be booked at reception on the day and is limited to comply with regulations We appreciate you patience and understanding during this time and we look forward to seeing you all again. https://www.facebook.com/9NewsPerth/videos/3034834086569876/

01.01.2022 We are very lucky to have the 2 different species of seadragons here at AQWA, the weedy & the leafy-can you tell which ones which? Tune in to hear all about these beautiful animals from Sam, our lovely ocean guide. Congratulations to @Josie McAlees your daughters great question "why is the male seahorse the one that has the babies?" was hopefully answered to your standards haha, you have won a family pass to come into AQWA when we re-open :)

01.01.2022 Has something exciting happened to you amongst all these crazy times ?? Although we are still currently closed for business our function manager/wedding coordinator are available and would love to answer all your enquires. So if you have a wedding to plan or any other event where a good venue with incredible ocean views,delicious food and of course a huge dance floor is required then what are you waiting for...give Lindsay a call or shoot her an email [email protected]... or 0428 454 626 Brides if you got married at aqwa we would love to see some photos and hear your experience so we can share them on our social pages