Myself and Minnie the Minx and her friend just had a very lovely time visiting the recently re-launched Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary. The girls hadn’t been before and they had such a ball looking at, and even touching, lots of sea creatures.
See below for a full description of all the information you need to plan a great family trip to Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary.
And stand by for my next post which will be a family pass giveaway to this fishy-and-fun destination.
A huge manta ray swims over a diver.
Kids around the touch pool
A sea cucumber, shell and shark egg in the touch pool.
‘Mum, mum, here comes the turtle!’
Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary
West Esplanade
Manly 2095
Phone: 8251 7877
Website: www.manlysealifesanctuary.com.au
Open: Daily 10am–5.30pm, except Christmas Day
Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary is than the Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbour, but it has a good variety of marine animals on view plus the advantage of generally being a lot less crowded. Plus it’s in Manly so you can make a great day out of it with swimming at the beach, fish and chips and the whole works.
First you walk into a circular room with a huge round tank in the middle and several tanks built into the walls. Most tanks are too high for young children to see straight in so they will have to be held up to look closely. Some tanks do have ledges to stand or sit on to see the wonderful displays of colourful coral reef fish and others.
Outside this main area,there is also a touch pool here with starfish, sea cucuumbers and other sea creatures who don’t mind being touched by little hands.
There are two flights of stairs going down to a perspex tunnel which goes through a huge tank featuring sharks in all their sharp-toothed glory. All sorts of other large fish can be seen here, like wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks and even a huge turtle. Some children may find this area a bit scary.
On the top level there is space which is where the gorgeous Fairy Penguins live. Children will adore seeing theses little creatures toddling around and swimming. There is lots of information here about how endangered these gorgeous, noisy little creatures are.
The SEA LIFE Sanctuary has an emphasis on protecting sea creatures and on looking after injured animals.
The ‘pram park.’
Cafe: The Boardwalk Cafe serves meals and snacks and has inside and outside seating areas. Highchairs are available.
Baby change/toilet: A baby change table in the ladies toilets
Strollers: The stairs are a problem for prams and strollers. There is a ‘stroller park’ where they can be left.
Shop: Yes
Mum’s report: My kids adore the feathery scorpion fish. There is plenty to see here and so much to combine the visit with in Manly.
Extra: West Esplanade Beach has a large baths area. A ticket to Oceanworld also allows entry to the Manly Museum and Art Gallery next door. Oceanworld is at the start of the Manly to Fairlight stroller walk (see page 260).
Map reference: Gregory’s 288 F10, Sydway 260 D6, UBD 198 A10
Parking: Meter parking on West Esplanade and surrounding streets
Nearest ferry: Manly Wharf is a five minute walk away Bus stop nearby: Yes
I absolutely adored this vision of underwater loveliness.
Yes, girls, sharks really are that big.
The Fairy Penguins
The huge aquarium in the first room.
Have you ever seen a fairy penguin?
Have you visited the aquarium at Manly?
Stand by for a family pass giveaway on the blog tomorrow!
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