By Ethan Franke
Shark Valley is an architectural marvel, and undoubtably a highlight of Sea Life Sydney’s aquarium display. Two tunnels, encased entirely in glass apart from the floor, create an immersive and vertical aspect to your tour.
The tunnels showcase toothy grey nurse sharks that lap the tunnels constantly and a resident Smooth Stingray named Big Mouth extinguishing all the light from above when he floats overhead.
Smooth stingrays are the largest stingrays in all of Australia, reaching up to sizes of 4m in length and 2m wide. It’s an incredible sight spotting Big Mouth swimming above.
The daunting predators roaming around in the rich blue waters make for a cinematic journey for viewers as they walk along the length of the tunnel. It’s safe to say that Shark Valley caters to the average Instagram user looking to dazzle up their feed.
Dugong Island takes visitors above ground, where viewing balconies allow them to gaze upon the majestic animals. The exhibit hosts a daily show featuring Pig, the star dugong who interacts with the crowd and showcases his best tricks.
Pig got his name from his big appetite, as he is known to feed for about 12 hours a day, consuming up to 30kg of cos lettuce each feeding session.
The exhibit is decorated with old navy ship-like scenery: wooden floorboard walkways, frayed dangling ropes and binocular/spyglasses displays, most likely alluding to how 1800s explorers would mistake dugongs for mermaids when sailing the seas.
The penguin exhibition that follows is surely a favourite for the kids. Both Gentoo and king penguins can be waddling along in the icy enclosure. An easy access crawl space allows you to stand up right next to the penguins and get incredible photos of the enclosure.
Sea Life is without a doubt an underrated gem and a sure-fire way to have a memorable outing in Sydney.
The aquarium sits right on the Darling Harbour wharf, situated just a 10-minute walk from Wynyard Station. With general admission for just under $40, and an experience suited for all ages and demeanours, a visit to Sea Life with plenty of camera storage is a must.
Featured image: Shark Valley tunnels. Photo: Ethan Franke