SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium: Bay of Rays & Night Reef

Walk Through an Underwater Tunnel and See Sharks Glide Overhead

You walk through SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium at your own pace, moving from the Bay of Rays through Rocky Shores and into the glowing Night on the Reef zone. Your admission includes a digital photo pass with complimentary photos at themed stations. The aquarium is fully accessible, with stroller and wheelchair hire available, and you can spend as long as you want in each section before heading out.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

• Enter SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
• Discover marine and freshwater creatures
• See jellyfish, penguins, and seahorses
• View hundreds of fish species
• Visit Bay of Rays to see Fiddler rays
• Observe Port Jackson sharks
• Explore Rocky Shores zone
• Experience Night on the Reef bioluminescence

The experience

You step into SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium and the first thing you notice is the light: filtered, blue-green, nothing like the street outside. The Bay of Rays zone is where most people stop first. Fiddler rays move through the water like they're dancing, and Port Jackson sharks cruise past the glass close enough that you feel the size of them. It's not a huge tank, but it doesn't need to be. The point is you're standing still and they're moving around you.

After the rays, there's the Rocky Shores zone, which is newer and designed for the smaller visitors, though honestly, adults spend time here too. It's shallow, interactive, the kind of space where you can crouch down and really look. Then you move into Night on the Reef, and that's where the aquarium gets strange in the best way. The bioluminescence is real (jellyfish and other creatures that actually glow in the dark), and the whole room is dim enough that you stop thinking about the building around you. You're just watching the ocean do something you've never seen before.

The digital photo pass is included, so there are themed photo stations set up throughout the aquarium where staff take pictures of you and your group. If you want prints, you can buy them on the way out, but the digital copies are yours either way. The whole thing is wheelchair accessible (ramps, lifts, accessible restrooms), and if you need a stroller or wheelchair, you can hire one at the entrance. Stroller parking is available too, so families with young kids aren't wrestling equipment through the exhibits.

What’s included

Your admission includes general entry to SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, access to all zones including the Bay of Rays, Rocky Shores, and Night on the Reef, and complimentary digital photos from themed photo stations throughout the aquarium. Stroller and wheelchair hire are available at the entrance for an additional fee.

Options for this experience

3 options

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium5 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 14:00Same Day General Admission Ticket, Off-Peak

Peak13 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 15:30

General Admission13 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 15:30Super Peak

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 15:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (2 to 15 years) · Infant (under 2)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Is this one for you?Right for families with young children, groups moving at their own pace, and anyone who wants to see marine life without a guide or fixed schedule. The self-guided format means you spend as long as you want at each tank and skip nothing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 15 years); Infant (under 2).

How long does it take to go through SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium?

Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours, though you can move through faster or slower depending on how long you linger at each zone.

Is the digital photo pass really free?

Yes. Staff photograph you at themed stations throughout the aquarium and give you digital copies. Printed photos are available for purchase if you want them.

Can I bring a stroller?

Yes. Stroller parking is available, and you can also hire a stroller at the entrance if you don't have one with you.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, ramps and lifts are in place, and wheelchair hire is available at the entrance.

What animals will I see?

The aquarium features jellyfish, penguins, seahorses, Fiddler rays, Port Jackson sharks, and hundreds of fish species across freshwater and marine exhibits.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed throughout the aquarium.

Is there parking nearby?

Public transportation options are available near the aquarium. Check local transit for the best route to Port Phillip Bay.

Do infants need a ticket?

Infants can enter and ride in a pram or stroller. Check the venue directly for any age-specific pricing.