General Admission Entry At AQWA

Reviews

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  bluebay06 5

  02 Oct 2021

  The Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA) is located in Hillarys at the end of Southside Dr. Although there are various options for the entrance ticket, my wife and I paid for the standard general admission ticket of 30 AUD (infants aged 0 to 3 years can enter the aquarium for free). The most fascinating part of the aquarium is the large shark tank which can be visited following a 100m long circular tunnel. Located in the lower part of the aquarium, which can also be reached using a lift which is very useful for those who, like us, had a baby pram, while inside the tunnel you can proceed by walking or using a moving conveyor belt. Various species of rays and sharks populate this large tank along with fish also from the WA coast. Certainly smaller, but very interesting, are also the other sectors of the aquarium and in particular for children there is a Touch Pool where a kind and expert operator allowed our one and a half year old baby to experience what a starfish feels like with a hands-on learning experience. Also for those who bring children, in the Coral Reef sector there is a large area where, in front of a reef populated by colorful fish, there is a way to sit and relax for a few minutes. Being a school holiday period and a rainy day, the aquarium was very crowded, not a bad situation if you bring children, but if you want to visit this environment in a more scientific way it is certainly better to choose a day where there are fewer visitors and the animals could be seen in greater tranquillity. By reservation it is possible to snorkel or dive in the main tank. Visiting this aquarium is a great opportunity for adults and a great experience for kids.

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  rtm1993 1

  03 Jan 2021

  Amazing under water place, it has always been my favourite. But there is no way that place was COVID safe, we felt extremely uncomfortable the whole time whilst trying to social distance more and more people piled into the tunnel getting closer to you, no one was monitoring or managing the flow of people. I doubt we will be going back. Put it this way, its safer going to Kmart.

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  Elina_T 3

  30 Dec 2020

  The place is very small and there’s after all quite little to see. Sharks were nice to see. Parking area is vast but on public holiday it took 30 min to find a free bay.

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  dalger1430 4

  24 Oct 2020

  We visited as part of a group. The displays of marine animals were varied & most interesting to view - even to and ex diver like myself. The touch pool seemed to be of great interest to the children present there. Our group was catered for at lunch in the function room. Our lunch consisted of sandwich/salad, selection of small cakes /fruit, water, juice, tea & coffee. The staff were excellent & special thanks must go to our Aqwa organiser, Teneal. Unfortunately the seniors in our group were let down on this visit due to the lift not operating (this apparently has been so for some time)

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  Neats1907 4

  28 Sep 2020

  Was an interesting way to spend an afternoon. The kids loved it. The large glass aquarium with the sharks above you was the high point

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  Elaine_F 5

  23 Sep 2020

  We enjoyed the whole complex, Had not been for many years so many new places to see, only down side was lift broken and had we known this one of our party would not have come as she is unable to navigate stairs, we didn’t discover this until we arrived at the entrance. Elaine Fadli

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  Scott M 5

  29 Aug 2020

  I think AQWA is an really amazing place. I've been to a number of aquariums and seaparks in different countries and this one is no disappointment. There's a great variety of fish and sea creatures on display and most being Australian region only so it was a great surprise to see so many new and interesting sea creatures. The aquariums are well maintained and ordered with several sections showing fish from different regions of Australia. In the centre of the aquarium is an underwater tunnel showcasing a range of large sharks, bigger fish, and huge manta-rays. Outside there's is a touch pool and display of rescued and rehabilitating turtles. Throughout most days, more so on the weekends, there are shows and presentations by staff.

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  Daisychains123 3

  20 Jul 2020

  1. The lift wasn’t functioning. When we asked what had happened to it we were told it had corroded whilst the building had been shut down. One would hope and assume it had a regular maintenance schedule & corrosion would not happen! We were there with a baby in a pram. Another family were there with a child in a wheelchair. 2. Both seats in the foyer area at the bottom of the stairs were broken. The one I sat on with the baby had collapsed in the middle. The other had a plank top that wasn’t fixed. An elderly lady sat on it and fell to the ground. 3. Although the restaurant had signs on tables stating the had been cleaned, they still had food scraps on them. The floor under tables had food scattered. Insulation was also hanging out of the ceiling in the restaurant area. 4. Restaurant was an expensive list of fried options. In conclusion the kids enjoyed their experience in the aquarium however there seems to be a very poor maintenance programme in place.

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  Redjessie 5

  22 Mar 2020

  We took our 2 year old grandson. Initially he was scared of the dark! Once we got onto the conveyer which takes you underground through the aquarium and he saw all the sea creatures he was mesmerised. Once we went through this area he was happy to go back through the "dark" areas. The individual displays are very well lit, you cant help but be amazed by each display.

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  CharlesW934 4

  07 Jan 2020

  I last went to AQWA more than 20 years ago when it used to be known as Underwater World. Boy, has it grown! The walk-through underwater tunnel is still amazing people (and it is often forgotten that this one was the first in the world, opened before Singapore's, Sydney's and all the others listed in Wikipedia, where AQWA fails to even get a mention!) and the touch pool is a magnet for the kids. There are also wonderful displays of the marine life around Western Australia. (Did you know that 85% of the marine life in SW Australia is totally unique, being found nowhere else in the world?). The standout for me (apart from the tunnel, which is still fascinating,) are the jelly fish tanks. They are lit with UV light which allows you to see their mysterious, delicate, almost transparent structure with absolute clarity. I found it mesmerising to watch these amazing creatures swimming around. It was like looking at the flames in a fire and almost difficult to draw yourself away from. Also don't miss either the seahorses or the sea dragons - the latter are very special indeed - Don't miss them! This is an attraction that every visitor to Perth should make sure that they see. Admission isn't cheap but it's well worth it. However I do have two criticisms: (1) Why hasn't AQWA made a DVD about the aquarium and its inhabitants? It'd be an ideal souvenir and memento of an unforgettable visit (and boost sales in the well-stocked gift shop!) (2) The parking situation is dreadful. I got there 15 minutes before opening time (10am) and got the second last parking spot! This just isn't good enough for such a popular venue.(I would have given AQWA a 5 star rating if it wasn't for the parking problem.) So, my final word of advice - Get there early or be prepared for a parking hunt (and a probable associated longish walk!)

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