SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium: Tickets, Opening Hours & What to See

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium sits right on the Yarra, on the corner of King and Flinders Streets, a five-minute walk from Flinders Street Station and directly across from Crown. With more than 10,000 animals spread across twelve themed zones, inclusing king and gentoo penguins, a saltwater crocodile, sharks and rays, jellyfish, seahorses and sea dragons, this is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Melbourne. 

Below, this article digs into everything you need to know about visiting the Melbourne Aquarium, including what to see, how to book online before you go, how to avoid the crowds, and the special experiences on offer.

What animals are at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium?

More than 10,000 animals live at the Melbourne Aquarium, all of them spread across twelve different zones and a couple of levels. You’ll find all the underwater animals you’d expect of a world-class aquarium, but you should also make time to see some of these highlights: 

• Coowonga, the saltwater crocodile. This is Melbourne's only saltie croc and the aquarium's newest headline resident, who arrived in 2026. There are several viewing areas to admire him, from above and under the water. If you’re interested, you should time your visit to coincide with a croc talk.  
• King and gentoo penguins. The stars of the show, the penguins, are my favourite. These are fun little guys who live in a recreated sub-Antarctic habitat, with real snow and ice. 
• Sharks and rays. A classic underwater tunnel that lets you admire the sharks and rays. If you’re feeling brave, you can pay extra for a diving tour into the tank on weekends. 
• Jellyfish. There are three interactive zones pulsing with all kinds of jellyfish and lights, making for a beautiful and sensory experience. 
• Bay of Rays. Modelled on Port Phillip Bay, with fiddler rays and the Port Jackson shark.
• Seahorses and sea dragons. Keep your eyes peeled for the weedy and leafy sea dragons, a southern-Australian specialty.
• Rocky Shores. An interactive rockpool zone: sea stars, crabs and other tide-pool creatures, pitched at younger kids.

Melbourne Aquarium Tickets

Prices can go up and down depending on the time of year. Weekdays during the school calendar year are the cheapest, while prices go up on weekends and holidays. 

I recommend booking your ticket in advance, because it’s always cheaper than paying at the gate, and if it’s a busy day, it also means you can waltz right on inside. Always a great thing if you’re visiting with kids. In the table below you can see the prices for general admission tickets in AUD. 

All of these general admission tickets include a Digi Photo Pass (your digital entry photos, valued at $26).

Special Combo Tickets

• Melbourne Big Ticket: If you’re on a family trip in Melbourne, this ticket option gives you some good bang for your buck. It grants access to the Aquarium plus LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne, from $79 per adult when you book online. 
• Family Ticket: Speaking of families, there’s a family ticket bundle available seasonally, with discounts for adults and kids. You’ll have to check what’s available for your dates; recently, you could save up to 20%. 
• Annual Pass: from $99, so you’ll make your money back on a second visit. An easy decision if you’re a big fan of aquariums. 

VIP Experiences at the Melbourne Aquarium

General admission covers the exhibits, but if you’re like me, you might be interested in going a bit deeper when visiting. That’s where these VIP Experiences come in, all of which will require an extra ticket.

How to get to Melbourne Aquarium

The aquarium is in the CBD on the Yarra, corner of King and Flinders Streets, opposite Crown Casino. It is a very central location, so public transport beats driving.

Is There Parking at the Melbourne Aquarium?

There's no on-site parking, but they do have a discounted rate at a nearby parking garage. Every time I’m in Melbourne I wince at the rates inside the CBD, so if you’re driving, the best idea is to take advantage of the partner deal with Secure Parking at 522 Flinders Lane, 240m from the entrance.

Discounted rate: $22 weekdays, $9 weekends and public holidays (as of July 2026).

The discount isn't automatic, so make sure you follow these steps or you’ll pay the full gate rate and won’t be eligible for a refund. 

1. Park at 522 Flinders Lane and collect a parking ticket at entry.
2. Show that ticket at the SEA LIFE admissions desk to get a validation ticket.
3. On exit, insert your entry ticket at the boom gate, and then the validation ticket.

Planning Your Visit to the SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Opening hours, the best time to visit, and what to prioritise for your visit to the Melbourne Aquarium.

Melbourne Aquarium Opening Hours

The Melbourne Aquarium is open every day of the year. The general hours are as follows: 

Take note that during summer and Victorian school and public holidays, the aquarium will open earlier.

When To Go

If you can choose, go on a weekday morning outside school holidays. School holidays at any Australian attraction mean crowds, and a family magnet like the aquarium cops it worst. It’s also indoors and climate-controlled, so a good choice for a rainy day or if it’s exceptionally hot. 

Should You Pre-Book Your Tickets?

The short answer is yes, you should pre-book your tickets. You’ll pay less, and you won’t have to wait in a queue for a ticket (and potentially be turned away) if you arrive at a busy time. 

Time Your Visit Around the Talks and Feeds

Half the value of the ticket is the daily talks and feeding sessions, because that's when the animals actually do something. Free keeper talks run through the day, typically covering the rays, the penguins, the seahorses and Coowonga, alongside scheduled feeds .

The timetable rotates, and the croc only eats every week or two. Check the talk and feeding times page on the aquarium's official site the day before you go then plan your loop backwards from the two or three sessions you care about most. 

My pick would be the penguin feed, and if a croc feed happens to fall on your day, treat it as the main event and build everything else around it. A huge saltie chomping down his meal is not something you see often.

Photo provided by SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium.

Hotels Near the SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium