Aquarium of Western Australia facts for kids
AQWA logo
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Front Entrance to AQWA
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| Date opened | 1988 (as Underwater World, Perth) 2001 (as AQWA) |
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| Location | Hillarys, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°49′37″S 115°44′17″E / 31.827°S 115.738°E |
| No. of species | 400 |
| Volume of largest tank | 3,000,000 litres (793,000 US gal) |
The Aquarium of Western Australia (often called AQWA) is a cool place to visit in Hillarys, Western Australia. It's a big aquarium where you can see amazing sea creatures! When it first opened, AQWA was the largest aquarium in Australia. It still has Australia's biggest single aquarium tank and a super long walk-through underwater tunnel.
Contents
The Story of AQWA
The aquarium first opened its doors on April 13, 1988. Back then, it was known as Underwater World, Perth. In 1991, new owners took over. They changed its name to AQWA The Aquarium of Western Australia on January 1, 2001.
When AQWA first started, it only had two main aquariums. These were the large walk-through tank, now called the Shipwreck Coast, and the fun Touch Pool. Today, AQWA has more than 40 different exhibits. It is now the 10th largest aquarium in the world!
Exploring AQWA's Ocean Zones
AQWA is special because it focuses on marine animals. These animals live along the huge 12,000-kilometer coastline of Western Australia. In total, AQWA holds over 4 million liters of water. It is home to about 400 different types of marine life. This includes more than 4,000 fish!
The aquarium is set up like an underwater journey. You travel along Western Australia's coastline as you explore. AQWA is divided into 5 unique areas. Each area shows off the special marine life and environments from different parts of the coast.
These exciting areas include:
- The Great Southern
- The Shipwreck Coast
- The Perth Coast
- The Far North
- Marmion Marine Park
The Shipwreck Coast: A Giant Tank Adventure
The main Shipwreck Coast aquarium is truly massive! It is 40 meters long and 20 meters wide. This huge tank holds 3 million liters of seawater. Inside, there's a 98-meter long underwater tunnel made of clear acrylic. This is the longest underwater tunnel in Australia!
As you walk through the tunnel, you'll see incredible creatures. Look out for 3 to 4-meter long grey nurse sharks. You might also spot 4-meter long smooth stingrays. Large loggerhead turtles also glide by. Plus, there are over 70 other kinds of rays, octopuses, sharks, and fish.
Special Exhibits at AQWA
AQWA also has two amazing feature exhibits you won't want to miss:
- The Coral Reef: This is one of the biggest living coral reef exhibits anywhere! It has beautiful living corals and colorful reef fish. These fish come from Rottnest Island, a famous spot near Perth.
- The DangerZone: Get ready to see some of Western Australia's most interesting (and sometimes dangerous!) marine animals. This exhibit features creatures like stonefish, sea snakes, blue ringed octopuses, lion fish, box fish, and cone shells.
You can also find many other cool animals at AQWA. These include amazing leafy seadragons and glowing moon jellyfish. There are also playful clownfish, young saltwater crocodiles, and colorful starfish. Don't forget to look for octopuses, cuttlefish, rock lobsters, scorpionfish, eagle rays, sandbar sharks, blacktip sharks, and Port Jackson sharks. AQWA also cares for rescued turtles and many more fascinating creatures!
AQWA Adventures: Get Closer to Marine Life!
Want to get even closer to the amazing animals at AQWA? For an extra fee, you can join special programs!
Dive or Snorkel with Sharks
If you love adventure, you can snorkel or even scuba dive with the sharks, rays, and turtles! An experienced dive master from AQWA will guide you. This program happens every day in the main Shipwreck Coast aquarium. It's an incredible way to see these creatures up close!
Reefwalker Program
During certain times of the year (usually October to April), AQWA offers the Reefwalker program. If you are a good swimmer and over 12 years old, you can try this! No special diving qualifications are needed. You'll use a special scuba unit called a hookah. An AQWA dive instructor will lead you as you walk underwater through the living coral reef. You'll see hundreds of corals and fish all around you! This program runs Friday through Sunday.
See Also
