Despite the cooler temperatures, the waters of Australia’s southern oceans are rich with an abundance of marine wildlife.

Coastal Waters of the Southern Ocean

The coastal waters of the southern ocean are home to a diverse array of animals. One particularly cute resident of these areas is the Little Penguin (also known as the Fairy Penguin and Blue Penguin). Little Penguins are one of the northernmost species of penguins in the world. Unlike its cousins in the Antarctic, this species is not associated with snow or ice and is even found in Sydney Harbour.

Other animals of this region include the elegant Weedy and Leafy Sea Dragons and the odd looking Pineapple Fish. Not only does this fish look vaguely like a heavily armoured pineapple, they also have a small light on their lower jaw for communicating with other  Pineapple Fish and for finding prey in the dark.

Sydney Harbour

Although situated in the middle of Australia’s most populated city, Sydney Harbour is a truly remarkable haven for wildlife and is home to many different species. The Sydney Harbour exhibit highlights many of the fishes and invertebrates one might see while snorkelling or diving in this beautiful harbour. Many of the fishes are so spectacularly coloured, they can easily be mistaken for tropical reef species.

Open Ocean Oceanarium

Getting away from the shore and out into the open ocean, our huge oceanarium plays host to gigantic stingrays, large shoals of fish and, of course, an impressive array of sharks of several species. The largest sharks on display are our Grey Nurse Sharks, some of which are 3.5 metres long and weigh over 300kg. Although their striking arsenal of teeth are constantly on show as they swim past with open mouths, Grey Nurse Sharks are a harmless fish eater and are more endangered than dangerous. Once persecuted to near extinction, these beautiful animals – sometimes referred to as the ‘labradors of the sea’ - are now fully protected in Australian waters.