Manly Sea Life Sanctuary

Great place for young kids. Lots of amazing sea creatures.
A bit small for the ticket price, but we had great fun here.

Great place for young kids. Staff are great and very friendly. I love how small it is, has a cute play area at the exit. There are normally vouchers online for cheaper access, $15 mother and toddler is great!

Small aquarium , good for kids. Touch and feel section , shows and shark tunnel. Worth a visit.

Manly Sea Life Aquarium is a great place to take a young family too, but it has been around for many years and is a little run down now, compared to the Darling Harbour Sanctuary. Manly feels more spacious, less busy but probably has less attractions than its DH counterpart. The underwater shark tank is still probably its biggest attraction. It's a shame its closing down at the end of the year.

Arrived just as seahorse feeding time started. Staff member friendly and provided lots of information. Kids loved listening and asking questions. Then made the shark tank tour which was also wonderful. Great to be so close to some beautiful but endangered species. It's a great shame it is going to be closed at the end of the year. Great afternoon out, can highly recommend if you have children. The dive with the nurse sharks is well worth it.

It's a bit small and hard to justify the admission cost but it was fine for us as we have a Merlin pass. Street parking can be terrible on a Saturday/public holidays but it's not too far from the ferry terminal. The penguin enclosure is pretty amazing and my kids had a wonderful (and memorable) time.

Took my kids to the aquarium. What I wasn't expecting was the extent that staff go out of their way to make this an educationally rich and engaging experience.

Robert, (the staff member doing the face painting?) was exceptional and went above and beyond to make our time amazing. He answered all our kids questions and facepainted their intricate requests. My children did not want to leave. I strongly recommend visiting.

I went to the Shark Dive extreme June last year and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Harry and Laurie were amazing. Both made myself and my partner feel extra comfortable with the dive. Laurie went above and beyond and kept me calm and helped me through a panic attack i was having in the dive pool. She stayed with me most of the dive to make sure i was okay. They both have so much passion for their jobs and the animals they work with. The rest of the sanctuary was amazing and love how much time and effort they put into conservation. Will be back again soon!!

Aaaand that's a wrap!!! Thanks for the love, support, and memories. We will miss you all 🦈😭🐢🐠🐡😍

We have just opened our doors for the last time and are ready to welcome all our amazing guests who have supported us over the last 55 years 🦈🐠🐢🐡 #manly #farewell #lastday

#flashbackfriday | JUNE 2012 - The iconic attraction officially relaunches as the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary we all know and love today! It quickly became a leader in marine life rescue and rehabilitation, home to Shark Dive Xtreme, and educates the public on living sustainably.

#flashbackfriday | After visiting Underwater World on travels from the UK, Sue Sargent loved it so much she volunteered as a #ManlyMermaid for six months! One year later, she returned with a working Visa to serve another three years and has been working with marine-life ever since. 🐟🐠🐟
“My time at Manly was an important part of my life here in Australia and a significant crossroads in my career. I had achieved a degree in Marine Biology, and working at Underwater World was my big break into the industry. Working there was like working with family – once you join a place like that, you accept the fact that you become part of the fabric, forever connected with the people who you shared all those years and memories with.”

#flashbackfriday | JANUARY 2000 - Sydney Aquarium purchases Manly Oceanrium and is renamed Manly Oceanworld. 🐠

#flashbackfriday | Melinda Bacon, another #ManlyMermaid, worked as an Education Officer and Seal Trainer at Underwater World from 1993-1996, during which this INCREDIBLE photo was taken. 📸
“I loved my time as a diver. It was a time I felt truly alive. I lived to be in the water. It was the place where I was equal.”

#throwbackthursday | FEBRUARY 1988 - After $12 million of construction, Underwater World opens and is home to the biggest underwater tunnel in the WORLD! 🌏🦈🐠

#throwbackthursday | Kathy Hill, one of the #ManlyMermaids at Marineland/Underwater World from early-mid 80s, pictured with Salty the Seal (left) and Suzy the Seal (right). 😍
"The seals each had their own personalities; smart, comical and a bit sassy! They knew our uniform and could spot us walking through the crowds that gathered just before show-times. It was funny to watch on the days that a school group with similarly coloured uniforms came through, as initially the seals didn’t know which way to look! Eventually they would spot me in the crowd on my way to the stage and would go crazy with their leaping antics in anticipation of feed time!"

#throwbackthursday | MARCH 1971 - One of Australia's first underwater weddings was held at Marineland Sydney. The couple was wed via underwater telephone as fishy members of the congregation watched on!

#throwbackthursday | NOVEMBER 1963 - Marineland officially opens, and is the largest oceanarium in the Southern Hemisphere, the 3rd largest in the world and the 7th of its type. 🎉🏆

**MERMAIDS FOUND**
After weeks of searching, we're SO happy to have managed to track down some of the wonderful 'Mermaids' that have contributed to Manly's long and rich history! 🙌
Thank you to everyone who shared our posts, tagged friends and family, and helped us in any way, shape or form on our search for the Manly Mermaids! 🕵️‍♀️❤️
... You can read about a few of our very own Manly Mermaids in The Manly Daily. Be sure to keep an eye out for some #throwbackthursday and #flashbackfriday photos we'll be sharing in the lead up to Sunday! 👍
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/…/10a 3328ec2986f17296f5e5…
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Only 5 days left to say goodbye 😭 This Sunday 28th is our last open day and we will be having a face painting stall and lots of our wonderful staff here to say farewell to all of our special guests that day. Hope to see you there! 💕 #farewellmanly #manlysealifesanctuary

SPARKLE SPARKLE ✨✨✨ our Operations Manager purchased a Oceanworld Manly snow globe the same at this one at a kids sleepover 20+ years ago so insisted we order them for our farewell month! Who remembers our famous sleepovers?

Thanks @lynnedge for this great flashback shot of you in the 1970's working at the original Marineland Manly :) #whatababe #farewellmanly

Our hearts are so full of love with so many beautiful farewell messages coming in from our amazing guests 😍 only 16 days left to visit #farewellmanly 🦈🐠🐡🐟

Only 18 days left until Manly Sea Life Sanctuary closes its doors forever! Come in to say farewell to Myrtle our rescue Green Sea Turtle - and all of our other fishy residents!

There are only 20 days left before Manly Sea Life Sanctuary closes its doors forever.
We're still on the search for any of the original Manly Mermaids to reconnect history and give Manly Sea Life Sanctuary the farewell it deserves!
The Senior has dug into their archives to find more original images - some with names, dates and locations! Do you recognise any of these ladies? If you have any information that could help, send us a message!
... https://www.thesenior.com.au/…/the-sear ch-is-on-for-the-ma…/
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Wow we are loving this old TV commercial 🙌🏼🦈! Make sure you come say goodbye to our fishy friends right up until January 28th! #flashback #manly #lovemanly 🐠🐟🐡🦈

Happy New Year from all of us here at Manly Sea Life Sanctuary! And what a stunning start to the new year it has been! The countdown is now on for our closure on January 28th - so come in quick to say farewell and make some special lasting memories!

I simple cannot believe this place is closing today after 55 years!!!!!! What a tragedy!!! Brings tears to my eyes. What is going to happen to this iconic building??!! It was a bit expensive for a single visit but was amazing value for us locals with small children who need constant entertainment with an annual pass. The penguins are adorable, underwater tunnel mesmerising and I loved the valuable lessons about plastic and sustainability it taught. Thank u to all the staff and I will miss this place so much. I really hope they do not tear it down. Best of luck transporting all the animals to their new locations and to all the lovely staff in their new adventures. PS loved the face painting today xxxx

I simple cannot believe this place is closing today after 55 years!!!!!! What a tragedy!!! Brings tears to my eyes. What is going to happen to this iconic building??!! It was a bit expensive for a single visit but was amazing value for us locals with small children who need constant entertainment with an annual pass. The penguins are adorable, underwater tunnel mesmerising and I loved the valuable lessons about plastic and sustainability it taught. Thank u to all the staff and I will miss this place so much. I really hope they do not tear it down. Best of luck transporting all the animals to their new locations and to all the lovely staff in their new adventures. PS loved the face painting today xxxx

I simple cannot believe this place is closing today after 55 years!!!!!! What a tragedy!!! Brings tears to my eyes. What is going to happen to this iconic building??!! It was a bit expensive for a single visit but was amazing value for us locals with small children who need constant entertainment with an annual pass. The penguins are adorable, underwater tunnel mesmerising and I loved the valuable lessons about plastic and sustainability it taught. Thank u to all the staff and I will miss this place so much. I really hope they do not tear it down. Best of luck transporting all the animals to their new locations and to all the lovely staff in their new adventures. PS loved the face painting today xxxx

I simple cannot believe this place is closing today after 55 years!!!!!! What a tragedy!!! Brings tears to my eyes. What is going to happen to this iconic building??!! It was a bit expensive for a single visit but was amazing value for us locals with small children who need constant entertainment with an annual pass. The penguins are adorable, underwater tunnel mesmerising and I loved the valuable lessons about plastic and sustainability it taught. Thank u to all the staff and I will miss this place so much. I really hope they do not tear it down. Best of luck transporting all the animals to their new locations and to all the lovely staff in their new adventures. PS loved the face painting today xxxx