The short answer
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is on the corner of Flinders and King Streets, beside the Yarra and opposite Crown. It is open every day, usually 9.30 am to 5 pm with last entry at 4 pm. Adult tickets are from $39 online on weekdays and $54 on the day. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours, and book a time slot ahead.
SEA LIFE Melbourne at a glance
- Where: corner of Flinders Street and King Street, Melbourne, on the Yarra River
- Open: 7 days, last entry 4 pm. Hours vary by day and season, so check the date you want
- Cost: adult from $39 (online, weekday), child (2 to 15) from $25, under 2 free
- Getting there: tram 70, 75 or the free City Circle to Stop 2 Melbourne Aquarium, or a 10-minute walk from Flinders Street or Southern Cross
- Time to allow: 1.5 to 2 hours; up to 3 hours with children and talks
- Step-free access: yes. Every floor has a lift or ramp, and wheelchairs can be borrowed
Checked on 14 Nov 2026 at visitsealife.com/melbourne. Prices change with demand, so check before you visit.
Key takeaways: 7 essential facts
- Book ahead: SEA LIFE Melbourne asks you to pick a date and time slot online, and it fills up on weekends and holidays.
- Cheapest: weekdays outside school and public holidays, booked online at least a day ahead.
- On the day: adult $54, child $40, concession $49.
- Penguins: king and gentoo penguins live in the Penguin Playground, including the famous Pesto.
- Free talks: daily talks and feeds run across the aquarium; the Bay of Rays talk is at 11.30 am.
- Parking: no car park of its own; Secure Parking at 522 Flinders Lane has a discounted rate.
- Cashless: the aquarium does not take cash.
SEA LIFE Melbourne tickets and prices
Prices depend on the day and when you book. These are from the official General Admission page, checked on 14 November 2026. Booking online at least a day ahead gets the lower prices.
| Ticket | Online, weekdays | Online, weekends | Holidays and on the day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | from $39 | from $49 | $54 |
| Child (2 to 15) | from $25 | from $35 | $40 |
| Concession | from $34 | from $44 | $49 |
| Child under 2 | Free | Free | Free |
“Weekdays” and “weekends” here mean outside school and public holidays. Every general admission ticket includes a Digi Photo Pass for your entry photos. Concession tickets need a valid concession, student or health care card. Children under 16 must be with an adult aged 18 or over. Prices may rise in busy periods, so check before you visit.
The Melbourne Big Ticket adds LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne, from $64 per adult online. It is valid for 90 days, and adults visiting LEGOLAND must bring a child.
SEA LIFE Melbourne price checker
Choose the kind of day and your group to see the general admission total. It uses the prices in the table above and runs only on this page.
Aquarium ticket price checker
Prices as listed on 14 Nov 2026.
Choose your group.
Source: SEA LIFE Melbourne General Admission page, checked 14 Nov 2026. Online prices are “from” prices and can rise with demand. Check before you visit.
SEA LIFE Melbourne opening hours
The opening hours page says the aquarium is open 7 days, with last entry at 4 pm. On the day we checked, it showed 9.30 am to 5 pm. The aquarium’s FAQ gives shorter weekday hours (10 am to 4 pm, last entry 3 pm) and notes that hours change on public holidays, in school holidays and for events. The two pages don’t agree, so check the hours for your date when you book.
Queues can build on weekends and in holiday peaks. If you want a quieter visit, the aquarium suggests weekdays outside school holidays, after 2 pm.
What’s inside SEA LIFE Melbourne
The aquarium has 12 themed zones. Highlights the aquarium lists include:
- Penguin Playground: king and gentoo penguins on real snow and ice. Pesto, the king penguin chick hatched on 30 January 2024, became famous online.
- Bay of Rays: fiddler rays and Port Jackson sharks from Port Phillip Bay.
- Night on the Reef: a glowing display of ocean bioluminescence.
- Rocky Shores: a new rockpool zone with sea stars and crabs.
- Croc Lair: Coowonga, which the aquarium calls Melbourne’s only saltwater crocodile.
- Ocean Invaders: jellyfish and other see-through sea creatures.
Free talks and feeds run each day. The Bay of Rays talk is at 11.30 am daily, with a feed at 11.30 am on Wednesdays. Other talks are at the Croc Lair, Seahorse Pier, Penguin Playground, Coral Atoll, Rainforest Walk and Shipwreck Theatre. Times can change; check the talk and feed times on the day.
Extra experiences
Add-on experiences include the Penguin Passport (onto the ice with the penguins, about 45 minutes, ages 12 and up), Jelly Lab, a Glass Bottom Boat ride, a virtual reality experience and Shark Dive Xtreme (no cage, no diving experience needed, ages 14 and up, weekends). Experience tickets include all-day aquarium entry. The official site listed Shark Dive Xtreme from $360 and Penguin Passport vouchers from $219 when we checked.
Getting to SEA LIFE Melbourne and parking
- Tram: routes 70 and 75 or the free City Circle Tram to Stop 2 Melbourne Aquarium, right out the front. The stop is in the Free Tram Zone.
- Train: about a 10-minute walk from Flinders Street or Southern Cross station.
- Car: no car park at the aquarium. Secure Parking at 522 Flinders Lane, about 240 metres away, costs $22 on weekdays and $9 on weekends and public holidays with SEA LIFE’s discount. Collect a ticket as you enter, show it at the admissions desk for a validation ticket, and use both to exit.
Nearby: Crown Melbourne is across the river, and Flinders Street Station is a short walk east.
Access and good to know
- Wheelchairs: full access to all general admission exhibits by lift or ramp. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at admissions (first come, first served; ID needed).
- Carers: a WeCare or Companion Card holder’s carer enters free. Book the free carer ticket online.
- Sensory needs: noise-cancelling headphones are available. Lighting, music and scents vary through the aquarium.
- Not wheelchair accessible: the Jelly Lab and the penguin exhibit experience, which involve narrow walkways or stairs.
- Payment: cashless venue.
Questions people ask
How much are SEA LIFE Melbourne tickets?
SEA LIFE Melbourne adult tickets are from $39 online on weekdays, from $49 online on weekends, and $54 on the day or in holidays. Children aged 2 to 15 are from $25, and under 2s are free.
Is it cheaper to buy SEA LIFE Melbourne tickets online?
Yes. Booking online at least a day ahead, on a weekday outside holidays, gives the lowest price.
How long do you need at SEA LIFE Melbourne?
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours. With children and talks, allow up to 3 hours.
Where do you park for SEA LIFE Melbourne?
Use Secure Parking at 522 Flinders Lane, about 240 metres away. With SEA LIFE Melbourne’s validation it costs $22 on weekdays and $9 on weekends and public holidays.
Are there penguins at the Melbourne aquarium?
Yes. King and gentoo penguins live in the Penguin Playground, on real snow and ice.
Is SEA LIFE Melbourne wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Every floor has a lift or ramp, and wheelchairs can be borrowed at admissions. Some extra experiences are not accessible.
SEA LIFE Melbourne: the bottom line
Book SEA LIFE Melbourne online for a weekday if you can, arrive by early afternoon, and give it about two hours. Catch the 11.30 am Bay of Rays talk and save time for the penguins. It’s on the free tram route, so skip the car. Prices change with demand, so check before you visit.
Sources
All checked on 14 November 2026.
- Official site, home page and FAQ: prices, visit length, parking, hours, penguins, Big Ticket
- Official site, General Admission: full price table, age rules, experiences
- Official site, Opening hours, Directions and parking and Talk and feed times
- Official site, Accessibility guide