Step into the Shipwreck Coast tunnel and there’s glass on three sides and above your head: a sandbar shark cruising past, a giant stingray the size of a dinner table, a loggerhead turtle that’s been part of this exhibit for years. The tank holds three million litres on its own, curves through roughly 270 degrees, and puts you inside the habitat rather than looking in from outside.
This is AQWA, the Aquarium of Western Australia, at Hillarys Boat Harbour roughly 20km northwest of the CBD. It opened as Underwater World Perth in April 1988, one of Australia’s earliest walk-through aquarium tunnels, and was rebranded AQWA in 2001 after a change of ownership. Today it holds more than 4 million litres of water across 45-plus exhibits and around 400 species, almost all native to Western Australia’s more than 12,000km of coastline, and it remains the country’s largest single aquarium.
Who It Suits
Families wanting a major half or full-day attraction, marine life enthusiasts, and thrill-seekers after the country’s only in-water shark encounter inside an aquarium setting. It’s a strong wet-weather option too, since the whole facility is indoor and, somewhat counterintuitively, quieter on rainy days when visitors assume it’s not worth going out.
The Shipwreck Coast
This is AQWA’s signature exhibit and the reason it rates as highly as it does: a 3-million-litre tank designed around a shipwreck narrative, referencing the vessels that foundered along WA’s dangerous coastline, populated with several shark species (including sandbar, Port Jackson and wobbegong sharks), giant stingrays, loggerhead and green turtles, and schools of reef fish. Walking the curved tunnel takes 10 to 15 minutes at a steady pace, or 20 to 25 minutes if you’re stopping to look and photograph, and for most visitors this single exhibit justifies the entry price on its own.
Beyond the Tunnel
The Leafy Seadragon Gallery is a highlight: leafy and weedy seadragons exist nowhere in the wild outside southern Australian waters, and AQWA’s kelp-forest display gives you a real chance to spot these slow, camouflaged, almost otherworldly creatures (staff can point them out if you’re struggling). A large living coral reef exhibit, among the biggest of its kind outside tropical Australia, showcases WA’s coral diversity without the drama of the main tunnel but adds an ecological scope to the visit. Smaller exhibits cover juvenile saltwater crocodiles, octopus and cuttlefish, moon jellyfish, rock lobsters and eagle rays, alongside touch pools where kids can handle starfish and sea cucumbers under staff supervision.
Snorkelling and Diving With Sharks
AQWA’s premium experiences are what separate it from every other Australian aquarium. The Snorkel with Sharks experience puts you in the Shipwreck Coast tank itself in mask, fins and snorkel, swimming among the sharks, rays and turtles for around 20 to 30 minutes in a small guided group; minimum age requirements have varied between 14 and 15 across different bookings, so confirm current age and group size rules when booking.
The Dive with Sharks experience is for certified SCUBA divers (PADI Open Water or equivalent) and takes you to the bottom of the tank for a longer, more immersive encounter.
Both need advance booking, ideally several days ahead and earlier during school holidays, since walk-up availability is limited and pricing runs well above standard admission, roughly in the low hundreds of dollars depending on which experience you choose; confirm current pricing at aqwa.com.au before booking.
Practical Details
AQWA is generally open daily, roughly 9am to 4pm with last entry around 3pm, extending to later closing on summer weekends and through January; closed Christmas Day.
General admission pricing has recently sat in the high $20s to mid $30s for adults, with discounted child and concession rates and free entry for very young children; confirm current pricing before your visit since it’s reviewed periodically. RAC members typically receive a discount on general admission, and annual memberships are available if you’re likely to visit more than once.
Parking on-site is free, an advantage over many central Perth attractions, and the facility is fully wheelchair accessible with flat paved pathways throughout.
Note: AQWA is undergoing expansion with new features expected to start opening in 2027. A preview of what’s to come is seen in the layout plan below.
Getting There
Driving takes about 30 minutes from the CBD via the Mitchell Freeway and Hepburn Avenue, with ample free parking on-site.
By public transport, take a Yanchep line train (the former Joondalup line, still Perth’s main northern suburbs line) to Warwick Station, then transfer to bus route 423, which runs to Hillarys Boat Harbour and stops at West Coast Drive, about a 10-minute walk from AQWA itself; the full journey from the city typically takes 30 to 40 minutes depending on connections, and it’s worth checking current Transperth journey planner before you go since suburban bus schedules are reviewed periodically.
Taxis and rideshares run roughly $45 to $65 from the CBD.
What Locals Know
Regulars visit on weekday mornings, particularly just after opening, to beat both school groups and the worst of the tunnel queues, and actively avoid weekends during July and December school holidays, when crowds and wait times peak. Locals also treat rainy days as a good time to visit, since the whole experience is indoor and crowds thin out when everyone else assumes outdoor plans are off. If you’re after the shark snorkel or dive experience specifically, locals book well ahead rather than trying their luck on the day, since these sessions fill quickly, especially in peak season.
Combine With Hillarys
Hillarys Boat Harbour offers plenty beyond AQWA itself: seasonal whale-watching tours (roughly May to November), dive and snorkelling operators, jet ski hire, and the Rottnest Island ferry service if you want to extend into an island day trip. Sorrento Quay and the Hillarys Boardwalk nearby have dining and retail options, and there’s a sheltered, patrolled swimming beach a short walk away if you want to finish the day in the water rather than looking at it through glass.
Is It Worth It?
Yes, and it’s one of WA’s stronger family attractions rather than a novelty stop. Budget two to four hours for a proper visit, book the shark snorkel or dive ahead if that’s part of your plan, and pair it with the wider Hillarys precinct, whale watching in season, or a Rottnest ferry, for a fuller day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AQWA worth the entry fee?
Yes for most visitors, particularly if you’re spending two or more hours. The Shipwreck Coast tunnel alone is a strong reason to visit.
How long should I spend there?
Two hours minimum for the core exhibits, three to four hours if you’re exploring methodically, eating on-site and using the touch pools.
Are the snorkel and dive experiences safe?
Yes, they’re professionally managed with PADI-qualified staff and a strong safety record, though they’re intense experiences and not suited to anyone with significant anxiety around marine animals or being in the water.
Is it accessible for people with mobility issues?
Yes, the facility is fully wheelchair accessible with flat paved pathways and accessible parking and toilets throughout.
Do I need to book the shark experiences in advance?
Yes, ideally several days ahead, especially during school holidays, since walk-up availability is limited.
What’s unique to AQWA compared with other Australian aquariums?
Leafy seadragons found nowhere else in the wild outside southern Australian waters, the Shipwreck Coast’s scale and design, and being the only Australian aquarium offering an in-tank snorkel and dive experience with sharks.
How do I get there without a car?
Take a Yanchep line train to Warwick Station, then bus route 423 to Hillarys Boat Harbour, about a 10-minute walk from AQWA. Allow 30 to 40 minutes total from the city.
The Close
AQWA does one thing extremely well: it puts you inside WA’s marine environment rather than just showing it to you from behind glass, and the Shipwreck Coast tunnel alone justifies the trip out to Hillarys. Book ahead if you want the shark snorkel or dive, go early or on a rainy day for the quietest visit, and leave time to explore the wider Hillarys precinct while you’re there.