The author visits the renovated SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and describes their experiences. Upon arrival, they collect badges and maps before meeting with photographers. They learn about platypi from helpful staff despite not seeing the shy animals. The aquarium houses various animal habitats like rock faces and palm trees that are carefully sectioned off. The renovation has improved lighting, appearance, and details of the tanks. Some tanks have special themes like a shipwreck room. The tour includes glass-walled rooms, caverns, open tanks, and an underwater tunnel with sharks and rays above and decorated tanks. The author spots various animals like penguins, rays, sharks, and platypi. Interactive displays supplement the

1. I spy something blue
Floatingjellies,dancingangelfish,andtimidpenguinswere justafew animalsthatsurroundedme
on myrecentvisitto the SEALIFESydneyAquarium.Withnine monthsof renovationsand$10
milliondollarslater,the aquarium’s renovation have givennew life toits inhabitants.
Upon arrival,we collectedourbadgesandmapsbefore we were escortedtoaphotographer.Once
our pictureswere snapped,we came face toface withthe platypi.Thoughwe didn’tcatcha glimpse
of these shyanimals,the staff was more thanhelpful togive insighttothis egg-layingmammal.
Followingthe maze of animal aquariums, encased inrockface andfaux palmstrees,were the local
residents. The aquariumiscarefullysectionedoff intodistinctbutcollective rooms,givingasense of
bothindividualityand cohesiveness. Insteadof justbeingprettywatertanks,the aquariumsfacelift
has givenspecial attentiontoappearance,lighting,anddetail.The crustacean room, named
Crabzilla,hascrab shapedtanksto match theiroccupants.Anotherroomhada shipwreck-like feel,
fromwoodenfloors todimlighting.
Otherroomsfollowedsuit, whetheritbe cavern-like grottos,openandwell-littanks,orsublime
underwateradventures. One of mypersonal favouriteswasaroomthat was completelyglass--the
walls,the ceiling,andthe floor. Thiswasthe closestfeelingtobeingsubmergedunderwaterwithout
gettingwet.
Leavingthe smallertanksbehind,we crossedasmall bridge into anotherroom.Muralson the wall
gave the sense of descendingdeeperintothe ocean.A ramp,which I will refertoas the never
endingramp,ledusto the underwaterwalkway. Thishauntinglybeautiful view fromthe bottom
made me feel like Iwasactuallyunderwater. Sharksandraysfloatedabove andaroundme.The
tankswere also decorated accordinglyinsteadof justhavingprettyrocks.
As the infiniterampleadme backup, I came to a grandviewingareaof the aquarium fromthe top.
Havingthese twocontrastingviewsof the same pool of waterwastrulyamazing.But the best part
was beingable tostandon a sectionof glassthat overlookedintothe sharkpool.Itwasslightly
disconcertingtobe standingoverthe waterwhenthe glasscouldbreakat any moment.Well, not
exactly...
Towardsthe endof the tour waits a rock pool.Aninformative guidepointed outthe differenttypes
of starfishandurchinsthatreside within.It’s the perfectplace togetyour handswetand the kids
will love the chance tointeractwith the animals.
Some of the notable animalsyouwillsee:
 Little Penguins
 Huge Rays
 Sharks
 Barramundi
 Seaturtles
 Dugongs
 Jellies
 Platypi

2. Thoughthe animalswere the mainviewingpoint,the wallswerelinedwithotherinteractive
activities.Fromflatscreencomputerstoaquiztrail,notonlywill youcome outamazedbut alsoa
little smarter. Don’thesitatetoaskthe staff questions.Theywantyoutobe involvedwiththe
animals.
The care and put into the renovationsspeak volumes. It’sthe perfectweekendadventure outforthe
family.Ortake youdate here because nothingsaysromance like dancingpenguins.The animals will
thankyou.