Location: Orlando Street, Coffs Harbour, NSW
The Dolphin Conservation Park is a long-running attraction in the Coffs Harbour region that has drawn countless visitors from all over the country and has a focus on interactive aquatic experiences with natures' cutest marine dwellers.
with all-things-aquatic, offering the chance to get up close with a variety of some of nature’s cutest marine dwellers.
Originally established in the 1970’s, the park offers safe haven for marine animals that have been injured or otherwise made incapable of returning to the wild, and now houses dozens of aquatic mammals and other varieties including Little Penguins, sea lions, green sea turtles, and most famously, its handful of Bottlenose Dolphins which serve as the star attraction.
The park is currently home to five of these dolphins which can be encountered by visitors attending in a variety of ways.
Two discovery presentation shows are held at 10:00am and 1:00pm, respectively, in which guests sit and observe an interactive marine show put on that introduces both the dolphins and seals, and highlights facts about their life cycles and habits – as well as showing off some remarkable feats of agility.
It offers the chance to get up close with a variety of some of nature’s cutest marine dwellers.
Perhaps the park’s most iconic experience, however, occurs just beforehand – guests are able to line up to receive a “kiss” from one of the animals, with the obligation-free option of purchasing a photo afterwards.
It’s an ever-popular hit with the kids, and the photos are professionally taken and reasonably priced given their uniqueness.
Those with deeper wallets can also opt for a range of personal encounters in which to engage with the dolphins and seals further, including entering the water alongside them and playing, patting and otherwise revelling in the company of these intelligent creatures.
A focus is also put on education and understanding of the dolphins and marine conservation in general, which when combined with the interactive elements (including fish and penguin feeding as well as other activities and demonstrations) makes for a comprehensive cross-section of the aquatic realm.
Dolphin Marine Magic is also compact and thus easy to navigate with children in tow, while offering plenty of shade and shelter for both protection from the sun, or additional cover on rainy days.
If you’ve ever wanted to come face to face with some of nature’s most engaging creatures without the excess crowds of some larger attractions, or are travelling to Coffs Harbour with kids in general, this is one attraction that makes for an essential stop on your itinerary.