Port Stephens Zoos & Aquariums

Port Stephens zoo and aquarium experiences centre on Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters, a marine conservation centre at 2 Jessie Road, Anna Bay, where you get in the water and feed sharks and rays instead of watching through glass. Experiences range from wading into the shallows to snorkelling a heated tropical lagoon with zebra sharks, stingrays and reef sharks.

Port Stephens aquarium and shallows encounters at Irukandji

Entry tickets, such as the Irukandji Entry Tickets, are the way into the centre. You get an interactive tour of the aquarium, then a shallows encounter where you dip your feet or wade into waist-deep water to touch and hand feed sharks and rays, with marine experts alongside to explain what you're meeting. You can go in barefoot or in souvenir socks, and a wetsuit is available to hire if you'd like to get deeper and closer.

For something more hands-on, the Stingray Cuddles and Shallow Water Experience is a 20-minute small-group session with friendly rays and stingrays, led by an experienced guide after a talk from the fish keepers. Wetsuit hire and souvenir socks come with it, and it's billed as a wildlife encounter for all ages.

Snorkelling with sharks and rays in Port Stephens

Snorkel experiences take you out of the shallows and into the lagoons. The Snorkel with Zebra Sharks and Shallow Water Experience is a 30-minute guided snorkel in a heated tropical lagoon with zebra sharks, leopard whiptail rays, bamboo sharks and shovelnose rays, with a private guide for your small group and pool noodles for younger swimmers.

Rays are the headliners on the Snorkel with Stingrays and Shallow Water Experience, where stingrays glide around and below you in the deep-water lagoon before you head back to the shallows to feed and pat them. The Reef Shark Snorkel + Entry Pass goes further, with a 30-minute snorkel alongside the biggest sharks in the tropical lagoon, and it's the one for anyone who wants underwater photos to prove it.

Choosing between a wade-in and a snorkel

The shallows encounter and stingray cuddles keep you at wading depth, so you stay at the surface and feed animals from above. The snorkels put your face in the water with the animals, and the snorkel experiences also include the shallows encounter, so you do both in a single visit.

What you wear changes with the experience. For the shallows, wear shorts or a skirt, or pants you can roll up, and keep your shoes on until you step into the water. For the snorkels, wear swimwear under the wetsuit that Irukandji provides, and for stingray cuddles, wear clothing over your swimwear.

More Port Stephens wildlife beyond the aquarium

Out on the water, Port Stephens cruises from Nelson Bay look for resident bottlenose dolphins, and from mid May to early November the whale watching cruises head out for humpbacks. If koalas are on your list, day tours such as the Port Stephens Day Tour from Sydney include Koala Sanctuary admission.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters in Port Stephens?

Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters is at 2 Jessie Road, Anna Bay, on the corner of Nelson Bay Road and Jessie Road.

Can kids take part in the shark and ray shallows encounter at Irukandji?

Yes. The Irukandji shallows encounter has child tickets for ages 3 to 16, and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult in the water at all times.

Do you need to be a good swimmer to snorkel with sharks at Irukandji?

Yes, for the Reef Shark Snorkel + Entry Pass at Irukandji. It is only available to people over 12 who are competent swimmers.

How long do the Irukandji shark and ray experiences take?

The Irukandji shallows encounter is a 2-hour session. The snorkel experiences, such as the Snorkel with Zebra Sharks and Shallow Water Experience, are 2.5-hour sessions that include a 30-minute guided snorkel.

Do Irukandji tickets include food for the sharks and rays?

Yes. The Irukandji entry tickets include food for the sharks and rays, and the snorkel and stingray cuddles experiences include the shallows encounter with food provided.

Local tip: Irukandji lists its quietest times as weekdays, before 12pm or after 2pm during winter hours, and before 10am or after 3pm during summer hours.

Pick the Irukandji experience that matches how wet you want to get and book it above. All good days are waiting.