After deciding the time it would take to get to Ettalong via Palm Beach Ferry Wharf and Dangar Island, I decided on boarding the M40 bus to Wynyard and taking the slow ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Wharf again.
This time I spent quite a few hours at Manly Sealife Sanctuary doing some research online as to entry fees and about the Sanctuary.
I have been to Sealife Aquarium at Darling Harbour but never to Manly Sealife Santuary.
Finding Nemo - yes he is in there somewhere!
It was no cheaper to buy an online ticket then it was to purchase one at the door ie single visit adult $25. I also read that at the end of 2017 it will be closing its doors and no longer be part of the Merlin Entertainments Group (which also includes Madame Tussauds Sydney, Sealife Sydney, Wildlife Sydney Zoo and The Sydney Tower Eye) due to the unviable cost of maintaining the aging 3 level building(s) that house the Manly Sealife Sanctuary as a business. It is such a shame as it is such a cute little aquarium that has been around for 50 years with passionate staff more then happy to answer any of your questions and tell you all about the marine species housed within the aquarium and around the local area and it also has some very unique species that are not seen at the main Sealife Aquarium at Darling Harbour.
Seahorses
As you enter enter through a short tunnel to the ground floor of the circular aquarium building you are surrounded by circular tanks of sea horses (the most difficult to photograph), illuminating jumbo jelly fish (also quite difficult to photograph), colourful coral displays, sea anemones, a lazy giant octapus, salt water crocodiles,water dragons, turtles, venomous rock fish, puffer fish, morning cuttle fish and various colourful tropical fish including a tiny
"find Nemo" clown fish amongst a rather large white sea anemone.
Penguin Cove - feeding time
Onto my favourite section of Manly Sealife Santuary - Penguin Cove upstairs. At around 2.30 pm daily it is penguin feeding time however unlike feeding time around the same time daily at the Biodome in Montreal, the penguin feeder in a wet suit actually jumps into the water at Penguin Cove to feed the little penguins swimming around him and not just feed them from dry land. There is also an assistant present who stays on dryland to record how many pilchers each penguin eats at each feeding session. If a penguin stops eating a certain number of pilchers it means it is sick and needs attention. Some penguins like to be fed on land rather then in the water. So much fun to watch the penguins interact with the feeder.
Sharks
Turtles
Friendly puffer fish
The shark tunnel
Schools of fish
Giant sting rays
After the penguins feeding session it is time to go downstairs to the shark tunnel. There is usually one at every acquarium and this one is just as fascinating to walk through. Sharks and sting rays swimming around and above you are larger then yourself and then there are all the schools of fish that swim so closely together.
Another look at the displays on the ground level and it was feeding time for the lazy Octapus (who loves to try and escape) - a prawn, Seahorses - tiny shrimp and in the touch rock pool a large sea hare - butter lettuce and for the sea urchins - chopped up pieces of white bait. Sea urchins are very slow eaters - it will take them at least 2 hours to digest a tiny piece of white bait, the large sea hare is a little faster at devouring a few large butter letuuce leaves which I could see disappearing into its "mouth" very slowly as I watched. Other sea urchins clinging to the sides of the glass rock pool had small prawn tails just visible sticking out from their "mouths".
Entrance to ground floor of Manly Sealife Sanctuary
Touch rockpools
Kids play areas just before exit gates ground floor
View of Manly Wharf from inside Manly Sealife Santuary
Morning Squid - note how they look like they have been photoshopped in when they are photographed
One of the many colourful coral displays
The lazy octapus
Turtles
Venomous rock fish
Before exiting for my long bus ride home on the 136 Manly to Chatswood bus, a quick toliet stop and a few phoros of the kids play areas.
Photos attached and short youtube video has been uploaded of Penguin Cove Talk and Feed
Rating 9/10 - a great place to educate and entertain the kids. Also has a birthday party room downstairs. Busy on weekends and school holidays but no long queues. Enclosed views of Manly Wharf area from inside from upstairs Penguin Cove. A tourist attraction to visit before it does close.
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