Updated in October 2026, this AQWA, The Aquarium of Western Australia, guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
AQWA is a large aquarium at Hillarys Boat Harbour on Perth‘s northern coast. A multi-stage expansion with a 3D dome cinema and a reef shark aquarium is planned, with works starting in 2026 and the first new attractions due in 2027. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the current ticket prices, the seasonal opening hours and the four-hour free parking.
Quick facts: AQWA
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 9am to 4pm from March to November. 9am to 5pm in December and January. February: 4pm weekdays, 5pm weekends. |
| Ticket prices | Adult $37. Child (3 to 15) $20. Family (2 adults, 2 children) $98. Concession $29. Infants under 3 free. |
| Address | 91 Southside Drive, Hillarys WA 6025 |
| Nearest transport or parking | Free parking for 4 hours at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Train to Warwick Station, then bus 423. |
| Typical time needed | About 2 to 3 hours |
AQWA opening hours
AQWA is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. It is open on all other public holidays. Opening hours change with the season:
- March to November: 9am to 4pm daily.
- December and January: 9am to 5pm daily.
- February: 9am to 4pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends.
Your entry ticket is valid from opening until closing on the day you use it. You can leave and return as long as you keep your ticket.
The AQWA Café is open daily and is a licensed venue. The Gift Shop is in the same complex.
5 great things to do in Perth
- 🚲 Take the ferry to Rottnest Island – then cycle to the beaches and quokkas.
- 🌌 Dine in the desert and go stargazing – on an evening Pinnacles tour.
- 🐬 Swim with wild dolphins – on a wildlife adventure to Rockingham.
- 🍷 Combine a Swan River cruise with wine-tasting in the Swan Valley.
- 🏟️ Go behind the scenes – on an Optus Stadium tour.
AQWA ticket prices
An AQWA entry ticket is valid all day and costs $37 for an adult. Tickets are sold at the gate or online. Online tickets are refundable and can be moved to another date.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (16 years and over) | $37 |
| Child (3 to 15 years) | $20 |
| Infant (0 to 2 years) | Free |
| Family (2 adults and 2 children) | $98 |
| Concession (student or health care card) | $29 |
| Senior or pensioner (card required) | $29 |
Carers with a valid Companion Card enter free with a paying client. Annual members enter free.
- Free with entry: talks, feeds and interactions with Ocean Guides, the Ocean Playroom and the Touch Pool.
- Extra cost: the Glass Bottom Boat, the Behind The Scenes Pass and shark experiences. Snorkel With Sharks starts at $195 and Dive With Sharks at $210. Both are for ages 14 and over.
- Parking: free for four hours.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
How to get to AQWA
AQWA is at Hillarys Boat Harbour, about 30 minutes from the Perth city centre by car.
- By car: follow the signs to Hillarys Boat Harbour and Southside Drive. Parking is free for four hours.
- By train and bus: take the Joondalup Line train to Warwick Station, then bus 423 to Hillarys Boat Harbour. This works every day.
- At weekends: take the Joondalup Line to Greenwood Station, then bus 456.
- In summer: take the Joondalup Line to Whitfords Station, then bus 458.
- By ferry: Rottnest Island ferries leave from the same harbour, at 56 Southside Drive.
Use the Transperth journey planner for current services.
Parking at AQWA
Parking is free for four hours at Hillarys Boat Harbour and at AQWA. The car park fills quickly in school holidays, so arrive early.
The harbour also has parking for people with limited mobility. Accessible bays are marked on the harbour access map.
If you plan to dive or snorkel with sharks, arrive at least 30 minutes before your session. Parking can be limited at busy times.
How long to spend at AQWA
Plan about 2 to 3 hours for a first visit. This covers the exhibits, a talk or feed and a break at the café. Allow longer for a Glass Bottom Boat tour or a Behind The Scenes Pass.
AQWA is busiest in the morning. A visit from 1.30pm is quieter and gives more space around the displays.
Accessibility at AQWA
The entrance and exit have ramp access. The Shipwreck Coast underwater tunnel is reached by lift. The Marina Bay amphitheatre and aquarium are reached through an access gate. Ask Reception for staff help.
Free wheelchairs are available at Reception. The moving walkway in the tunnel is 1.2 m wide, and the stationary platform is 1.1 m wide. Larger wheelchairs and mobility aids may not fit, so staff can stop the conveyor belt.
Accessible toilets are outside near the Touch Pool and in the blocks near Reception. Prams are welcome throughout, with pram parking beside Reception. Large wagons are not allowed in the exhibit areas. Free compact strollers can be borrowed from Reception.
The displays use dim feature lighting but no flashing effects.
What to see at AQWA
AQWA shows more than 45 exhibits of Western Australian marine life. It holds Australia’s largest single aquarium, with 3 million litres of seawater. It shows only native Western Australian species and grows its own living coral.
The journey follows four coastal zones. The Great Southern Coast shows cold-water species such as leafy seadragons and pineapplefish. The Shipwreck Coast has the underwater tunnel and a moving conveyor belt beneath giant sharks, stingrays and turtles.
The Perth Coast shows local animals such as the gloomy octopus, western rock lobster and Australian cuttlefish. The Far North and Coral Coast shows tropical corals, colourful reef fish and baby crocodiles.
Special exhibits include the DANGERzone, which shows stinging and biting marine animals, and the Glowing Ocean, which uses UV light on fluorescent corals. The Coral Conservatory shows a coral growing room and a living catalogue of WA corals.
The Coral Reef underwater gallery is one of the largest living coral exhibits in the world. The Seagrass Meadow gallery shows seahorses and small fish among seagrass.
Outdoors, the Turtle Rescue Centre rehabilitates sick and injured sea turtles. The Touch Pool lets visitors gently handle starfish and other rock pool animals. The Ocean Playroom suits children aged two and over.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive in the afternoon from 1.30pm for fewer crowds. Check the talks and feeds schedule on the AQWA website. |
| Crowds | School and public holidays are peak times. AQWA stops admissions when it reaches capacity. |
| Layout | The route follows four coastal zones. The Touch Pool and Turtle Rescue Centre are outdoors. |
| Entry process | Buy tickets at the gate or online. The ticket is valid all day, so you can arrive at any time. |
| On-site logistics | Free drinking fountains are outside near the Turtle Rescue Centre and inside at the café. First aid is near Reception. |
Frequently asked questions about AQWA
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is AQWA suitable for children? | Yes. It has a Touch Pool, an Ocean Playroom for ages 2 and over and free talks. Children aged 3 to 15 pay $20. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for AQWA? | No. Tickets are sold at the gate. Experiences such as shark swims need a booking. |
| Is AQWA open on Sundays? | Yes. AQWA is open every day except Christmas Day. |
| Are prams allowed at AQWA? | Yes. Prams are welcome, and there is pram parking beside Reception. Large wagons are not allowed in the exhibits. |
| Is AQWA wheelchair accessible? | Mostly. Ramps and lifts serve the main areas. Larger wheelchairs may not fit on the tunnel walkway, so ask staff for help. |
Things to do near AQWA
- Hillarys Boat Harbour: the harbour that surrounds AQWA, with shops, restaurants and a marina.
- Sorrento Quay: a waterfront dining and shopping precinct within the harbour.
- Hillarys Beach: a swimming beach beside the harbour.
- Rottnest Island ferry terminal: ferries to Rottnest Island leave from the harbour. The crossing takes about 45 minutes.
- Sorrento Beach: a beach in neighbouring Sorrento, along Perth’s Sunset Coast.
Alternative attractions
- Perth Zoo: a zoo at 20 Labouchere Road in South Perth, a few minutes from the city centre.
- Rottnest Island: a car-free island with quokkas, beaches and sea lions, about a 45-minute ferry ride from Hillarys.
- Penguin Island: a little penguin colony in the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park at Rockingham, about 50 km and 45 minutes’ drive south of Perth.
- Yanchep National Park: a park with a 240 m koala boardwalk, about 55 km and 40 minutes’ drive north of Perth.
- Dolphin Discovery Centre, Bunbury: a dolphin centre with a discovery pool and aquarium, about 90 minutes south of Perth.
More Perth travel
Other Perth travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Visitor tips for the Western Australian Botanic Garden in Perth.
- Practical Perth beach guides: Plan a visit to Scarborough Beach, Cottesloe Beach, Trigg Beach or Coogee Beach.
- Practical tips for visiting the Caversham Wildlife Park.
- WA Museum Boola Bardip visitor guide: Ticket prices, opening hours and what to see at Western Australia’s flagship museum.
- Guides to the top attractions in Fremantle: Including Fremantle Prison, the Roundhouse, the WA Maritime Museum and the WA Shipwrecks Museum.
