Aquariums in Queensland

Queensland has two aquariums on this list and they sit at opposite ends of the coast, so the first question is simply which one is near your holiday. SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium is in Mooloolaba, and Cairns Aquarium is in Cairns City. Both are indoors with a cafe, parking, baby change facilities, pram access and wheelchair access, and both are listed as suiting all ages, including toddlers.

The Mooloolaba one is the hands-on option. A Brisbane farms and zoos guide describes it as a compact aquarium with turtles, seals, penguins, sharks and stingrays, and calls the underwater walk-through tunnel with rays and sharks the highlight. Reviewers keep coming back to the tunnel, the jellyfish display and the seal encounters, and our verdict is that it suits families who want close contact with animals rather than passive viewing, with the seal swim standing out for older kids and adults. The trade-off is crowds: reviewers say public holidays and school holidays push it to capacity. Birthday parties are available here and not in Cairns.

Cairns Aquarium leans towards learning. The My Queensland guide names it among the best aquariums in the state, says it houses over 16,000 animals from the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest, and notes daily ecosystem talks, diver feeds and touch tank shows. Reviews praise the knowledgeable guides, the shark tunnel and the interactive touch pools, and our verdict puts its sweet spot at ages 4 and up. Add-ons include a turtle hospital tour, coral biobank tour and a night tour, which reviewers say is quieter. Parking is free, and reviewers suggest allowing about two and a half hours for all nine zones.