Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters

Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters Face your fears at Irukandji's interactive & educational aquarium. We are open 9-5 every day except Christmas Day. Guided experiences run throughout the day.
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Home of Sea Shelter ~ Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release, Regenerate, Research 🌿
Just a short drive from Newcastle you will have an animal experience of a different kind. BOOKINGS REQUIRED AT PEAK TIMES. Due to the popularity of the new aquarium it is now recommended booking in advance to save your spot as the aquarium books out all day during busy periods. Entry Pass includes a journey with staff, f

ood for the sharks and the rays AND wading into the shallows of our tropical lagoon in bare feet. Additional in-water experiences include wear & keep souvenir socks and/or wetsuit hire. Please note for any in water experiences children under 12 will need at least one accompanying adult in the water.

Meanwhile in Indonesia... 🌏Orion, the Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum), is growing up! And we are proud as punch 🩵Orion...
20/06/2026

Meanwhile in Indonesia... 🌏
Orion, the Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum), is growing up! And we are proud as punch 🩵

Orion is one of the viable zebra shark embryos that we sent to Indonesia late last year, to be part of the world's first shark re-wilding program, the StAR Project by ReShark 💫

🙌 Upon hearing news of 2 pups being successfully born, the incredible team in indonesia gave us the honour of naming one of them and (sticking with the StAR theme) the team here voted for Orion ⭐️

🌅We recently got news from Indonesia that Orion has been moved to the "Sea-pen" so he can start adjusting to life in the ocean!

🦈His beautiful spots are coming through and our passionate keepers are beside themselves with love and pride.

✨Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is one of just a handful of aquariums in the world who have been chosen as an approved breeding partner for this critically important, wildlife rebuilding initiative. By reintroducing zebra sharks into the wild, we are rebuilding ecosystems, protecting biodiversity, and restoring balance to our oceans 🌊

😮You can meet Orion's Irukandji Zebra Shark family yourself! Right here in Anna Bay. By booking into a Zebra Shark Snorkel or Encounter you can get up close with these beautiful sharks AND support our conservation mission.

💪It is not cheap to fly these precious eggs over to Indonesia and your support is more important than ever right now as we hope to be able to send more soon! To book now, visit the tickets page on our website.

🤩Find out more about the StAR project on the ReShark website https://www.reshark.org/star-project

17/06/2026

🦈Your visit to Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters will get you up close and personal with our beautiful family of sharks, rays and more!

🫧On our website, explore our Snorkels and Encounters to make the most of your visit.
By adding an in-water experience you will get maximum value from your full day entry pass!

🤿Shown here are some folks getting up close in our incredible Reef Shark Encounter, entering the water for the beautiful Coastal Currents Snorkel, and ticking off their bucket list with our famous Zebra Shark Encounter.

But, with general patting and feeding of our animals included in all tickets, you're sure to have a memorable day, no matter your budget!!💸

🌊Enjoy a conservation focussed, keeper-led experience at every level of entry.

💯Don't wait! We do have a maximum entry capacity that we monitor closely so it is particularly important to book ahead! If you want to avoid disappointment.

💙Swim with sharks! Swim with rays!
🩵Meet the sharks! Meet the rays!

All eyes on a healthy ocean 👀🪼🌊Happy World Oceans Day! Remember, the ocean is important for everyone, and everything.
08/06/2026

All eyes on a healthy ocean 👀🪼🌊
Happy World Oceans Day!

Remember, the ocean is important for everyone, and everything.

🌏🌻This World Environment Day we are putting a spotlight on the sad but hopeful story of Golbat, the young green sea turt...
05/06/2026

🌏🌻This World Environment Day we are putting a spotlight on the sad but hopeful story of Golbat, the young green sea turtle.

😢Last year in winter, Port Stephens witnessed a mass mortality event affecting our local sea turtle populations. Many turtles washed up on beaches dead or struggling and we were one of the organisations involved in helping. Eventually, something never seen before happened.

🪸Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is Home to Sea Shelter, our marine rescue, rehab and release centre. One of the turtles who came into our care was affectionately named Golbat 🦇

🐢Golbat presented extremely weak with vascular issues and subsequent infections. Despite our best efforts, the upper portion of the the mouth, or beak, continually decayed and actually fell off!
Typically, such conditions result in death 🥺 as they're unable to eat or compete for food. In captivity, prosthetics may be an option but to be eligible for wild release, Golbat would need to demonstrate their capacity to eat and forage on their own.

👀An event of this nature, resulting in such a condition is highly unusual and actually a world first, attracting international attention.

🌿Nature is incredible. Remarkably, as Golbat continued to recover, they displayed all these things, and and now is at a point where they even outcompete the other turtles in our communal rehabilitation tank! Incredible progress. Meaning release is back on the cards!

Golbat remains the sole survivor of turtles found during this event.

🩵Nursing a sea turtle back to health and keeping them in care for so long is no easy feat and we need your help. Golbat is not out of the woods yet. Please donate now here: https://sharkencounters.com.au/conservation/donate/

🫶Any donations you make to Sea Shelter will make a massive difference. Funding food, blood testing, scans and important equipment for Golbat's release, and future treatments and diagnosis.

Are you a turtle lover? Book a Turtle Conservation Encounter, and meet our resident green sea turtle up close! Profits from this encounter go directly to sea shelter. https://sharkencounters.com.au/tickets-passes/encounters/

04/06/2026

A visit to Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is an aquarium experience like no other 🙌🏼

👋🏼Our highly trained and knowledgeable aquarists are engaging with you the whole time!

✨It's hard to leave the site without learning something and having a greater appreciation for the over 100 different species on site.

🦈You don't just get to "touch" the animals, but you will truly meet them. Our keepers will give you the opportunity to learn about each individual and their story.

🐠With more than 700 different individuals, there are so many new friends to make!

🌊Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is all about conservation and we believe in the power of meaningful interactions.

💪🏼Come be a part of our mission and support us through your visit by taking part in one of our Snorkels or Encounters. Swim with 3m sharks! Swim with rays!

There's no better time to visit than winter. With less crowds and our warm lagoon waters, why wait?!

Book now! https://sharkencounters.com.au/tickets-passes/

A HUGE thank you and shout out to Dan Murphy's Green Hills Store for their donation of $1000 to Sea Shelter!! 🪸Sea Shelt...
30/05/2026

A HUGE thank you and shout out to Dan Murphy's Green Hills Store for their donation of $1000 to Sea Shelter!!

🪸Sea Shelter was nominated as part of their Regional Heroes Program.
We are touched by the nomination, let alone the selection to be the chosen recipient by the Green Hills Team.

🫶 Jess and Kate, the Green Hills Store managers, came in to personally deliver the donation to Ryan, our passionate director and driver of the Sea Shelter mission.

🐢This will make a huge difference to our not-for-profit rescue centre and go towards the rehabilitation and hopeful release of a special sea turtle, Golbat. This turtle, who was rescued locally in Port Stephens, is one of the few survivors of an event that caused many sick sea turtles to be found washed up on our beaches. You can read more about Golbat and her story on our website at https://sharkencounters.com.au/conservation/donate/

💪If you'd like to donate to the Sea Shelter, you can do so directly through our website or support us simply by visiting our interactive aquarium in Anna Bay and getting involved in an awesome experience. See you there!

🐢Patrisha the green sea turtle will be offsite for a CT Scan on Friday the 29th of May. 🐡If you are booked in or in the ...
24/05/2026

🐢Patrisha the green sea turtle will be offsite for a CT Scan on Friday the 29th of May.

🐡If you are booked in or in the area on Friday, there is still heaps to see on site, including Rays, sharks, fish and more! On this day, just be aware that our resident sea turtle is going for a scan to hopefully get her approved for wild release!

We wish her the best of luck!💪

Happy World Turtle Day! 🐢Read about Primeape the Loggerhead Turtle's continuing story, from rescue to release and beyond...
22/05/2026

Happy World Turtle Day! 🐢

Read about Primeape the Loggerhead Turtle's continuing story, from rescue to release and beyond!

Article with map link here ⬇️
https://sharkencounters.com.au/loggerhead-turtle-release/

Sea turtles are a critical part of ocean ecosystems. Even a single turtle saved has a huge positive ecological impact and we are so proud to be part of research and data collection to support turtle populations into the future.

A visit or encounter with us at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay, directly supports the work of Sea Shelter, through operational costs, vet costs, licencing and more. We can't wait to welcome you.

- 🦈Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters - Home of Sea Shelter

Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible mums out there!The mums that work in the background to carefully plan the famil...
10/05/2026

Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible mums out there!
The mums that work in the background to carefully plan the family holidays.
The mums that show love unconditionally.
The mums that do this and so much more when no one asks them to.
They work hard and show love everyday. Today you don't go un-noticed or un-thanked.
Happy Mother's Day from all of us here and Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters 🦈💐🪸🔥💪

08/05/2026

Save 20% off online bookings this Winter!

🌅 Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters in Anna Bay is proud to be offering this special winter deal for a limited time in conjunction with Port Stephens!

☀️ Our Tropical Lagoon is now fully indoors. Meaning you can enjoy all our Shark Encounters and Shark Snorkels from the warm waters within.

🔥 Still rather not get wet? That's fine too. If you'd rather stay warm and dry in your own clothes, the Irukandji Entry Pass is for you!

😍 Avoid the crowds AND save money by visiting us this Winter. Offer only valid for relevant bookings made on or before the 31st of July.

🦈 Book now using the link below or use the code WILD20 at check out!
🦘Make a whole weekend of it this winter, check out the other awesome deals on offer too.
https://www.portstephens.org.au/awaken-winters-wild/

Address

2 Jessie Road
Anna Bay, NSW
2316

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61249822476

Website

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