AQWA The Aquarium of Western Australia

18/06/2026

What to do if you find a stranded turtle on the beach ⚠️🐢

It’s that time of year again when juvenile turtles and those that are injured, exhausted or simply a little off-course can wash ashore on Perth’s beloved beaches!

If you discover a turtle ashore in Perth or the greater south-west, it needs expert medical intervention.

Don’t put it back in the water, and call one of the below services immediately:

📱AQWA (9am - 4pm) - (08) 9447 7500
📱WA Wildlife Helpline - (08) 9417 7105
📱Wildcare Helpline (7am-8.30pm) - 9474 9055

➡️ Swipe through for our turtle first responder step-by-step guide.

📌 Save this post, and send it to any of your ocean frequenter friends, just in case you spot a stranded turtle this winter.

🔗 Discover more about the AQWA Foundation’s Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitate and Release program on our website.

16/06/2026

Happy World Sea Turtle Day 💚

Today we celebrate the amazing sea turtle, one of the oldest living creatures on earth!

Did you know, sea turtles as we recognise them today evolved around 110 million years ago. They also coexisted (and outlived!) dinosaurs 🦕

It's extremely important that we protect these wonderful creatures by keeping our oceans and beaches free from plastic waste.

Please do your bit to appreciate and protect our sea turtles 🐢

12/06/2026

Creature Feature | Western Slate Pencil Sea Urchin ✏️
This sea urchin got its name because of its large, stout spines, which were once collected and used as pencils on slateboards!

Did you know...
✏️ Sea urchins have a round jaw lined with five spiky teeth that scrape down rocks to remove encrusting animals and plants.

✏️Their unique jaw and tooth structure is known as 'Aristotle’s lantern', named after the famous Greek scientist and philosopher.

✏️ Aristotle described the jaw structure of sea urchins as appearing ‘like a lantern’ over 2,000 years ago.

✏️ Like starfish, sea urchins are covered in hundreds of tube feet, through which water flows to allow them to taste, move and breathe!

✏️ Their flexible spines can be folded down so they can crawl into small crevices.

✏️ When they find a secure hiding place, the spines pop back up and smaller ‘spinlets’ fold in to hold them in place.

Discover what they feel like at AQWA's Touch Pool!

11/06/2026

Special Storytime Beneath the Sea with author, Jayden Boundry 📖✨

Join us Wednesday 1 July at 9:30am and 10:30am for a special storytime in AQWA’s Coral Reef!

Kids aged 1-5 can enjoy interactive storytelling with author and Noongar language teacher, Jayden Boundry.

Discover, listen, and have a go at Noongar names and words in this fun-filled session focused on water creatures 🐠

This Storytime is FREE with AQWA Entry. Please complete the booking to register your attendance 📲 www.aqwa.com.au/products/storytime-beneath-the-sea-storytelling-with-author-jayden-boundry

📖 Jayden Boundry

Join AQWA every Wednesday at 9.30am for a free toddler storytime in the Coral Reef. Sensory fun, ocean characters and no booking required. Included with entry.

09/06/2026

Little pledges, big waves 💙
Thank you to all our youngest visitors that took part in our World Oceans Day activities yesterday, making pledges to help protect our marine environments!

We had a great day and hope you did too ☺️

08/06/2026

Creature Feature | Pipefish 🌱🐟
Don't be fooled! This isn't seagrass (or any other ocean dwelling plant for that matter), it's a family of pipefish!

Did you know...

🐟 Pipefish are in the same family of fish as seahorses and seadragons.

🐟 They have a longer backbone than other fish, and no ribs! Instead they are covered with bony rings that are embedded into their skin.

🐟 There are 200+ types of pipefish. Some can change colour, and one can even be found 400m deep in the ocean!

🐟 Pipefish live in seagrass, and they imitate their home by positioning themselves upright and swaying softly.

🐟 The male pipefish try to impress the females with lengthy and complicated love dances!

See if you can spot these elusive creatures in AQWA's Far North exhibit 👀

01/06/2026

AQWA’s Starfish Discovery ⭐️

Book a special Starfish Discovery session for your little superstar!

Kids aged 2-5 can join our Ocean Guide in an exclusive area at the Touch Pool to learn about these amazing creatures! Think play activities, a chance to hold a starfish, plus a stellar take-home souvenir and craft activity 🤩

This little treat is only an extra $10 on top of AQWA entry.

Bookings are required and spaces are limited, so get in quick!

📲 www.aqwa.com.au/products/starfish-discovery-kids-activity

30/05/2026

Amazing Marine Mums 🐢💕

We're celebrating all the amazing marine mums this May, including a fan favourite, the Sea turtle!

Did you know?
🐢 Using the Earth's magnetic fields and other cues to guide them, female turtles return to the same beach where they hatched to make their own nests.

🐢 It can take mum 3-4 hours to scout the perfect location, then they meticulously dig, lay and recover the nest!

🐢 Egg laying is the only time a sea turtle intentionally returns to land - so males never make this energy-demanding shore excursion.

Check out more amazing marine mums this long weekend, at AQWA!

29/05/2026

World Oceans Day | 8 June 🌊

Celebrate this World Oceans day at AQWA, as we spotlight the importance of protecting our incredible marine life!

🐠Discover creatures from WA’s marine parks
🪸Learn how to protect these unique environments
🎨Get crafty with take-home hands-on activities for kids

Activities will run from 9:30am to 12:30pm, and are free with entry.

Book your tickets online now!

📲 www.aqwa.com.au/buy-tickets