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Except for a short stint in Buenos Aires (great city, mind the pavements), I’ve lived in Melbourne, Australia my entire life. Unlike everywhere else in the world, if someone were to ask me “What should I go see there,” I’d look at them blankly and maybe mutter how nice my couch is to sit on in my PJs of an evening.
As people keep telling us, Melbourne happens to be the most liveable city in the world and, don’t get me wrong, it’s nice and all, not too crowded, pleasantish weather (but bring an unbrella just in case), really good food culture... I wouldn’t promote the public transport but at least they try.
So instead of squishing into an airplane seat between two strangers for endless, endless hours, we decided to explore our own city like the tourists do; with fresh eyes, filled with wonder. Like we haven't been here before.
We're hitting up the tourist hotspots, and why not start with SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. Because penguins!
The Aquarium is made up of a number of interactive exhibits, built mostly for those less than four feet tall (nope, not me). A lot of the tanks have little hidey-holes underneath them with thick glass domes so that the little'uns can peer above them at fish swimming above them. Wish there were adult-sized ones.
As people keep telling us, Melbourne happens to be the most liveable city in the world and, don’t get me wrong, it’s nice and all, not too crowded, pleasantish weather (but bring an unbrella just in case), really good food culture... I wouldn’t promote the public transport but at least they try.
So instead of squishing into an airplane seat between two strangers for endless, endless hours, we decided to explore our own city like the tourists do; with fresh eyes, filled with wonder. Like we haven't been here before.
We're hitting up the tourist hotspots, and why not start with SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. Because penguins!
The Aquarium is made up of a number of interactive exhibits, built mostly for those less than four feet tall (nope, not me). A lot of the tanks have little hidey-holes underneath them with thick glass domes so that the little'uns can peer above them at fish swimming above them. Wish there were adult-sized ones.
© Chaille Bos The first thing I notice about SEA LIFE is kids, lots of kids, which shouldn't really have been a surprise considering it was a Saturday afternoon. Aside from some ear-piercing screams, it wasn't a biggie. They’re short so you can easily see all the fish over their heads. The second thing I see is a fish with a funny nose. It turns out there are a lot of fish with funny noses, but this one, the Elephant Fish, apparently only lives in the area around my childhood home. Who knew.
I move onto the crustacean section and then rapidly leave the crustacean section as giant crabs are very giant spider looking. There aren't enough nopes in the world.
Sharks are next. I catch the tail end of a talk by the shark tank and (as well as seeing the biggest mother of a fish I've seen in my life glide by the window) I am rapidly converted to a shark welfare advocate. Apparently we turn 100 million of them into our snacks a year…that seems excessive and super unsustainable.
Next to the saltwater crocodiles. Or crocodile. You need to stand on a glass floor overhanging the enclosure to see the big guy. While I was trying to determine whether he (or she) was a (much better quality than the rest) statue, he blinked. So. Not. A statue. There’s a sign talking about types of crocodilians. I will forever use only use this term for crocodiles. It makes me smile. Crocodilians.
Right, enough meat-eaters: where are the penguins?
On my quest for my flippered friends, I’m distracted by the Ice Age: No Time For Nuts 4D movie experience. It doesn’t have a happy ending, which no one else seemed to notice, but now I can say I know what it’s like to be felt up and blown on by a chair.
Finally, the SEA LIFE grand finale...IT'S THE PENGUINS! Emperor and King penguins, to be precise. There were several fat little baby ones and some with smooth majestic feathers while others looked like they'd had a rough night and were moulting everywhere. I watched the penguins. They watched me back. Oh I love them so. I watch them topple themselves headfirst into the water and zoom around the tank before jumping out, spinning around, and toppling back in again. A group of adults got into a fight and started bitch-slapping each other (I stand by this description) until another separates them. Penguins, I mean. Not parents.
Nothing can top that, so I’m out.
It’s sunny and I walk back to my car along the Yarra. I’m going to enjoy being a tourist in Melbourne.
I move onto the crustacean section and then rapidly leave the crustacean section as giant crabs are very giant spider looking. There aren't enough nopes in the world.
Sharks are next. I catch the tail end of a talk by the shark tank and (as well as seeing the biggest mother of a fish I've seen in my life glide by the window) I am rapidly converted to a shark welfare advocate. Apparently we turn 100 million of them into our snacks a year…that seems excessive and super unsustainable.
Next to the saltwater crocodiles. Or crocodile. You need to stand on a glass floor overhanging the enclosure to see the big guy. While I was trying to determine whether he (or she) was a (much better quality than the rest) statue, he blinked. So. Not. A statue. There’s a sign talking about types of crocodilians. I will forever use only use this term for crocodiles. It makes me smile. Crocodilians.
Right, enough meat-eaters: where are the penguins?
On my quest for my flippered friends, I’m distracted by the Ice Age: No Time For Nuts 4D movie experience. It doesn’t have a happy ending, which no one else seemed to notice, but now I can say I know what it’s like to be felt up and blown on by a chair.
Finally, the SEA LIFE grand finale...IT'S THE PENGUINS! Emperor and King penguins, to be precise. There were several fat little baby ones and some with smooth majestic feathers while others looked like they'd had a rough night and were moulting everywhere. I watched the penguins. They watched me back. Oh I love them so. I watch them topple themselves headfirst into the water and zoom around the tank before jumping out, spinning around, and toppling back in again. A group of adults got into a fight and started bitch-slapping each other (I stand by this description) until another separates them. Penguins, I mean. Not parents.
Nothing can top that, so I’m out.
It’s sunny and I walk back to my car along the Yarra. I’m going to enjoy being a tourist in Melbourne.
Hot Tips
Getting There:
Park your car in Southbank for cheaper parking than across the Yarra in the CBD, or take the train in to either Flinders St or Southern Cross stations and walk. Alternatively, there are plenty of expensive CBD car parks that offer cheaper rates if you book a park online. You can park for as low as $7 for the day on weekends. Check out Secure Parking for more info.
Book Online
Not gonna lie, at $40 per adult, it's not the cheapest day out, but tickets are cheaper if you prepay online – not only will it save you at least 10% on your entrance fee, you stroll straight over to the priority, pre-booked queue, which is a heck of a lot shorter. Either print the ticket at home or you can show it to them on your smart phone.
Plan Ahead:
There are expert presentations and talks, plus opportunities to feed some of the sea creatures in different areas of the aquarium all throughout the day, so if that's something you're interested in experiencing while you're there, make sure to plan your aquatic adventure carefully.
Visit https://www.melbourneaquarium.com.au/general-info/feeds-and-talks/ for the schedule, and even to book behind the scenes tours or even dives with the sharks. Have fun!
Park your car in Southbank for cheaper parking than across the Yarra in the CBD, or take the train in to either Flinders St or Southern Cross stations and walk. Alternatively, there are plenty of expensive CBD car parks that offer cheaper rates if you book a park online. You can park for as low as $7 for the day on weekends. Check out Secure Parking for more info.
Book Online
Not gonna lie, at $40 per adult, it's not the cheapest day out, but tickets are cheaper if you prepay online – not only will it save you at least 10% on your entrance fee, you stroll straight over to the priority, pre-booked queue, which is a heck of a lot shorter. Either print the ticket at home or you can show it to them on your smart phone.
Plan Ahead:
There are expert presentations and talks, plus opportunities to feed some of the sea creatures in different areas of the aquarium all throughout the day, so if that's something you're interested in experiencing while you're there, make sure to plan your aquatic adventure carefully.
Visit https://www.melbourneaquarium.com.au/general-info/feeds-and-talks/ for the schedule, and even to book behind the scenes tours or even dives with the sharks. Have fun!
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