The Australian Shark and Ray Centre
Note: We currently have a family pass up for grabs via our Facebook page. Hop on over there to enter!
This is one for the “Sweet! Wish this was around when I was a kid” files. Recently the entire family (baby too) donned skin tight wetsuits to mingle with some amazing sharks and stingrays at the Australian Shark and Ray Centre in Melbourne. Our younger son is shark mad and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to let him get close to his favourite critters. The Australian Shark and Ray Centre offers a literal immersion experience – visitors enter pools with the various species of sharks and rays to feed the animals. The experience is open to any age – Little Lady Bub only just had her first birthday and they even had a tiny weenie wetsuit and reef shoes to protect her during the experience.
We started off in shallow pools, feeding bamboo sharks and esturine rays. I managed the visit with a baby by keeping her a carrier for the duration. I would be telling porky pies if I wasn’t honest in admitting that getting into a tank to feed sharks with my baby strapped to me was a little unnerving. By starting off in the shallow pool my confidence was built and we progressed to the waist deep (for an adult) pools where there were larger rays and sharks.
There is are only three big sharks (2 meters long) at the Australian Shark and Ray Centre and – Tawny Nurse Sharks Gigantaur, and his girlfriends Kath and Kim. We were able to pat these gentle giants (as well as listen to a top rate marine biology talk about them) however feeding them was left to the experts.
“Gigantaur” the Tawny Nurse Shark at The Australian Shark and Ray Centre
We did visit with our one year old daughter but I believe a visit to the centre with a toddler would be harder work. As it was our four year old was more than a handful – becoming overexcited and pushing limits. This is an attraction where it is better not to be outnumbered by young ones.
In the interest of a transparent review there were a couple of aspects to our visit that could have been improved We visited on a a Sunday when it was busy and check-in was frankly chaotic The price is hefty for a family – $125. With our entry we were meant to be given a $100 travel voucher – the girl on the desk didn’t know where they were when we checked in and there was nobody on the desk when we left. Finally, the change facilities were pretty dreadful – really not enough room for the number of people that were there when were, and unclean. All these criticisms don’t dampen my enthusiasm for the attraction itself though due to its fabulous uniqueness. BUT, do come dressed in your bathers already and do insist you receive your $100 travel voucher.
I know there are some people that are unhappy about marine creatures being kept in enclosures as tourist attractions. My own take on this particular centre that features only rays and sharks is that it goes a long way in dispelling the fear and loathing many have towards sharks. As apex predators, sharks have an important role to play in the health of the world’s oceans. Deplorable fishing practices such as finning are contributing to their endangerment. I suspect that many of the tourists visiting this centre are more likely to advocate for shark protection after interacting with them personally. The visit to the Australian Shark and Ray Centre has certainly cemented my sons as friends and advocates of sharks for life.
The Australian Shark and Ray Centre
The Australian Shark and Ray Centre is located on the corner of Princes Highway and Progress Street in Dandenong South. Children under twelve require an adult in the water with them. One adult per five children is required to enter the water.
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