Envibe
With its sleek good looks and easy-to-use yet powerful functionality, Envibe is the premium fitness club software for the Australasian leisure, recreation and fitness industry. We are the most…
read moreSEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is set to become home to the world’s first-of-its kind penguin exhibit this summer, with a new immersive experience allowing visitors to encounter a colony of King and Gentoo Penguins.
Promising a “sensory and educational sub-Antarctic journey like never before”, the Penguin Island Expedition is inspired by Macquarie Island – which lies in the Southern Ocean - and will take guests on a raft journey through a rugged, sub-Antarctic environment at a cool but comfortable six degrees Celsius.
When the attraction opens in November, guests will experience being surrounded by penguins and experience a flurry of snow, whistling winds and the stunning southern lights, before arriving at a re-creation of Macquarie Island Explorer Hut. Here they can observe these inspiring creatures on land and under water and learn more about life on the remote island.
The state of the art exhibit represents a $9 million investment, making it SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s largest creature investment since opening 28 years ago. It will also be the first time colonies of sub-Antarctic penguins call Sydney home, underpinned by a dedicated breeding and conservation-focused education program.
Announcing the new attraction, Rob Smith, Divisional Director, Merlin Entertainments ANZ, stated “Penguin Island Expedition is an exciting, world first innovation and a must-see for local and international visitors alike.
“Offering true immersion in a brilliant replica of our penguins’ natural home, the ride allows guests to make amazing discoveries about life on Macquarie Island, the different personalities of cheeky Gentoo and majestic King Penguins, and how we all play a role in protecting their futures”.
Gerhard Beukes, Curator at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium added “these animals are ambassadors for their species and play a vital role in helping us to communicate our conservation values of ‘Breed, Rescue and Protect’ to the huge number of visitors that pass through our turnstiles each year.
“Wild penguin colonies throughout the world are under increasing threat due to pollution, global warming, dwindling fish stocks and habitat destruction, and it is our responsibility to educate the public on how they can help.
“This education is so important as what our guests see and do at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, and how they choose to switch their actions at home, can affect the penguins’ habitat for years to come.”
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium will work alongside the SEA LIFE Trust and Macquarie Island to highlight strong conservation messaging throughout the experience, including Macquarie Island’s pest eradication project and plastic pollution solutions. Initiatives, such as the SEA LIFE Trust’s support of proposed research into the impact of plastic pollution on the island’s penguin colonies, are hoped to inspire guests to ‘choose to reuse’ and help make a difference to penguin habitat protection and restoration.
The King and Gentoo Penguins will be a welcome addition to the 13,000 animals from 700 different species that call SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium home. These curious, playful and sometimes cheeky critters live in sub-Antarctic conditions; they can withstand the harsh winter environment and thrive in the chilly water. King Penguins can grow up to 100 cm tall and weigh 11 to 16 kg, while the smaller but still impressive Gentoo’s reach a maximum weight of 8.5kg.
Alongside Penguin Island Expedition, guests can marvel at sharks, dugongs, rays and a variety of animals from The Great Barrier Reef, making the attraction home to one of the largest displays of aquatic life in the world.
Entrance to Penguin Island Expedition - including daily feeds and talks from dedicated keepers and trainers - is included in the cost of general admission, starting from $28 online per person.
Images: Artist's impressions of the Penguin Island Expedition at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium - from top - the Southern Lights, the Macquarie Island Explorer Hut and the briefing room.
27th April 2016 - MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS MARKS FIVE YEARS OF OPERATIONS IN AUSTRALASIA
24th April 2016 - SEA LIFE MELBOURNE AQUARIUM CELEBRATES WORLD PENGUIN DAY
22nd April 2016 - SEA WORLD TO MARK WORLD PENGUIN DAY
18th February 2015 - SEA LIFE TRUST LAUNCHES OCEAN YOUTH PROGRAM
14th November 2013 - SEA LIFE SYDNEY AQUARIUM UNVEILS NEWLY REFURBISHED LITTLE PENGUIN HOMES
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
With its sleek good looks and easy-to-use yet powerful functionality, Envibe is the premium fitness club software for the Australasian leisure, recreation and fitness industry. We are the most…
read moreABOUT Again Faster is a Brisbane based, Australian owned supplier of strength and conditioning and functional fitness equipment. With nearly 10 years experience in the Australian market, we are…
read moreAnti Wave Global is the original suppliers of top performance swim, aquatic sports, leisure and pool programming equipment. Founded in 1971, Anti Wave Global is proud of its long and tested…
read moreClubware’s online gym software is not your run of the mill management system. It has been carefully designed to incorporate all the elements that a fitness club would need. How did we do that?…
read moreKnown as Hydrilla since September 2020 - see www.ausleisure.com.au/suppliers/hydrilla-pty-ltd
read morePathMinder Pty Ltd have partnered with AllUser Industries srl to bring Europe’s most advanced high security portals to the Australian and New Zealand markets. AllUser Industries started to…
read moreSmart Connection Consultancy is a boutique sport and recreation consultancy who has become one of Australia’s leading advocates for the use of synthetic sports surfaces as a vehicle to grow…
read moreOtium Planning Group is a contemporary sport and leisure consultancy providing services in planning, facility development, management and funding for the sport, recreation and leisure industries…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!