SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is investing millions into reimagining the Dugong Island precinct, building toward a completely new ocean-themed experience set to open in 2027. Details on exactly what's coming are still under wraps, but any time an aquarium commits to a redevelopment at this scale, it's worth getting excited about, it usually means bigger, more immersive ways for kids to engage with marine environments.
What about Pig?
If your family has visited before, you probably know Pig, the aquarium's much-loved resident dugong. Rest assured — Pig is being carefully relocated during the works and will continue to be viewable by guests in the popular Day & Night on the Reef zone. His care team has managed the move with his wellbeing as the top priority, so you can still say hello on your next visit.
🦈 Still So Much to Explore
Nothing else is going anywhere. While Dugong Island is offline for the redevelopment, families can still enjoy:
- Shark Valley
- Penguin Expedition
- Day & Night on the Reef
- Thousands of marine creatures from Australian and international waters
If you're planning a visit during this period, it's genuinely business as usual for the rest of the aquarium — just one precinct undergoing its glow-up.
At SPARK POP, we're big believers that you don't need a plane ticket to give your kids a genuinely eye-opening experience, sometimes it's an hour (or less) from home, behind a pane of glass, face-to-face with a shark. That's micro-travel in action: accessible, local, and every bit as developmental as a big trip away.
Aquariums like SEA LIFE Sydney do double duty for families. They're a brilliant day out, and they're a hands-on introduction to marine conservation — why our waterways matter, what's at stake for ocean ecosystems, and why sea creatures like dugongs need protecting. For curious kids (and let's be honest, curious adults too), that kind of learning sticks in a way a classroom worksheet never quite manages.
It's also a genuinely useful excursion option for school holiday programs and home schoolers: marine biology; sustainability; and conservation are curriculum-friendly topics, and a live aquarium visit brings them to life far better than a textbook.
💡 Planning a Visit
A few practical notes if you're booking a trip during the redevelopment period:
- Dugong Island itself will be temporarily unavailable, but the rest of the aquarium — including Pig's temporary home — is open as normal
- No confirmed date yet for the new experience beyond "2027" — we'll update this post as soon as more details are announced
- Making a day of it? SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium sits alongside WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Madame Tussauds Sydney and Sydney Tower Eye, all within walking distance in Darling Harbour — worth bundling if you're keen to see more than one
Whether it's your family's first visit or your hundredth, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is a brilliant way to spend a day connecting over curiosity instead of screens. Head over to SPARK POP to book your tickets, and remember — it also makes a fantastic experience gift for the ocean-lover in your life.
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