Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters
ProHighlights
- Wade, snorkel or sit out on the reef in a supplied wetsuit while keepers run feeding rounds with sharks and rays
- Keeper-led encounters take only four or six guests at a time, so everyone gets real time with the animals
- Ticket sales help fund Sea Shelter, the on-site rescue and rehabilitation centre for injured sea turtles
About Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters
Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters is a hands-on marine attraction in Anna Bay, built around a series of lagoons holding about two million litres of water and more than 100 species. Husband-and-wife team Ryan and Lia Pereira, a marine scientist and a former zookeeper, run it with a strong conservation focus, including Sea Shelter, their rescue and rehabilitation centre for injured turtles. Every guest starts with an Entry Pass, which covers the aquarium, feeding from the lagoon edges and the keeper talks and shark and ray shows that run through the day. From there, groups can add the all-day Discovery Encounter to wade or sit out on the reef in a supplied wetsuit, book a keeper-guided encounter with zebra sharks, rays, reef sharks or the resident green sea turtle, or snorkel the deeper tropical and temperate lagoons. Guided encounters take only four or six people at a time, and the tropical lagoon is heated and under cover. The operator lists shark-themed birthday parties, special events and group visits among its activities, alongside school, TAFE and university programs. Encounters happen in shallow water, so nobody needs to swim, while the snorkels suit people with basic confidence in the water. Minimum ages run from 3 to 12 depending on the experience. Numbers on site are capped to protect the animals, so send an enquiry to book a group date.
Inclusions & amenities
Activity type
Price range (per person)
Setting
Ages
Pricing
Upgrades are added to the Entry Pass: the three main upgrades add $50, $65 or $80, the reef shark encounter adds $90 and the turtle conservation experience adds $150. Bundles of several encounters and snorkels are also sold, and annual passes start at $140.
Availability
What's Included
Frequently asked questions
How much does a visit cost?
The Irukandji Entry Pass is $41 for adults, $35 for concessions and $25 for children aged 3 to 14, with family passes from $122. Encounters and snorkels are added on top of the Entry Pass and are priced individually.
Can we hold a birthday party here?
Yes. The operator lists shark-themed birthday parties, special events and group visits among its activities, but no party package or price is published. Send an enquiry with your date and numbers to get the details.
Do guests need to be able to swim?
Not for the encounters, which take place in shallow water with an aquarist guiding the group. The snorkels need basic confidence in the water, and the zebra shark snorkel in the tropical lagoon is the gentlest place for beginners.
Are there age limits for the encounters?
It depends on the experience. The zebra shark encounter starts at age 3, the zebra shark snorkel at 6 and the temperate lagoon snorkel at 12. Younger children can still feed and pat the animals in the shallows with an Entry Pass.
What should we bring?
Bring swimwear to wear under the supplied wetsuit, plus a towel, although a few loan towels are kept at the front desk. Guests on an Entry Pass only should wear shorts and bring a towel to dry their feet after wading at the edge.
Where we are
Suitable occasions
natalie anne enriquez
2 months ago
We had such a wonderful experience at the lagoon, and thank you very much to the team, especially Cyrus who was easily one of the highlights of our visit! He took the time to bring us around and share so much interestin…
Jay Park
3 months ago
Such a great experience at Irukandji. First of all I was amazed with how passionate staffs are at this place. I could feel that it is not just a job fir them but they truly love looking after sharks and rays here. If you…
Marina Martin
3 months ago
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had the best experience at Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters! Our private encounters were just incredible, and my kids absolutely loved every minute of it. It was so memorable for our family. The staff were incre…
clover
4 months ago
LOVED!! best experience,kind and commumicative staff, amazing atmosphere I cant reccommend this enough With 2 adults and 1 child and only 100 dollars for more or less the full experience (minus the wet suits) You start o…
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