Sitting on the edge of Darling Harbour, one of the world’s largest aquariums opened to the public in 1988. With more than 650 species represented in the Sydney Aquarium, this fascinating aquatic world has fast captured the imagination of more than half of the visitors to Sydney. The tunnels of acrylic glass give you the feeling of being below the ocean. Watching the sharks glide by overhead can make you feel vulnerable to these perfect predators even though you know that you are safe.

Through the five habitats of the Sydney Aquarium, you can explore the marine life in the waters of Australia without setting foot outside. From the southern Murray Darling Rivers to the rivers in the north, the northern and southern oceans, and the adorable dugongs; there is no lack of amazing aquatic life to learn about and watch. Almost all of Australia’s vast waterways and marine life is represented.

The Southern Rivers Habitat is home to a recreation of the natural habitat of the Murray cod, the largest freshwater fish in Australia, and the adorable egg laying platypus. The exhibit also houses all manner of fish, reptiles and crustaceans from the Murray Darling River System, a system that drains a seventh of Australia’s land mass.

With its saltwater crocodiles and Asian Bass, or Barramundi, the Northern Rivers Habitat recreates the rivers of the north seasonal habitat. Affected by floods and droughts, the creatures of the northern rivers adapt to the water’s salinity. Salt water penetrates as far as 100km inland during the dry season.

Fairy Penguins, Grey Nurse Sharks, Leafy Sea Dragons, giant jellyfish, and the Pineapple Fish all populate the Southern Oceans Habitat. The amazing diversity of these exhibits is astounding. The Sydney Harbour exhibit is particularly interesting.

Recreation of the vibrant and colorful Great Barrier Reef makes the Northern Oceans Habitat a dazzling display that will hold you in its spell. The Reef Theatre, with its window into the oceanarium, will further captivate you.

Mermaid Lagoon is home to two of the very few captive dugongs in the world, Pig and Wuru. Known as sea cows or mermaids of the sea, the dugong is a strange looking creature that related to the manatee. Their jaw is on the bottom of their head to facilitate their grazing of sea grasses. It is often thought that the dugong is the mermaid of legends.

If you are looking for watery adventures but prefer to stay on dry land, the Sydney Aquarium is the place to go. With its incredible habitats replicating natural environs of each area, you could easily spend a full day enjoying the creatures that live throughout the waters of Australia.