Our Sharks and Rays are one of the top things to do in Port Stephens you won’t want to miss!

Croc Swim Encounter

• Swim with over 20 crocodiles in our safe Billabong pool
• Get up close to Rocksteady our 800 behemoth
• FREE All Day Entry to the Crocodile Encounters Billabongs and the Port Stephens Animal Adventures and In the Water Experience

Epaullette Sharks (Walking Sharks)

Found in the warm waters of northern Australia and Papua New Guinea, these small sharks are more curious than fierce. Fun fact: Walking sharks can survive out of water for short periods by wriggling from one pool to another during low tide! Fascinating, friendly, and full of personality, they’re one of the ocean’s most unique creatures.

Long-Finned Eels

Meet our most friendliest friend who love a cuddle. These fascinating creatures are masters of survival, spending decades in freshwater before embarking on an extraordinary ocean journey to breed. Long-Finned Eels can actually climb damp surfaces like rocks and riverbanks, helping them move between waterways in the wild!

Port Jackson Sharks

With their blunt heads, big eyes, and gummy grins, Port Jackson Sharks are some of the most recognisable and loved sharks in Australian waters. These friendly, bottom-dwelling sharks are completely harmless to humans and can often be seen resting together in groups along rocky reefs. Port Jackson Sharks use their strong, flat teeth to crush and eat hard-shelled prey like sea urchins and crabs – and they even return to the same breeding spots year after year! Gentle, curious, and full of character, they’re true local favourites of our aquarium.

Blind Sharks

These shy, bottom-dwelling sharks are mostly nocturnal and use their keen senses of smell and touch to explore their environment. Blind Sharks can live for over 25 years in the wild, making them long-term residents of their reef homes. Gentle and fascinating, they are a reminder that sometimes the most unassuming creatures are the most intriguing.

Grey Carpet Sharks

These fascinating sharks can grow up to 3 meters long, yet they are gentle and pose little threat to humans. Fun fact: Grey Carpet Sharks can “walk” along the sea floor using their strong, fin-like pectoral fins, giving them a unique and almost magical way of moving. Watching them glide and explore is a mesmerising experience for any ocean enthusiast!

Gummy Sharks

Unlike their larger relatives, these sharks are completely harmless and are known for their calm and curious nature. Gummy Sharks get their name from their soft, “gummy” teeth, which they use to crush small prey like crabs and squid. Watching these friendly sharks glide gracefully through the water is a delightful experience for visitors of all ages.

Octopus

With eight super-flexible arms, incredible problem-solving skills, and the ability to change colour in a flash, this clever creature is full of surprises. Octopuses have three hearts – two for pumping blood to the gills and one just for the rest of the body!

Tawny Nurse Sharks

Calm, curious, and surprisingly friendly, these sharks are fascinating to watch as they glide effortlessly through the water. Get up close and discover the incredible world of these amazing underwater residents!

Zebra Sharks

Graceful, gentle, and full of personality, our Zebra Shark loves to glide through the water showing off its beautiful patterns. Come say hello and discover why this ocean beauty is one of the most fascinating creatures in our aquarium. They have tiny ridges on their skin that feel like sandpaper, helping protect them as they glide along the ocean floor.

Hold a Crocodile Experience

Feel the thrill of safely holding a real crocodile while learning fascinating facts from our expert keepers. It’s a unique, unforgettable experience and the perfect chance to capture an amazing photo to remember forever!

Black-Headed Python

Black-Headed Pythons are calm, impressive, and completely safe to observe under supervision. They’re a favourite with visitors, offering a unique chance to get up close and discover the fascinating world of snakes.

Diamond Pythons

Known for being calm and easy to observe under supervision, these pythons are incredibly cute, making them a favourite for visitors of all ages. Despite their impressive appearance, Diamond Pythons are non-venomous and rely on their stealth and strength to thrive in the wild.

Carpet Pythons

Known for their intricate patterned scales and calm, confident nature, these non-venomous pythons are safe to observe under supervision. Carpet Pythons are excellent climbers and swimmers, making them true masters of both land and water. At our park, visitors can get up close, admire their stunning patterns, and learn all about these incredible reptiles – an unforgettable experience for all ages.

Children’s Pythons

Perfectly safe to observe under supervision, this small python is calm, curious, and a favourite with visitors of all ages. Despite their size, Children’s Pythons are expert climbers and hunters in the wild – here they love showing off their gentle and playful side. Get up close, snap memorable photos, and experience the thrill of meeting one of Australia’s most delightful reptiles.

Olive Pythons

Calm and fascinating, these gentle giants are a favourite for visitors looking for a thrilling photo opportunity. Fun fact: Olive Pythons can grow over 6 meters long, longer than a car! Come along and see this impressive reptile up close.

Bearded Dragons

Known for their calm, friendly personalities and striking appearance, these lizards are perfect for up-close encounters. Fun fact: Bearded Dragons can “puff up” their beards to show off or ward off threats, but at our park, they love showing off their gentle, playful side to fascinated little hands. Watching them interact is both fun and educational – a true favourite for families visiting our wildlife experience.

Blue Tongue Lizards

Known for their striking blue tongues and friendly, calm nature, these lizards are a favourite for visitors of all ages. They use their bright blue tongues to warn predators and protect themselves, while their gentle personalities make them perfect for up-close encounters. Watching these fascinating reptiles in action is a fun and educational experience for the whole family.

Eastern Water Dragons

Eastern Water Dragons can stay perfectly still for long periods, making them masters of camouflage, and they are excellent swimmers, often seen gliding through rivers and ponds. At our park, you can see these incredible lizards up close, watch them bask in the sun, and snap unforgettable photos – a must-see for any visitor seeking a true Aussie wildlife experience!

Murray River Long-Necked Turtles

Long-Necked Turtles can live for decades, and their distinctive necks allow them to breathe while keeping most of their bodies hidden underwater. Visiting our turtles offers a unique chance to see these gentle survivors up close and learn about the important rescue and rehabilitation work we do to protect Australia’s wildlife.

Tesselate Moray Eels

These nocturnal hunters often peek from rocky crevices, revealing their curious eyes and powerful jaws, yet they move with a surprising grace through the water. Found across tropical reefs, they play a key role in keeping the ecosystem balanced. Up close, their mesmerising patterns and sinuous movements make them a captivating sight for anyone drawn to the mysteries of the ocean.

Giant Moray Eel

Did you know moray eels have a second set of jaws called pharyngeal jaws that help them catch prey? Come see up close why it’s one of the ocean’s most captivating creatures.

Eagle Rays

Eagle Rays are true acrobats of the ocean, gliding effortlessly through the water with their elegant, diamond-shaped bodies and long, graceful tails. These gentle giants are not only stunning to watch – they absolutely love a cuddle! In fact, they are known for being social and curious, often approaching humans during supervised encounters. Found in warm oceans around the world, Eagle Rays play an important role in the reef ecosystem by helping control populations of mollusks and crustaceans.

Fiddler Rays

These friendly rays love interacting with people and often swim close to visitors, making them a favorite for feeding and photo opportunities. Watching their smooth, swirling movements is a mesmerizing experience and a highlight for anyone visiting us.

Stingarees

Shovelnose Rays

These gentle creatures glide effortlessly along sandy ocean floors, using their specialised snouts to dig for mollusks and crustaceans, their favorite meals. Shovelnose Rays have a unique ability to sense tiny electric fields produced by their prey, helping them hunt even in murky waters. Watching their smooth, graceful movements is a mesmerising experience for any ocean enthusiast.

Brilliant Blue & Gold Macaws

Full of personality – these stunning birds love to show off their colorful feathers and cheeky antics. Fun fact: macaws can live up to 50 years, making them lifelong companions for those lucky enough to meet them.

Hahns Macaws

Watch as they show off their playful antics, from climbing and exploring to mimicking sounds and expressing their curiosity. Fun fact: Hahns Macaws are known for their incredibly strong beaks, which they use to crack open nuts, manipulate toys, and even show off their problem-solving skills. These vibrant little birds are sure to capture your heart and leave you smiling.

Cheeky Cockatiels

With their adorable crests and playful personalities, these feathered friends love to show off and steal the spotlight. Cockatiels can learn to mimic sounds and even whistle tunes!

Golden Pheasants

Native to the forests of China, this magnificent bird combines vibrant colors with graceful movements, making it a living masterpiece of nature. Observing a Golden Pheasant up close is an unforgettable experience, as it showcases not only its dazzling appearance but also its shy and elegant behavior. A must-see for anyone who loves nature’s showstoppers, this bird is sure to leave you in awe of the beauty and diversity of the avian world.

Goldfinches, Zebra & Gouldian Finches

These tiny birds pack a lot of personality – Goldfinches are known for their cheerful songs, Zebra Finches are social and love to chatter in groups, and Gouldian Finches dazzle with their rainbow-hued feathers. Perfect for bird lovers and families, this aviary experience brings nature’s beauty up close.

Queensland Grouper

Despite their enormous size, these gentle giants are calm and curious, often approaching divers with a friendly, inquisitive look. Queensland Groupers can change colour to blend in with their surroundings, helping them ambush prey and stay camouflaged among the corals. Majestic, peaceful, and full of character, they truly are the gentle giants of the Great Barrier Reef.

Leopard Coral Grouper

Found among coral reefs in Australian waters, these carnivorous fish are both beautiful and vital to reef ecosystems. While often called a “trout”, the Coral Trout is actually a member of the grouper and cod family – not a true trout at all!

Mulloway (Jewfish)

Mulloway can grow over 1.5 metres long and live for decades, making them long-standing veterans of the waterways. Watching them glide gracefully through the water at our park is a thrilling and unforgettable encounter with one of Australia’s aquatic giants., these powerful fish are a favorite for visitors of all ages.

Remora Fish

Remoras are fascinating little fish known for their unusual superpower – they can attach themselves to larger sea creatures like sharks, turtles, and rays using a special suction disc on their heads. Despite their small size, Remoras play an important role in the marine ecosystem, helping keep their host clean and healthy. Next time you spot one, you’ll know the ocean has its very own travel buddy!

Yellowfin Bream

Known for its golden-yellow fins and shimmering scales, the Yellow Bream is a favorite among anglers and nature lovers alike, delighting with its graceful movements and sparkling appearance. Able to thrive in both freshwater and saltwater, this adaptable fish is a true master of versatility, effortlessly navigating rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters across Australia. Its striking colors and resilient nature make it a standout in the aquatic world, capturing the attention of anyone lucky enough to spot it.

Sheep

Alpaca

Soft, fluffy, and full of personality, our alpaca loves making new friends! Visitors can hand-feed and enjoy their gentle, curious nature. Alpacas communicate with soft humming sounds – so listen closely, and you might hear them chatting just for you!