Based at Bobs Farm near Port Stephens, the Shark and Ray Rescue Centre is dedicated to the rehabilitation and rehousing of sharks and rays. An association with local Professional Fishermen allows injured sharks, rays, and other marine creatures caught as a by-catch to be saved.
Getting There
Interior of the Centre
Housed undercover, the centre operates in all weathers, so is great to visit on a rainy day when other activities in Port Stephens close. With only a 40-minute drive from Newcastle, or 20 minutes from Port Stephens it’s easy to get to. Parking is on site with plenty of room available.
What to See When You Arrive
On arrival, a staff member takes you around the centre, so that you are familiar with what’s on display and how to interact with them.
We chose to walk around the tanks and enclosures to view the displays, but for a small fee you can also get in the tanks and feed the sharks. Several people were doing this, mostly young families. They seemed to be having a great time in the water and the sharks they were with were not dangerous.
Leopard SharkPort Jackson SharkPort Jackson SharkFiddler RayFiddler RayShovelnose RayStingrayStingray
Birds
The Centre has expanded its operations to include other animals in need, including birds. We were pleased to be able to enter the parrot aviary where a staff member explained about them. Even better, they perched on our shoulders and arms, which was something we were not expecting to do when we arrived.
Eclectus parrot
Chestnut Fronted Macaw
Other Displays
Housed in large enclosures and several glass cages, the centre has a collection of lizards on display.
A butterfly house has now opened giving visitors the opportunity to see them up close. Our visit did not match its open times, so we will have to go back to see it.
At times, octopus and other marine creatures may be housed here. This is variable, depending on the need to rehabilitate the.
This was a fun and interesting place to visit. A great way to see sharks and rays up close, something you don’t often get to do. The experience with the parrots was also great as was seeing the lizards. It’s wonderful that someone is helping rehabilitate injured marine life and rehousing them.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Modern and spacious, the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra houses animals from around the world, but also includes many from Australia.
Getting There and Parking
Located a short 15-minute car ride from the centre of Canberra, it’s easy to get to. Plenty of on-site parking allows easy access for cars. A great feature is that entrances from different car parks mean you do not need to walk all the way to the front entrance to get in. Just remember which entrance you used!
Getting Around the National Zoo and Aquarium
The zoo’s layout enables all exhibits to be seen by walking a circular path, with a few deviations. Because of this excellent layout you do not need to double back and retrace your steps very often.
Food Outlets
Two main food outlets are placed on either side of the zoo. Near the lower carpark entrance a restaurant serving light meals and drinks is near the monkey enclosures. On the far side of the zoo, next to the open range area, the Rhino Bistro also serves food and drinks.
Vending machines scattered around the zoo allow you to buy snacks and drinks as you go.
If you would rather bring your own food, picnic areas throughout the zoo let you sit and relax while you eat.
National Zoo and Aquarium Exhibits
Housed in large modern enclosures, the animals have plenty of space to move around. This reminded us of a mix between the open range zoo at Dubbo and the Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
African Wildlife
The zoo has a large collection of African wildlife on display. Ranging from lions and cheetahs to elephants and giraffes, most people’s favourites are there. Most of the carnivores had been fed and by midmorning were dozing in the sun. If you want to see them roaming around, early morning is the best time, because this is when they are more active.
The zebras, giraffes and other herbivores were more active, often walking close to the fence. This was great, giving us a much better close up look.
Unlike their African counterparts, the tigers were active and wandering around their enclosure. One of them came up to the large Perspex viewing window so we could get a very close look at him.
Tiger
Meerkats
Meerkats are always fun to watch and the ones here were no exception. Whether they were fighting, eating or just standing guard, they were entertaining.
Meerkat
Birds
Aviaries hold many birds, but the one we like the most was the fairy penguins, because theirs was open to the air and you could see them swimming around.
Fairy Penguin
Reptiles
Located next to the aquarium, the reptile houses a huge number of snakes and lizards. This is a great way to see many of Australia’s poisonous snakes behind a glass wall so that you remain safe. Seeing them out in the wild can be a little more dangerous.
Heat lamps and low lighting keep them active, although most of the snakes were not moving.
Green Iguana
Primates
The primate section was very active, with monkeys climbing along rope and through trees. The lemurs, apes and monkeys had only just been fed, so were out in their enclosures playing and eating.
Cotton-Top Tamarin
Bears
Malaysian Sun Bear
Deer
There were many different species of deer, all in large enclosures so that they could move around.
Wapiti Elk
Australian Wildlife
As expected, the Australian section is one of the largest, with kangaroos, wallabies, emus and koalas.
It was great to see Tasmanian devils there, as they are endangered due to a facial cancer that is destroying their population in Tasmania. Breeding programs and disease free populations have been set up around the country to save them from extinction.
WallabiesTasmanian DevilGoodfellows Tree Kangaroo
Extinct Animals at the National Zoo
A very unusual section of the zoo is dedicated to extinct animals and birds. The first we saw was the dodo, famous for being made extinct by sailors who killed them for food. The Tasmanian Tiger was also there, push to extinction by sheep farmers and graziers.
The message from these displays is that animals can easily be made extinct, but can be brought back again.
Also in the area were a few dinosaurs, showing that life has changed significantly over the last 100 million years. They are also fun for kids to look at because they look quite life-like.
This is one of the best zoos we have seen, and we have visited a lot of them. So much space for the animals. Great location, no issues with parking, and plenty of spots to sit down and have a snack or sit down to order food. A must if you love this stuff!
For other places to visit in the Australian Capital Territory click here
