Planning Your Visit

Aim to book your excursion as early as possible to ensure that you get your desired date and time.

When calling to make your booking, have a couple of dates and times in mind in case we are already booked up on your desired day.

Let our Bookings Officer know as much as possible about the group, including numbers and if there are any special needs students. 

Things to Remember:

Risk Assessment

Melbourne Aquarium has created a risk assessment document for schools attending Melbourne Aquarium on excursion.

Download the Risk Assessment Document

Confirmation of Numbers:

One of our Education Supervisors will contact you one week prior to your excursion to confirm numbers, program chosen and what the students are currently working on to ensure your program best meets the needs of your students and their unit of work.

Support Materials for Underwater Zoo Programs:

Teacher Information Packs will be available from the Guided Programs section of the website shortly.

Student Worksheets:

Please photocopy relevant worksheets for your students prior to your scheduled visit if you are booked in for a grade 5/6, secondary or VCE Program.

What to Bring:

Students participating in programs with work sheets need to bring along a pencil, clipboard and a copy of the work sheet.

Melbourne Aquarium's Underwater Zoo Education guided sessions are available every weekday during the Victorian school term at the following times:

- 9.00am to 11:00am

- 10.00am to Midday

- 11.00am to 1.00pm

- 12.30pm to 2.30pm

- 1.30pm to 3.30pm

- 2.30pm to 4.30pm  

Self-guided Times:

Self-guided programs can be booked for any time between 9:30am and 4:00pm.

General Information

Entry to the Aquarium Before or After your Session

Students will experience all of the exhibits in the Aquarium during the allocated 2 hour session. School groups are not permitted to enter the Aquarium before or after their session as those times are allocated to other school groups.

Lunch Areas are NOT Designated Within the Aquarium

Suitable areas are available on the banks of the Yarra to the east of the building. Bringing your own food is not permitted in the Aquarium.

Aquarium Shop Policy

Ratio of 1 adult to every 10 students at one time may visit the Melbourne Aquarium Shop at the end of your program. Education groups visiting the shop will receive a 20% discount on items purchased.

Getting Here

Melbourne Aquarium is located on the corner of Flinders and King Streets in Melbourne - ideally situated on the edge of the Yarra River, opposite the Crown Entertainment Complex.

Train Access

Melbourne Aquarium can be accessed via either Flinders or Spencer Street stations. For further information, please contact MetLink, telephone 13 1638 or visit www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

Tram

The Melbourne Aquarium tram stop is located on the free City Circle Tram route and also routes 70 and 75. City Circle trams run every 10 minutes in both directions.

The Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle is a FREE bus service, stopping at key tourist attractions and destinations in and around the City. Running daily, every 15 minutes from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
For further information on bus, train and tram services please contact Public Transport Victoria on 1800 800 007 or visit ptv.vic.gov.au

Arrival and Entry

The leading teacher needs to report to the Customer Service Desk to confirm numbers. Underwater Zoo teaching staff will greet students at the entrance and lead them into the Aquarium.

Bus Parking

Three designated bus parking zones are available on Flinders Street. Melbourne Aquarium staff will greet school groups and provide a safe place to alight. 

A 15 minute drop off and pick up zone is available for buses on Flinders Street, however, places cannot be guaranteed.

Buses waiting for school groups are then requested to park at designated areas in South Melbourne before returning to collect student groups. 

Please hand the bus parking information provided in our Confirmation Letter to your bus driver prior to alighting. 

Bus Parking Instructions for Teachers

Classes will be met on the bus by their Melbourne Aquarium educator and escorted into the venue. It is important for the smooth running of programs that students are seated on buses, more or less, in class or instructional groups. This is especially important during periods of wet weather.

We ask that groups be closely supervised by school staff as they alight from buses on Flinders Street. 

School Group Entrance

We ask that in all cases, school groups use the Flinders Street entrance. For details of the entrance points see the maps below:

- Click here for location map

- Click here for entry map