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AQWA is making waves with its biggest upgrade yet
A 3D dome theatre, shark habitats, and a seaside café headline the biggest upgrade in the aquarium’s 38-year history.
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A 3D dome theatre, shark habitats, and a seaside café headline the biggest upgrade in the aquarium’s 38-year history.
Published
2 min read
Text size
Published
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By: Natalie Pugh
There are few Perth attractions that span generations quite like The Aquarium of Western Australia. School excursions, first dates, interstate visitors you need to impress; AQWA has long been the reliable crowd-pleaser at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Now, it’s preparing for its biggest transformation in 38 years.
A $13 million-plus expansion and redevelopment will roll out in stages from May 2026, with the first new attractions expected to open in 2027. The goal is to completely reimagine the experience by blending Western Australia’s diverse marine environments with state-of-the-art technology, interactive learning zones and new visitor spaces, all while keeping disruption to a minimum.
Leading the charge is the Two Oceans Theatre, a purpose-built, 10-metre-high, 125-seat 3D dome cinema, the first of its kind in WA. Visitors can expect immersive underwater journeys and virtual shark swims that deliver full cinematic spectacle without getting wet. A new hands-on interpretive discovery zone will sit alongside it, designed to spark curiosity and deepen understanding of WA’s marine world across all ages.
Future stages promise a 12-metre-wide elliptical shark habitat featuring blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, a dramatic coral wall, open-top lagoon exhibits and additional large-scale aquariums spotlighting WA’s reefs and atolls. There’ll also be a new seaside café with coastal views, landscaped pedestrian areas, an upgraded entry and a substantial outdoor playground for younger visitors. AQWA General Manager Catherine Buckley says,
It is so much more than a redevelopment; we’re creating spaces and new experiences that will spark curiosity in all our visitors, creating a deeper appreciation of our marine world while celebrating Western Australia’s rich and unique ocean life.
The final stage will deliver a dedicated conservation facility supporting coral cultivation, animal rehabilitation and community education programs, reinforcing AQWA’s long-term commitment to protecting WA’s ocean life.
