Aussie Animal Passport Returns

Perth, April 28: Australian families are in for a treat this autumn school holidays, with SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo and SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium all running their popular Aussie Animal Passport promotion until May 3 alongside some genuinely exciting new animal arrivals.

An Aussie wildlife adventure in the heart of the city

The Aussie Animal Passport invites families to “travel” around Australia, discovering unique habitats, meeting iconic native animals, and collecting stamps at every stop — all included in the price of entry. From immersive underwater worlds to up-close encounters with Australian wildlife, each experience brings the country’s fauna and flora to life through fun facts, interactive moments, and memorable discoveries.
In Sydney, kids can visit both SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo for just $27 — only $13.50 per attraction. In Melbourne, kids’ tickets to SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium are available for $19.50.
Visitors at all three attractions can collect exclusive trading cards packed with fascinating animal facts, with rare gold cards available to lucky finders.

Melbourne welcomes Coowoonga, the city’s only saltwater crocodile

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium has welcomed its newest resident: a magnificent 4.3-metre saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) weighing approximately 400kg, who has travelled across the country from the Rockhampton area in Queensland.
Following the passing of beloved Pinjarra late last year, the aquarium worked closely with wildlife authorities and conservation experts to identify a new ambassador for the species. Coowoonga has now settled into the state-of-the-art Croc Lair exhibit and will be Melbourne’s only saltwater crocodile.
He was named in consultation with the Darumbal people in Queensland, with Coowoonga being the traditional name of the land he came from before making his journey to Melbourne.
“While the loss of Pinjarra was deeply felt by our team and the Melbourne community, we are incredibly excited to introduce this awe-inspiring animal to our guests. Our new resident deepens our mission to educate the public on the vital role apex predators play in maintaining the health of Australia’s northern wetland ecosystems,” said Claire Burrell, General Manager at SEA LIFE Melbourne.
The new exhibit features 360-degree viewing across three levels including underwater vantage points, daily expert keeper talks on crocodile behaviour and conservation, and enhanced enrichment features in both land and water areas of the habitat.
“Saltwater crocodiles were once pushed to the brink of extinction. By bringing this incredible animal to the heart of Melbourne, we can bridge the gap between the city and the wild, teaching the next generation to respect and protect these modern-day dinosaurs,” said Katharine Needham, Head Keeper and Aquarist at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium.

Sydney celebrates a conservation breakthrough with Littlejohn’s Tree Frogs

Meanwhile in Sydney, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo has announced a groundbreaking achievement in conservation with the success of its first-ever on-site breed-for-release program. Within just 72 hours of arriving at a new custom-built facility, endangered Littlejohn’s Tree Frogs (Litoria littlejohni) successfully produced three clutches of eggs — a milestone never before achieved in a zoo setting.
The achievement is the result of over a year of preparation in partnership with the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Conservation Science and Amphibian ICU. The species is critically endangered, threatened by climate change, extreme habitat loss, and chytrid disease — a fungus affecting many Australian frog species. It is now found in only three remaining locations in the New South Wales Sydney Basin.
The zoo received 58 frogs from the University of Newcastle, including 22 wild founder individuals and 36 sub-adults hatched at the University last winter.
“It has been over 12 months of preparation, which has included building a purpose-built breeding facility affectionately naming our ‘Frogservation Lab’, installing life support systems with continual testing and monitoring to provide the ideal parameters that reflect their wild habitat. The speed at which the frogs have displayed breeding behaviours tells us they have settled very quickly and that we have provided the perfect conditions for them to flourish,” said Ashley Wombey, Curatorial Manager Conservation, Population and Science at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo.
“The achievement is very exciting as it is only the second time that this species has been bred in human care. This Littlejohn’s tree frog breeding program focuses on improving the genetic diversity of the species as it now occurs from only three isolated regions in the world,” said Dr Alex Callen from the University of Newcastle’s Amphibian ICU within the Centre for Conservation Science.
While a number of tadpoles have already hatched, they remain in a sensitive stage of development, with more hatchlings anticipated in the coming weeks. Visitors can learn more about the project and glimpse the “Frogservation Lab” now at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo.

A fluffy new arrival at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Adding to the excitement, a six-week-old king penguin chick has just hatched at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, already stealing hearts as a fluffy grey ball of cuteness. Visitors can watch proud parents Quentin and Forrest share parenting duties, just as they would in the wild.

Plan your visit

The Aussie Animal Passport promotion runs until May 3, 2026 across all three attractions. Tickets and more information are available at the official websites for SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, and SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium.

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