If your kids love sharks, stingrays and turtles, AQWA’s Glass Bottom Boat Adventure is a brilliant way to see them from a completely new angle. Instead of walking through the underwater tunnel, you glide directly above Australia’s largest single aquarium, peering down through the boat floor as the ocean life cruises by beneath you. It feels a little bit like floating over a secret underwater world that most visitors never get to see this closely.
The experience starts inside AQWA, where your small group meets an Ocean Guide near the café. Group sizes are kept intentionally small because the custom-built glass bottom boat is quite compact. Before you head down, everyone is fitted with a self‑inflating life jacket and given a clear safety briefing. Kids are reminded not to pull the toggle or play with the whistle, and there’s plenty of time for questions if anyone is feeling nervous or curious about what’s to come.
The walk down to the boat takes you behind the scenes, past care tanks where animals may be resting, recovering or being monitored by the aquarists. This is a fascinating sneak peek into AQWA’s animal care, but you’re asked to keep to the non-slip mats and to look, not touch – some of the residents, like blue-ringed octopus, can be venomous. It’s a good opportunity to chat with kids about why we respect wildlife and follow the rules in these areas.
The boat itself sits on top of the main Shipwreck Coast aquarium, which is around four metres deep. It’s shaped a little like a floating “cup”, with clear viewing panels in the base, so the guide will ask families to spread out and balance the weight before casting off. Once you gently glide away from the platform, it feels very calm – there’s no engine noise, just the sound of water flowing back into the tank from the filtration system overhead.
To get everyone spotting sea creatures straight away, the guide hands out little portions of fish pellets for kids to toss over the side behind the boat. Schools of hungry snapper and herring quickly appear, splashing and darting around at the surface, which is a massive hit with younger children. As you move further out across the tank, bigger residents begin to emerge in the clear water below: graceful stingrays, sleek grey nurse sharks and a wide variety of reef fish all gliding past under your feet.
Throughout the tour your Ocean Guide provides a running commentary, pointing out different species, sharing their ages, habits and favourite foods, and sprinkling in plenty of fun facts. Our guide loved answering questions and was fantastic at keeping both kids and adults engaged. A highlight for many families is trying to spot AQWA’s resident 3‑metre grey nurse shark.
One of the real magic moments on the Glass Bottom Boat is seeing the enormous turtle from above. You might be lucky enough to watch it slowly surface for air – something that only happens every few hours and is very hard to catch from the tunnel below. Viewing from the boat removes the glass distortion you get inside the aquarium, so you truly appreciate just how big and powerful these animals are as they glide up to the surface and back down into the blue.
The guided experience runs for around 15–30 minutes in total, with roughly 15–20 minutes actually on the water, which is just the right length for most children. The Glass Bottom Boat Adventure is open to ages 4 and over only, and children aged 4–12 must be accompanied by a paying adult on the boat. You’ll need to leave bags behind (there are secure lockers provided), but you can bring your phone or small camera for photos.
If your child is sensitive to loud environments, it’s worth knowing that while the boat itself is quiet, the filtration water pouring into the tank can make this a noisy space. Consider bringing noise‑reducing headphones for anxious kids, or chat with them beforehand so they know what to expect. Our otherwise bold little one was unsure at first, but with reassurance – and plenty of shark and turtle spotting – ended up loving it by the end.
AQWA’s Glass Bottom Boat & Entry ticket currently starts from $29 for children and $45 for adutlas and includes your full-day admission to AQWA as well as the guided boat tour. Sessions are available daily and numbers are limited, so it’s best to pre‑book online to secure a time that works for your family. Walk‑ins may be available on the day, but can’t be guaranteed, especially in school holidays and on weekends. The experience is a great choice for families with primary schoolers and tweens who want something a bit more adventurous than a standard aquarium visit, and it easily turns a normal day out into a special occasion.
After your boat ride you’re free to spend the rest of the day exploring AQWA’s other exhibits – from touch pools to coral reefs and the iconic underwater tunnel – making this a fantastic all‑round outing. Whether you’re a local looking for a fresh way to enjoy an old favourite, or visiting Perth and wanting a memorable marine adventure, the Glass Bottom Boat Adventure at AQWA is a unique, family‑friendly experience that’s well worth adding to your list.
AQWA – The Aquarium of Western Australia
Address: 91 Southside Drive, Hillarys, WA 6025
Opening hours: Open daily, 9am – 5pm (closed Christmas Day – check website for any seasonal variations)
Website: https://www.aqwa.com.au
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Holly Clark is mum of one, a self-confessed coffee addict and a baker of sweet treats. She studied Professional Writing and Editing, is a published author, and currently works in customer service when she’s not wrangling kids.
