Anna Bay: Irukandji Entry Pass with Shallows Encounter

At Irukandji, you don’t peer at sharks and rays through glass. You step barefoot into their lagoons, offer food on a stick, and feel rays glide over your feet. It’s an unusually direct way to meet animals that many people know only from aquariums or documentaries.

I like the two different lagoons, where you can meet rays in one pool and sharks as well as rays in the other. I also like that keepers stay with you, offering hands-on guidance and useful talks rather than leaving you to guess how to approach the animals.

The main consideration is how much water access you want. The $29 Entry Pass lets you wade in your clothes, but for deeper access you’ll need a wetsuit upgrade; confirm your choice early so you don’t lose time sorting it out.

What to Know Before You Go

• Two lagoons, two sets of encounters: Meet rays in Fingill lagoon, then visit Tropical lagoon for more rays and several shark species.
• The Entry Pass is a wading experience: You can get your feet and ankles wet in your clothes. Swimming is not permitted.
• Food and guidance are included: Keepers provide feeding sticks and food at different locations, and explain the animals as you go.
• A wetsuit means more access: The Discovery Pass upgrade lets you go farther into the water. It is not part of the $29 Entry Pass.
• Children need an adult in the water: Anyone under 12 must be accompanied by an adult in the water at all times.
• Allow two hours, and arrive by 3:30 PM: The aquarium operates from 9 AM to 5 PM, but later arrivals may not have time for the full experience.

Getting Into the Lagoons at Anna Bay

Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters offers a different kind of aquarium visit. Instead of staying behind glass, you enter the shallow edges of two natural-style lagoons and meet the animals at close range. Your Entry Pass includes aquarium admission, access to the shallows, food for the sharks and rays, keeper talks, and use of hot showers.

On arrival, staff explain how to behave around the animals and provide the equipment you need. You can wear clothes over your swimwear and keep your feet and ankles wet, or choose a wetsuit upgrade if you want to go deeper. You may also go barefoot or cover your toes with souvenir socks, but shoes cannot be worn in the lagoons.

The choice between wading and wearing a wetsuit affects the feel of the visit, not just what you wear. With the Entry Pass, you can reach into the water and feed or pet animals as they come close, but your access stays in the shallows. The wetsuit option gives you a closer, more involved encounter. If that is what you want, ask about the upgrade before you begin; sorting it out later can interrupt the visit.

The rules are simple and worth following. Wear swimwear under your clothes, use only reef-friendly sunscreen, and remember that this is wading, not swimming. Keepers remain with the animals, so you can ask questions and get help as you move from one pool to another.

Fingill Lagoon: Rays Close to Your Feet

The first lagoon introduces you to rays in a shallow setting. You receive a feeding stick and food, then follow a fish keeper to the feeding spots. The rays glide close and take food from the stick, giving you a chance to watch how they move and to gently touch their skin.

This is the sort of encounter that can change how you think about these animals. From the edge of a pool, a ray can seem mysterious or intimidating. In the water, with a keeper explaining what to do, you can focus on its movement, texture, and feeding habits rather than simply its shape.

The pace is hands-on, but not every moment is action. Keepers share information as they guide you, and the talks help put the encounter in context. If you’re visiting with young children, be ready for their attention to shift between listening and feeding. One practical approach is to use the talks as a chance to ask questions, then let the children focus on the animal interaction when it begins.

Tropical Lagoon: Sharks, Rays, and Keeper Talks

The Tropical lagoon brings together more rays and several shark species, including zebra sharks and brown-banded bamboo sharks. As at Fingill lagoon, you can feed and interact with the animals while a keeper explains what you’re seeing. The contrast between the two lagoons makes the visit more varied than repeating the same encounter in a single pool.

A featured Big Shark Talk gives you a chance to meet larger animals in the shallows. Keepers bring up tawny nurse sharks and whitetip reef sharks while explaining more about sharks, rays, and marine conservation. It’s a useful moment to pause and listen, especially if you’re curious about the animals beyond the immediate thrill of being close to them.

Some talks may feel long if the children in your group are eager to get straight to the feeding. That’s a fair trade-off to consider: the information is part of what makes this more than a photo opportunity, but the pace won’t suit everyone equally. Keepers are there throughout, and you can ask them questions as you go.

The animals’ skin can feel different from what you might expect, and the water and weather can affect comfort. If you visit on a chilly day, a wetsuit may make the experience more pleasant, as well as allowing deeper access. Even in warm weather, bring swimwear under your clothes so you’re ready if you decide to upgrade.

What the $29 Entry Pass Includes

At $29 per person, the Entry Pass is a strong-value activity if you want a close encounter without paying for a full in-water experience. Admission, access to the lagoon shallows, feeding food, animal interaction, keeper talks, and hot showers are included. You get something a standard aquarium visit cannot offer: the chance to feed and gently pet sharks and rays at water level.

The limit is clear. The Entry Pass does not let you swim, and you’ll stay in the shallows with your feet and ankles wet. If you have your heart set on going farther into the lagoons, budget for the wetsuit upgrade rather than assuming it is included in the basic price.

You can also weigh the price against the kind of outing you want. This is a two-hour activity with both interaction and information, making it a practical choice for a family day or a change from beach time. It is less appealing if your group wants a purely passive aquarium visit or expects to swim with the animals on the Entry Pass.

Keepers are an important part of the value. They guide you between pools, explain how to interact safely, and share information about the animals. That support is especially useful if you’re unsure about approaching a shark or ray, or if you want children to understand why these creatures deserve care and respect.

Timing, Comfort, and Family Practicalities

Plan for about two hours, and arrive by 3:30 PM if you want the full experience. The aquarium runs from 9 AM to 5 PM, but arriving late in the day leaves less time for the talks and lagoon visits. The activity is in English and is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Children under 12 must have an adult in the water with them at all times, and unaccompanied minors are not allowed. That means an adult who wants to remain dry may not be able to supervise a child in the lagoon from the side. Check your group’s plans before you arrive, especially if you’re travelling with several children.

The facilities help make the visit manageable. After the lagoons, you can rinse off under a warm shower and towel down. There’s also a gift shop with sustainable gifts and soft toys, plus snacks and cold drinks.

The visit can suit a wide age range, from very young children to older adults, provided everyone is comfortable around water and animals. The key is to set expectations: children can get excited about feeding, but they still need to follow keeper instructions and stay with their adult. For anyone who prefers not to enter the water, admission as a spectator is included.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit

Decide before you arrive whether shallow wading is enough or whether you want the wetsuit option. The choice can change how much of the lagoon you can access, and it’s easier to make it before the group starts moving through the experience. If you’re unsure, ask staff to spell out the difference between the Entry Pass and the Discovery Pass upgrade.

Bring swimwear and wear clothes over it, even if you plan to stay mostly dry. That leaves the option open if you change your mind. Use reef-friendly sunscreen only, and be prepared to remove your shoes before entering the lagoon.

Keep some time for the keeper talks rather than treating them as a delay between feeding sessions. The talks explain how to interact with the animals and add context about sharks, rays, and marine conservation. If a child in your group is losing interest, it can help to explain that the feeding is safer and more meaningful when you listen to the keeper.

Finally, don’t expect a swimming session. The Entry Pass is built around wading, feeding, touching, and learning, with keepers present to guide the interaction. If you want deeper access, make the wetsuit upgrade part of your plan.

Is Irukandji’s Entry Pass Right for You?

I’d book this if you want a family-friendly activity that combines close animal encounters with practical learning. The chance to feed rays and sharks in two separate lagoons gives the visit a personal feel, and the keepers make it easier to approach the animals with care. For $29, the included entry, shallow-water access, feeding, talks, and showers offer good value.

Think twice if your main aim is to swim with sharks or spend the visit fully in the water. The Entry Pass is limited to wading, and you’ll need the wetsuit upgrade for deeper access. But if you’re happy to get your feet wet, meet the animals at close range, and listen as well as feed, Irukandji is a memorable two-hour stop near Anna Bay.

FAQ

How long does the Irukandji Entry Pass experience take?

The activity lasts about two hours. The aquarium runs from 9 AM to 5 PM, and you should arrive by 3:30 PM for the full experience.

Can I swim in the lagoons with the Entry Pass?

No. Swimming is not permitted. The Entry Pass allows you to wade in the shallow water; a wetsuit upgrade offers deeper access.

What is included in the $29 price?

The price includes aquarium admission, entry into the lagoon shallows, shark food at feeding locations, animal interaction, keeper talks, and hot shower facilities.

What should I wear?

Wear clothes over swimwear. You must remove your shoes to enter the lagoons, though souvenir socks are available. Only reef-friendly sunscreen is permitted.

Can children take part?

Yes. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult in the water at all times. Unaccompanied minors are not allowed.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.