SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

For AUD 63 per adult combo pass, we were granted entry to 5 attractions:
1. Sydney Tower Eye
2. Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary
3. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
4. WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
5. Madame Tussauds Sydney

KB and I had already accomplished the first two in the list on day 1 and day 2 respectively. So, on day 3, we are going to finish up the remaining three, which are located side by side at Darling Harbour.

Out of the 5 attractions, the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is my favourite and we spent the most time here. It's really difficult to take photos because of the glass reflection, the dim lighting and the constantly moving marine life. Probably, it's better to just enjoy watching the creatures swimming around.

Little mini fishes

Shark nursery

Close-up on the shark eggs

Baby shark

A tank with stingrays inside.

Stingrays

Sad-looking little fishes

penguins

Seahorse

Bloodless, heartless and brainless jellyfishes

Fishes are in front, behind, left, right, top and bottom.

Smalltooth sawfish swimming above you

Sydney Fish Market

KB and I started day 3 at the Sydney Fish Market. The bus journey from Swissotel was about 5 to 10 minutes, but it costed AUD 2.30 per adult ticket. Thankfully, this is in our itinerary on a weekend and thus we avoided having to buy pre-paid tickets, which are only accepted on the buses on weekday 7am to 7pm.

True to what my friend had warned me, there's a lot of birds dining with you outdoors!

Prawn sashimi!

Blue swimmer crab

Big salmon slices

Raw oysters in their clams

Lobster platter

Cheese

I regret big time that we came here after a full breakfast at the hotel. These lobsters look so yummy!

At the Fish Market Light Rail station

From the Fish Market, we traveled to our next destination at Pyrmont Bay on light rail. We spent AUD 4.60 per adult ticket and traveled 3 stations. The payment was the old-fashion way, where there's a bus conductor on board and he will go to each passenger to sell the tickets. Then I thought: we're only traveling 3 stops, if we were to board the last cabin, by the time he reaches us, we would have gotten off the light rail already.

Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary

If not for the combo pass, we probably wouldn't have bothered to go to Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary, mainly because it is not in the city itself. To get there, we have to take a 30-minute ferry ride (AUD 7.40 per adult ticket).

Arriving at Manly Wharf

View of the wharf from the beach

Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary is a short walk along the coast from the wharf. This attraction isn't a big place and there was hardly any visitor when we were there.

Fish tank at the entrance

Small stingray

Small jellyfish

Seahorse

Big stingray

At the Shark Harbour, visitors walk through a tunnel and watch the marine life swimming across the glass ceiling.

The Penguin Cove is on the second floor of the building.

Two little penguins

Don't make too much noise here!

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House is a must-see attraction for me. Before buying the guide tour tickets, I need to decide the exact time that I want to plan this into our itinerary. So, I thought it'll be best to put it as the first place to go for the day. Ideally, I wanted to take the Explorer Bus there, because the stop is just outside the attraction. However, it doesn't take the shortest route there from our hotel. Before arriving at Sydney, we were not aware of the free city shuttle (see route map). But we soon realize their existence and we took the free shuttle bus from the bus stop at Queen Victoria Building, which is just opposite the road from our hotel, and drop off at Circular Quay. Then, we walked along the coast to the Opera House and enjoyed the scenery along the way.

We are almost reaching the iconic building.

View of Sydney Habour Bridge from the Sydney Opera House.

A lot of seagulls waiting for leftover food!

In the guided tour, we learnt about its architectural design and visited some of the theaters and studios. In order to make sure that everyone can hear the guide, we were given headphones. Photography is not allowed inside the theaters and studios.

Our next destination is the Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary. To get there, we have to take a ferry from Circular Quay and the journey offered a great view of Sydney Opera House from the sea.