Some aquariums let you watch the ocean. Others make you feel like you are inside it.
On one side of the Pacific, tucked 200 meters from Manly Wharf in Sydney, is a place built for rescue, rehab, and real conversations. Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia started in 1965 and has spent almost six decades focused on local marine life, from Little Penguins to grey nurse sharks.
On the other side, rising from Hengqin Island in Zhuhai, is a building that looks like a spacecraft landed on the water. Chimelong Spaceship Aquarium – Zhuhai, China opened in September 2023 and immediately broke seven Guinness World Records. It holds 75.3 million liters of water and was designed to be the world’s largest indoor theme park and aquarium combined.
Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia and Chimelong Spaceship Aquarium – Zhuhai, China are about as different as two aquariums can get. One is intimate and community-driven. The other is monumental and entertainment-driven. Yet both are trying to answer the same question in 2026: how do we get people to care about the ocean?
This blog post breaks down both venues side by side. You will get the scale, the signature exhibits, how they teach and conserve, what a visit actually looks like, and how to choose which one fits you. If you are planning a trip to Sydney or Guangdong, or you just love marine life, this is your complete guide.
An image/photo of visitors walking through the 110-meter acrylic tunnel in Shark Harbour at Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia with grey nurse sharks overhead
Walk into Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia and you notice how close everything is. The building sits on the Manly foreshore. It began as Marineland in 1965, became Underwater World in 1989, Oceanworld in 1992, and relaunched as Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary in 2012 after a major renovation added Penguin Cove.
The entire facility spans three levels. It holds about 4,000 animals. The flagship tank, Shark Harbour, holds 4,000,000 liters. The famous 110-meter tunnel was once the longest in the world. You can walk the whole sanctuary in 20 minutes, but most people stay longer because keepers are constantly doing talks and the tanks are at eye level.
Now jump to Chimelong Spaceship Aquarium – Zhuhai, China. This is not a building with a few tanks. It is a city block under one roof. The complex covers 397,064 square meters. That makes it the world’s largest indoor theme park. Inside are 38 aquarium tanks with a combined volume of 75,350,969 liters.
It opened in September 2023 as the centerpiece of Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort. On opening it claimed seven Guinness World Records including world’s largest aquarium, world’s largest aquarium tank at 56,450,136 liters, world’s largest indoor artificial wave, and world’s largest curved projection screen. The main viewing window is 39.6 meters wide and 8.3 meters tall.
Key attractions and features in this section:
Why this is notable: Scale completely changes how you experience animals. Manly is designed for proximity and conversation. Chimelong is designed for immersion and awe. One feels like visiting a marine hospital. The other feels like entering another planet.
Read more: The Evolution of Aquariums from Oceanworld to Spaceship Design
An image/photo of Little Penguins swimming in Penguin Cove at Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia during a daily feeding talk
Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia focuses on Australian and local species, especially animals that need conservation support.
Chimelong Spaceship Aquarium – Zhuhai, China takes a global approach. With 300 species and 150,000 animals, the focus is on scale and diversity.
Why this is notable: Manly shows you what lives in your backyard and how to protect it. You learn names and stories. Chimelong shows you the entire ocean in one day, from Amazon rivers to deep sea trenches. One builds empathy through familiarity. The other builds wonder through variety.
Read more: Endangered Species You Can Meet at Manly and Chimelong
An image/photo of a child touching a crab in the interactive rock pool at Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia during a guided tour
Education at Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia is direct and human. The mission is Breed, Rescue, Protect, and it shows in every program.
Daily activities include keeper talks, JAWsome Sharks tours, Sanctuary Snack Time, and guided feeding sessions. The touch pool is staffed so kids can ask questions and get real answers. Shipwreck Shores is a play zone where children role-play as marine biologists. Reviews often mention that Manly feels “more about education than just seeing fish,” and that is by design.
Conservation is hands-on. Staff talk about fishing line injuries, plastic, and habitat loss in NSW. Because the facility is small, you can actually see rehabilitation work and talk to the people doing it.
Chimelong Spaceship Aquarium – Zhuhai, China uses technology and spectacle to teach.
Key educational features:
Conservation messaging is built into exhibits. Signs discuss endangered species, climate change, and ocean protection. Animal encounters happen in arenas and theatres rather than rehab pools.
Why this is notable: Both models work, but for different learners. Manly is best if you want to talk to a person, ask follow-ups, and see rescue work. Chimelong is best if you want immersive tech, big shows, and science presented as entertainment. One teaches by touching. The other teaches by transporting.
Read more: How Aquariums Are Teaching Conservation in 2026
An image/photo of the massive viewing panel at Chimelong Spaceship Aquarium – Zhuhai, China with whale sharks and manta rays swimming past
Getting There
Tickets and Timing
Manly tickets were historically around $25 Adult and $17 Child. Important note: the sanctuary closed to the public on 28 January 2018 due to maintenance costs, and demolition began in July 2024 for the Manly Cove West upgrade. Check current status before booking, as some sites still list tickets.
Chimelong is open year-round because it is indoors. Best times are Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November). Avoid Chinese New Year and National Day Golden Week for crowds.
Must-do experiences
At Manly:
At Chimelong:
Atmosphere
Manly is calm, local, and easy for families with young kids. Chimelong is energetic, massive, and better for full-day visitors who want rides plus animals.
Why this is notable: Logistics matter. Manly is a quick, meaningful stop. Chimelong is a destination. Your choice depends on time, travel, and whether you want intimate or epic.
Read more: Complete 2-Day Itinerary for Chimelong International Ocean Resort
An image/photo of marine staff at Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia caring for a rehabilitated green sea turtle
Both venues prove that aquariums in 2026 are no longer just display cases. They are conservation centers, research labs, and classrooms.
At Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia, the impact is local and visible. The Breed, Rescue, Protect program rehabilitates turtles, breeds penguins, and monitors grey nurse sharks. Because it is small, visitors see the work happening. The message is clear: protect Sydney Harbour and you protect these animals.
At Chimelong Spaceship Aquarium – Zhuhai, China, the impact is global and scientific. The massive coral reef system supports propagation research. The life support systems for 75.3 million liters push technology forward. With millions of visitors per year, the park spreads awareness about ocean issues on a huge scale.
Three areas both are advancing:
Why this is notable: We need both approaches. Manly proves small-scale, community conservation works. Chimelong proves large-scale, high-tech education can reach millions. Together they show the future of aquariums is not just bigger tanks, but deeper impact.
Read more: The Role of Aquariums in Ocean Conservation Today
An image/photo of families deciding between the intimate tunnel at Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia and the grand scale of Chimelong Spaceship Aquarium – Zhuhai, China
Choosing comes down to what you value most in an aquarium visit.
Choose Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia if you want:
Choose Chimelong Spaceship Aquarium – Zhuhai, China if you want:
They are not in competition. They complement each other. Manly asks you to care for what is near. Chimelong asks you to imagine how vast the ocean is.
If you have young children, Manly is easier. If you have teens, Chimelong has more to hold their attention. If conservation is your priority, Manly’s model is clearer. If science communication at scale is your priority, Chimelong leads.
The ocean cannot be understood in one visit. That is why we need places like Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary – Sydney, Australia and Chimelong Spaceship Aquarium – Zhuhai, China.
Manly reminds us that conservation starts at home. With Little Penguins, rescued turtles, and grey nurse sharks, it turns a 90-minute visit into a relationship with local marine life.
Chimelong reminds us how big and strange the ocean is. With 75.3 million liters, a submarine ride, and a window bigger than a house, it turns a day trip into an expedition.
If you are in Sydney, take the ferry to Manly and meet Murdoch and Freckles. If you are in Guangdong, book two days at Chimelong and let the whale sharks swim over your head.
Either way, you will leave with more than photos. You will leave with a new respect for the ocean, and maybe a new reason to protect it. That is what both sanctuaries are really for.
Want me to turn this into a printable travel guide with maps, current ticket links, and a hour-by-hour itinerary for both locations?
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