Birthday Party or Group Bookings ~ Host a JAW-some event at Irukandji!

This group discount saves $6 off Adult Entry and includes barefoot wading in our lagoons, feeding & petting our animals, shark & fish food AND a private 20min briefing from one of our Fish Keepers during your experience. This can be upgraded to the Discovery Pass at time of booking or on the day for an additional fee of $30 per person. 

Minimum of 13 paying customers (not including any free entries) to receive the discount. Infants 2yrs and under are Free. The group discount must be pre-booked 1 week in advance to receive the discount. A $50 deposit is required to reserve the booking which also may include the indoor Party Room (Education Centre) if it is not already booked by another group. Full outstanding amount to be paid on the day. One lump sum payment is preferred- especially during our peak periods (weekends/public holidays/school holidays). 

Please note - Social groups/parties must be self catered and are held in the outdoor seating area if the room is unavailable. Social group bookings may reserve our Education Centre. This option is automatically given to the first booking. Please be aware that during school holidays/school terms, the Education Centre may be used for OOSH/Vacation Care/School Excursions, so we can not guarantee it will always be available. Guests are welcome to bring their own food, cake, picnic blankets, utensils etc for setup. If bringing chilled items, please bring your own personal esky. Fridge space is a premium at Irukandji, so we can not guarantee that we would be able to accomodation chilled snacks/drink in our fridges. Unfortunately, there will be no access to electricity. Please be mindful and limit use of disposable plastic as it is extremely harmful for our Ocean. Irukandji is also a ballon/glitter free aquarium for the safety of our animals/surrounding wildlife if picked up by the wind. No alcohol permitted. It is the responsibility of the Social Group to ensure all rubbish is collected and properly disposed of at the end of your booking. All children under 12yrs need an adult to accompany them in the water, at all times. Please keep this in mind for Children's Birthday Parties.

Entry to Irukandji is unique, unlike the traditional aquarium viewing through glass, our guests have the ability to meet the wildlife, pet them, feed them & even share the water with them. Our Entry Pass allows guests to access the shallow water of the lagoons in bare feet, being surrounded by many curious & friendly sharks & rays guests are treated to a whole new level of excitement, fear & admiration for these misunderstood creatures and the entire ocean. Incredible Aussie shark memories ⏱ All Day

IRUKANDJI ENTRY PASS INCLUSIONS

• Admission to the aquarium as a spectator 
• Entry into the lagoon shallows in bare feet 
• Shark food at various feeding locations 
• Interaction with the animals (petting/feeding) 
• Interesting and informative animal talks
• Keepers always present with the animals for personalised visitor attention
• Hot Showers are available for all

($) Upgrade to Wear & Keep Souvenir Socks
Wear & Keep Souvenir Socks optional upgrade can be found on the next page for those feeling nervous with the ocean animals around their feet. Donning the sustainable bamboo & cotton eco socks to wear in the lagoons is great to camouflage or protect the feet from sharp coral sand & inquisitive animals. Also a fantastic keepsake to remember an incredible Irukandji experience when worn at a later date at home ⏱ All Day

($) Upgrade to the Discovery Pass
Discovery Pass optional upgrade can be found on the next page. As this is the only encounter that can be upgraded to at any time it is Irukandji's most popular in water experience.  This unbelievable Aussie experience is the ultimate wild (and safe!) adventure for guests of all ages! Jump into a wetsuit then immerse yourself in a truly one of a kind in-water experience, as you wade deeper or sit in the sandy shallows of both our lagoons surrounded by friendly & affectionate animals. This experience provides a wonderful photo opportunity for guests. Please Note: Personal wetsuits are not permitted due to biosecurity (introduction of dormant aquatic microbiome) to be worn in our lagoons. Paticipants must be happy to wear the wetsuits provided here at Irukandji. ⏱ All Day

SPECIFICS

• All ages are welcome from 0-100 years old, it appeals to everybody in their own special way.
• No need to be able to swim, no swimming is involved! For swimming options please see the snorkel experiences
• Irukandji Entry Pass is available every 20 minutes from 9am till 3.40pm, at Irukandji we limit our visitor numbers to ensure a serene lagoon habitat, please check availability during busy periods as we do book out during some school holidays & public holidays.
• Please allow about 2 hours, however you may stay as long as you wish

IRUKANDJI SHARK & RAY ENCOUNTERS ~ AN OVERVIEW

Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters is an incredible interactive aquarium like no other. Visitors can enjoy our sandy beaches surrounded by many curious, friendly Sharks & Rays whilst staying (mostly) dry, only getting their feet wet, by partial immersion in an encounter or all the way in for a snorkel. Physically stepping into the shallows of the lagoons with them or opting for the very Aussie DISCOVERY PASS brings a whole new level of excitement and fear. The animals display their endearing personalities & steal the hearts of those they meet. Visitors develop a passion and stewardship, making for a life-long love and understanding of these misunderstood species and their important ocean ecosystems. 

Irukandji Activities & Levels of Entry 

1. Spectator - stay completely dry and view them all from the edges of the lagoon (Included in Entry Pass)
2. Touch, pet, feed & meet the animals from the edges of the lagoons (Included in Entry Pass) 
3. Feet wet in the shallows of the lagoon in bare feet in your own clothes (Included in Entry Pass) Clothes must not get wet so shorts or skirts recommended 
4. View hourly educational talks by our knowledgeable fish keepers (Included in Entry Pass) 
5. Upgrade to socks ($) Wear & Keep souvenir socks are great option to wear for anybody feeling nervous if the animals are curious about toes. Wearing socks in the water is safe for the animals and creates a camouflage plus they are a great souvenir to keep and wear as normal socks. Socks are included FOC in all snorkels and encounters so please do not purchase them twice. 
6. Learning about the animals on a guided tour available for large groups otherwise be sure to chat to the guides present at the lagoons as not only do they have the food for the animals they love answering questions, chatting about them and the important ocean systems.
7. Upgrade to Wetsuit ($) with the Discovery Pass. This is the cheapest option to completely immerse yourself with the animals, wading deeper into both lagoons or relaxing seated on the sandy beach with them swimming around you. This incredible experience includes entry into the deeper wading section of the lagoons and the use of a wetsuit for that Aussie surfer experience. Wetsuits range from baby sizes to Mens 7XL and are included FOC for all infants 2 years and under. Irukandji's included in-house wetsuits must be worn due to biosecurity (introduction of dormant aquatic microbiome). Personal wetsuits or swimwear (alone) may not be worn. Wetsuits are included FOC in all snorkels and encounters so please do not purchase the Discovery Pass if you are already doing a separate encounter.
8. Upgrade to one of three Snorkels ($) The ultimate wet experience, swimming with the animals of your chosen species in a wild thrilling adventure. These special Snorkels happen only at certain times in the day for a max of 10 pax so please plan ahead so you don't miss out.
9. Upgrade to an Encounter ($) Some of our hands down favourite experiences can be found in the private encounters, with only a couple of sessions a day and a maximum of 6 pax they are very much sought after. See each encounter for further information and session times. 
10. Annual Passes ($) If you live anywhere near Irukandji and plan to visit more than once the Annual Pass is the very best deal. The Pass pays for itself after the 2nd visit and includes the hugely popular DISCOVERY PASS every time you visit (as many times as you like within a year of commencement). This incredible pass also includes a secret link to HALF PRICE Snorkels & Encounters which is emailed out to the primary passholder. 
11. Group Discounts & Experiences ($) Leaders in education & incredible team building experiences Irukandji offers personalised tours with a private guide at discounted prices for groups over 13pax 
12. Hot showers and taking shark selfies

PREPARATION:

What to bring: 

• Hats, Towels & REEF-FRIENDLY sunscreen
• Cameras (underwater cameras are welcomed)
• Short clothes (t-shirts & shorts/skirts that can stay dry in the shallows) 
• Or bring swimwear or spare underwear only for those choosing a DISCOVERY PASS, ENCOUNTER or SNORKEL to wear under the wetsuit provided. 
• Your own prescription mask/snorkel set- NOTE: Allow extra time before your experience for us to clean/soak your snorkel in solution to ensure it is free from any nasties. Please reach out to the administration team prior to your visit to organise. 
• Picnic - As we do-not have a fully fledged cafe (yet until we build it) We have snacks and treats available and welcome any outside picnics or catering to be brought on site. We also have the scrumptious DANTE'S THIRD CIRCLE Mexican food truck on most Sundays and some Saturdays

What NOT to bring: 

• Swimwear or rashie/clothes to swim in without one of our in-house wetsuits over the top (fully clothed dry clothing or Irukandji wetsuits must be worn in the lagoons, swimwear alone is not permitted)
• Non-reef friendly sunscreen (There is some available for purchase on site if need be)
• Your own personal wetsuits or water/reef shoes as these could introduce toxins to our lagoons and we limit the items going in, especially neoprene which can harbour microscopic marine-life from the ocean. Decontamination & quarantine of these items is a lengthy overnight process we hope to avoid.

Irukandji Terms & Conditions: 

See your trade kit for agent specific T&Cs or the Irukandji website: https://sharkencounters.com.au/terms-conditions/ for general T&C of entry

When to visit Irukandji 

Our aquarium is very popular and in busy times of year can book our for an entire day as we limit our availability for the animals serenity.  Forward bookings are definitely needed on public and school holidays so you don't miss out. Open from 9am-5pm. Arrive before 3pm to get the full experience, including the last Big Shark Talk of the day, or arrive by 3.40pm for the last session. All Encounters and Snorkels have set times so please arrive on or before your booked time for those experiences. Entry & Discovery Passes are more flexible and it shouldn't matter too much if you are running late or decide to visit early.

Also available at the facility are hot showers, snacks and beverages as well as a fully stocked gift shop for you to enjoy before or after your encounter. Picnic tables and grassy areas are provided so feel free to bring lunch, stay as long as you want and relax in between your encounters with the animals.

Open 9am-5pm every day of the year except Christmas Day

Please contact us for groups over 40 pax or special requirements