Thursday: January 5th, 2012

On Thursday we will visit the Melbourne Aquarium then the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne.

The Melbourne Aquarium offers 4 aquatic worlds; Antarctica, Weird & Wonderful, River to Reef and Southern Ocean where visitors can view animals including: King and Gentoo penguins, sea horses, sea jellies, Lionfish, turtles, frogs, snakes, crabs, stingrays, fish and sharks.  As part of our visit I will take the opportunity to try the Aquarium's “Shark Walk” activity where you get to walk underwater in the 2.2 million litre Oceanarium.  The Shark Walk requires no previous diving experience since instead of using an oxygen tank visitors use the Aquarium’s custom-made Shark Walker Helmet that allows you to breathe regular air.  The Shark Walk will allow me to get up close to the Aquarium’s various fish and even sharks.    

Jelly fish - Melbourne Aquarium
This photo of Melbourne Aquarium is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Fish - Melbourne Aquarium
This photo of Melbourne Aquarium is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Shark - Melbourne Aquarium
This photo of Melbourne Aquarium is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Later on we will visit the Royal Botanic Gardens which spans over 38 hecars and features more than 10 000 species of plants and trees many of which are rare and endangered. 

Royal Botanic Gardens
This photo of Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Royal Botanic Gardens
This photo of Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Royal Botanic Gardens
This photo of Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is courtesy of TripAdvisor

The Melbourne Aquarium and Royal Botanic Gardens will offer more opportunities for me to experience unique plants and animals up close.  At the Melborne Aquarium I think I will have an experience of a lifetime by trying the Shark Walk.  Although the experience entails more risk than I usually like to take I can’t pass up the opportunity to see the Aquarium’s mystical fish and sharks that up close.  I have never tried anything like it and I am sure it is something that I will remember for a lifetime. 

Penguins - Melbourne Aquarium
This photo of Melbourne Aquarium is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Seahorse - Melbourne Aquarium
This photo of Melbourne Aquarium is courtesy of TripAdvisor

From what I have read the Royal Botanic Gardens are exceptionally beautiful and very calming which I am sure I will appreciate after my Shark Walk.  I look forward to seeing (and photographing) all the unique and beautiful plants and flowers as well as just enjoying the calmness and serenity of the park.

Royal Botanic Gardens
This photo of Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This will wrap up the last part of our trip.  We will depart Friday morning to return to Canada.

         

Shark Walk:
Video from: YouTube