Sea Life Sunshine Coast, located a short drive south in Mooloolaba, is the best aquarium on the Queensland coast outside of Cairns. The main draw is the 80-metre underwater tunnel that passes through the shark and ray tank — a route that gives children an eye-level view of creatures that would otherwise remain abstract. Dugongs, seahorses, and local marine species are all well represented.
The facility also serves as a wildlife sanctuary for injured marine animals undergoing rehabilitation. Timing your visit for one of the daily feeding presentations adds some animation to what can otherwise feel like a static attraction.