Planning and Logistics
Planning
- AQWA has no facilities for storing school bags, lunches, containers, first aid kits or eskys due to current security conditions.
- The grass area in front of AQWA is the only area available for schools to eat morning tea and lunch. We regret that we have no facilities inside AQWA for groups to eat. During the winter months, we suggest you schedule your visit so you are back at school to eat.
- AQWA recommends that you allocate two hours to visit all exhibits (including two visits to the Touch Pool). Additional activities can also be booked extending your visit time and learning outcomes.
- AQWA is designed as a one-way journey. All groups are to begin their journey be descending into the Great Southern Region.
Logistics
- Download your chosen worksheets from our website.
- Print out marine animal information sheets from our website and give a copy to your selected group leaders. This will provide them with background information on the marine life their group will see at AQWA.
- Primary school teachers may choose to print out the name badges provided on our website, and have students colour in their badges prior to your excursion. At AQWA each group can then gather information on their animal by using the “Where Am I” or “Favourite Animal” worksheets.
- Discuss the following information with your class:
- Fish have ears! They don’t stick out like ours but they have them none the less. Fish are also very good at hearing and can hear three times louder than us. So when you’re up against the tanks at AQWA, please talk quietly so that you don’t scare the fish.
- Lateral Lines. Fish and sharks have a line of sensory cells along their body called a lateral line. These cells detect movement in the ocean allowing fish and sharks to detect schools of prey and predators. When at AQWA, please don’t tap the glass as our fish and sharks will feel the vibration – they may think you’re a predator and hide out of view!
- Mettam’s Touch Pool. Visitors are able to touch everything in the touch pool. However, please ask your group to handle the animals GENTLY and to KEEP THEM UNDERWATER. All the animals in the touch pool need to remain in the water to live! If any of the animals are attached to rocks, please do not pull them off.
- No running! There’s lots to see but you don’t want to miss anything by running past exhibits.

