Celebrate star attraction’s birthday
Giveaways, live musicians, heaps of prizes, stilt performers and even mermaids will be part of the festivities as the Cairns Aquarium celebrates its third anniversary this Saturday and Sunday.
Aquarium founders and directors Daniel Leipnik and Andrew Preston are extremely proud to be celebrating the milestone, especially as this anniversary falls on the same date that the facility, one of Australia’s most state-of-the-art and dynamic tourist attractions, opened.
“We’re excited to celebrate our third birthday and are also incredibly grateful for financial support from all three levels of government (local, state and federal) during the COVID-19 shutdown when we were closed for 100 days,” Daniel said.
“The support enabled the business to be bolstered during a time of zero revenue and where we had to retain a large workforce to keep the livestock alive and healthy.”
The 7500sq m, three-level facility houses 71 tanks, including Australia’s largest freshwater tank with 400,000 litres of water, a deep-sea tank and the world’s first true tidal motion tank. Since its opening, there has been quite a number of new and significant changes to the aquarium.
“When we first opened, we had four companies that were distributors of our aquarium tickets. Now we have over 400,” Daniel said.
“We started off with about 14,000 fish and aquatic animals, and we have increased that to 16,000. And we have exceeded over a million visitors in three years, which is fantastic.”
In addition, key new exhibits, numerous educational and informative signs and display cabinets have recently been added, including a rainforest boardwalk display, Gulf Country display, a saltwater crocodile display and a 10,000-litre waterfall with signage that explains the linkage between the eco systems seen in the Aquarium.
A new product, Aquarium by Twilight, has also recently been included. It features a two-hour ecologist-guided tour through 10 tropical ecosystems from the rivers to the Reef and a three-course dinner
at Dundee’s Restaurant. “We’re also going through a major expansion of our turtle rehabilitation centre, which is in collaboration with the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre,” Daniel added.
“We’re actually tripling the size of it, and new tanks, educational signage and new filtration system are being installed.
“Another exciting thing that has happened over the three years, which we’re very proud of as well, is the collaboration we have formed with numerous government agencies and departments who we work with to get their environmental messages out there to the public.”
Included in that list is the Wet Tropics Management Authority, Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Department of Environment, Parks Australia, the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre and the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, to name some.
“Another element of growth for the business is the development of some really great partnerships with other local attractions and experiences where the aquarium and other business are packed as full-day tours.
“Through continual interstate and overseas sales and marketing activities, we are taking a proactive role in promoting the region.”
The aquarium is a fully accessible facility with elevators, ramps, accessible washrooms, wheelchair rentals and welcomes accredited guide/service dogs.
“I think for me one of the most rewarding aspects is every day there are people coming in either wheelchairs, mobility aids or with carer’s assistance,” Daniel added.
“We are providing a way to see marine life to many people who may not be able to otherwise. That’s just a wonderful feeling.”
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR THE AQUARIUM, WHICH OFFERS A 25 PER CENT DISCOUNT TO LOCALS, WILL BE HELD ON SITE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY FROM
10AM TO 3PM.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT CAIRNSAQUARIUM.COM.AU