SEA LIFE SYDNEY AQUARIUM – ACCESSIBLE DINING SYDNEY

Thanks to a certain Hollywood blockbuster we know what happens at night in a museum, but have you ever wondered what happens after dark in an aquarium? Last week we were lucky enough to be hosted by SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium for their private dining experience so we’ve now got all the gossip to share. The best bit – SEA LIFE Sydney’s dining is wheelchair accessible.

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Private Dining – wheelchair accessible dining Sydney

Date nights are rare for Hubby and I so it was especially lovely to have this dinner to look forward to. Braeden isn’t one to linger over a meal, not to mention he would have been a third wheel on the date, so he came along just to help us check out the accessibility. Once he’d finished the tour, and we’d checked everything out access-wise, he and his support worker left Hubby and I to our romantic dinner and they spent the evening looking at the Christmas lights in Darling Harbour.

Guests booking the SEA LIFE dining experience arrive after the aquarium has closed for the day and begin the evening with a self-guided tour of the aquarium. Braeden has an annual pass (Merlin pass) to the aquarium so he was thrilled to see it without the crowds. He looked so at home wheeling himself around showing us all his favourite exhibits.

It was so lovely not needing to jostle for position at the windows and to enjoy watching the fish for as long as we liked.

An after hours visit is so peaceful, it was hard to drag ourselves away from the stingrays and sharks.

The private dining at SEA LIFE Sydney can booked for the various areas of the aquarium including, Moonlight Beach, Glowing Jellies, Turtle Beach and Heart of the Reef.

When we walked through and saw the set up of the glowing jellies I thought it was stunning but after dining in the Heart of the Reef I would highly recommend booking that if your budget can stretch that far.

The Heart of the Reef is simply the best of the dining options with its unique glass surrounds. We were mesmerised watching the fish, sharks and turtles swim above, below and in front of us. It was fascinating to have the chance to observe their routines, including a particularly sleepy swordfish who only did the fishy equivalent of rolling over in bed in the whole time we were there.

We’ve often found that the food doesn’t live up to the hype of a novelty dining experience but that’s not the case at SEA LIFE. Our three course meal (fixed menu) was delicious and the wine was free-flowing.

Obviously, out of sensitivity to our fish friends, seafood was not on the menu. I had the beautifully moist roast free range chicken breast with corn, leek and pea risotto, thyme jus and sweet potato crisps. Of course I would not have been doing my job if I didn’t do a taste test of Hubby’s Baked Gippsland lamb rump with roast beetroot, smoked garlic potatoes and rosemary port glaze. It also rated a ten out of ten. A vegetarian option is available if requested at the time of booking.

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Private Dining – Wheelchair Accessibility

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is wheelchair accessible. Ramps provide access to the tunnels which are home to the dugong, sharks and stingrays. Power wheelchair users will find these ramps much easier than manual wheelchair users. It’s quite a work out with a manual chair but we’ve done it many times.

A unisex accessible stand-alone bathroom is located not far from the dining areas and another is located near the aquarium’s exit.

The various dining zones are accessible and we found the table height good for Braeden in his wheelchair.

Dietary requests can be made at the time of booking.

We had a truly wonderful evening out and although the dinner comes with a higher than usual dinner price tag, having the aquarium almost to yourself (there were six couples dining), a private dining area and underwater entertainment makes this extra special. For those on a first date, or for a couple that have been together for a long time, the passing parade of sea life provides a good topic of conversation and will ensure no uncomfortable silences. Just for the record, I’m rarely lost for words!

We were hosted at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium but as always our opinions are based on a fantastic evening out. You can read more about the private dining at SEA LIFE on their website.

Take a look at our video below of our night out.