Pop in for Penguins: Holiday fun (and flippers) at the Two Oceans Aquarium
This school holiday at the Two Oceans Aquarium, we’re putting penguins front and centre!
The Penguin Exhibit at the Aquarium is home to not one, but two, species of penguin: The African penguin and the Northern rockhopper penguin. Not only can you spend an entire day with these adorable and charismatic seabirds, but we have a whole line-up of penguin-themed activities for you to enjoy!
Bring your loved ones and pop in for penguins!
Play a part in penguin feeding time!
Have you ever watched our penguins being fed and wished you could be a part of it? Well, now you can!
Every day during the school holidays, we randomly select three lucky visitors to join penguin keepers Shanet, Tiffany, and Amy on the African or rockhopper penguin beach during feeding time! You’ll be tasked with helping the penguin keepers tick off the checklist of how many fish each penguin eats. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get much closer to our special penguins than most visitors ever will.
To enter:
- Arrive at the Penguin Exhibit at least five minutes before the feeding time to stand a chance of being randomly selected. Feeding times are at 11h30 and 14h30 every day.
- Dress in black and white clothing. You will also need to wear closed shoes and long pants, will be asked to remove any dangly items, and may be asked to wear an apron supplied by the penguin keepers.
If you aren’t old enough to help with feeding time, don’t worry – we will also be awarding some fluffy spot prizes to penguin fans at each of the daily penguin feeding time presentations!
- To be eligible, you must be aged 12 or older. All participants must sign an indemnity form or have a parent or guardian sign if they are under 12 years old.
- You will not be allowed to take a camera or phone into the exhibit space but may have a friend or parent take a photo of you from outside the exhibit.
- Being close to our penguins means that participants will need to be calm and obey the instructions of the keepers.
- The safety of our penguins comes first – at the discretion of our penguin keepers, this experience may come to an end early.
Win a Penguin Experience for two!
If you sign up for a Two Oceans Aquarium membership during the school holidays, you will automatically be entered into a lucky draw for a Penguin Experience! This experience allows up to two people to meet our Northern rockhopper penguins up close, learn how the penguins are cared for, and discover their unique stories.
If you are already a Two Oceans Aquarium member, simply use your membership to visit the Aquarium during this time and you will be entered into a separate draw.
Penguin fun at the I&J Children’s Play Centre!
Craft your heart out!
Throughout the holiday period, our I&J Children’s Play Centre is offering a variety of awesome penguin-themed crafts. From funky headbands, keyrings, and bracelets to photo frames and stick puppets, your little ones will love getting creative. They can take their handiworks home and, even better, wear their penguin gear at the Worldwide Waddle in support of the African penguin on 12 October.
The craft station will be available every day of the school holidays during the Aquarium’s opening hours.
Get your temporary penguin tattoo!
The only thing more exciting than the anticipation before you enter the Aquarium is getting a super cool penguin tattoo while you wait!
During the “Pop in for Penguins” festivities, kids visiting the Aquarium can get their faces painted for free. All you have to do is wait in our ticket office queue and one of our Visitor Services staff members will be around to paint your face with a penguin!
Watch a puppet show!
The I&J Children’s Play Centre has daily puppet shows at 10h30, 13h30, and 15h30. Among our beloved characters is Peter the Penguin, who will make some special appearances for “Pop in for Penguins”!
What else is happening during the school holidays?
Extended hours
We know there's so much to see on your Aquarium visit and so little time! For this reason, the Aquarium will be open for an extended period. You can now visit your favourite animals from 09h00 to 18h00 during the school holidays.
Feeding time fun
Join your favourite animals at daily feeding times!
- Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit:Saturdays at 12h00
- I&J Ocean Exhibit:Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 12h00
- Kelp Forest Exhibit: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 12h00
- Penguin Exhibit: Every day at 11h30 and 14h30
Trash Bash beach cleanup
We're cleaning up Monwabisi Beach on 21 September in honour of International Coastal Cleanup Day! Join us in protecting and preserving our ocean for future generations.
Not only is Trash Bash a way to make a positive impact on our ocean, but it is also an opportunity to get out into nature and breathe some fresh air with your loved ones.
Marine Marvels online course
The exciting Marine Marvels online course aims to roll back the "blue blanket" and give everyone the tools and knowledge to discover the wonders of the ocean for themselves. Marine Marvels is ideal as a holiday activity – you and your family can do it from anywhere in the world!
The final After Dark concert!
Join the final night of our limited After Dark intimate musical experiences, featuring amazing performances with musician, poet, and former Civil Twilight guitarist, Steven Dayvid McKellar, followed by the soulful sounds that is Tessi Nandi.
Virtual waddle with SANCCOB!
Join SANCCOB's virtual waddle on 24 September 2024 for the endangered African penguin! Walk or run 5km, share your pictures with SANCCOB, and stand a chance to win a lucky draw. This is a great way to raise awareness for the iconic African penguin!
Waddle you waiting for?
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