- SEA LIFE, Penguin Playground
The health and wellbeing of our animals is always our top priority. We are currently conducting scheduled maintenance within our penguin habitat to enhance the current space and maintain our high standards of safety and care. While some areas of the exhibit are temporarily closed off to public viewing, these upgrades will ensure our colony continues to thrive. We can’t wait to welcome visitors back to the refreshed and upgraded exhibit later in 2026.
Meet the Penguins!
Here at SEA LIFE Melbourne we have two species of penguins, the King and Gentoo penguins.
King penguins are one of the most visually stunning creatures in Antarctica. Second in size only to the Emperor Penguin. With their vibrant plumage, impressive stature and majestic nature, king penguins are mesmerising animals to watch.
Gentoo penguins are curious and outgoing characters with a seemingly endless supply of energy. These cute and cheeky penguins are also the fastest underwater swimming bird in the world.
Visit the King Penguin Pesto!
Pesto is the newest member of the penguin colony and is a viral sensation!
Learn more about Pesto!
Meet Honey
Meet Honey, born in 2022. Honey is very playful, often excitedly flapping her wings. She is always keen for some bubbles as a form of enrichment - a trait that she shares with her brother, Pesto. In an un-penguin-like fashion, she was too cautious to swim until she was nearly 2 years old, even after she got her adult feathers!
Wing band colours: 🟫🟫🟫 (Brown, Brown, Brown)
Meet KT
Meet KT, born in 2007 and she’s one of the most popular birds. She loves standing with her feet wide apart and bowing with her friends. She dislikes it when our bird keepers take too long to feed her, KT waits for no one! She is friends with everyone.
Wing band colours: ⬛⬜⬜🟦 (Black, White, White, Blue)
Meet Harrison
Everyone please meet Harrison! He was born in 2016 and loves to chase falling snow. He doesn't like it when other penguins try to share his spot, he only lets his best friend Bilby stand with him. Harrison loves to know what's going on, so he can often be found on rocks and ledges where he can survey the exhibit.
Wing band colours: 🟩⬛🟩 (Green, Black, Green)
Meet Egg
Hello, I'm Whopper and I was born in 2020. I'm the resident bad boy with a soft spot only for my girlfriend Sybil and a reputation for being impatient during feeding time!
Wing band colours: 🟫⬜🟫 (Brown, White, Brown)
Did you know?
Speed swimmers
Gentoo penguins are exceptional swimmers, capable of reaching speeds of up to 36 kph (22.4 mph) in the water? This makes them one of the fastest-swimming penguin species.
Protecting penguins
Over half of all penguin species are listed as endangered. Penguin populations are threatened by oil spills, bycatch, overfishing, habitat loss and climate change.
Tall and short of it
There are 17 different species of penguins and all of them can be found in the Southern Hemisphere. The biggest, the Emperor Penguin, who stands up to 1.3 metres tall.
Meet Our Penguins Up Close!
Penguin Passport is your ticket to a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with SEA LIFE Melbourne's colony of sub-Antarctic penguins
Suit up into our Antarctic snow gear and get set for your 45 minute penguin encounter tour!
The Penguin Passport experience takes you onto the ice where you have the exclusive opportunity to get up close to our colony of majestic King and cheeky Gentoo penguins. You will also have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see the penguin food preparation, as well as how the state-of-the-art exhibit maintains its sub-zero temperatures. Guests must be aged 12+ years to participate.
Book this experience for a specific date now or purchase an experience gift voucher valid for 3 years from date of purchase.
Learn More
4 Fun Facts About Penguins
Have you ever met anyone who said they don’t like penguins? We sure haven’t! So, since they're so adored, we thought we'd put together our 4 fun facts about penguins.
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Where to see Penguins in Melbourne
Searching for something fun to do in Melbourne? Waddle down to SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium to see the penguins.
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Penguin Science for Science Week!
Have you ever wondered how a penguin survives in Antarctic conditions, how baby birds get out their eggs or maybe what we do keep our penguins happy and healthy? Read all about our cheeky penguins!
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World Penguin Day
Visit our adorable King and Gentoo Penguins and learn more about these amazing creatures this World Penguin Day!
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Precious penguin chicks hatch in Melbourne!
It’s that time of year again! The cheeky Gentoo penguins at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium have welcomed several fluffy chicks as part of the 11th successful Gentoo penguin breeding season.
Related blog postsFAQs
You can see King Penguins and Gentoo Penguins at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium in Penguin Playground. This icy habitat is home to our Sub-Antarctic penguin colony, where you can spot penguins swimming, waddling, calling and interacting with one another.
King Penguins are larger than Gentoo Penguins and are known for their tall posture and bright orange markings. Gentoo Penguins are smaller, with a bright orange-red beak, orange feet and distinctive white markings around the eyes. King Penguins are the second largest penguin species, while Gentoo Penguins are the third largest.
Penguins cannot fly through the air, but they are excellent swimmers. Their flippers help them move through the water, which is why penguins are often described as “flying” underwater.
Penguins use calls to communicate with one another. In a busy colony, vocalisations help penguins recognise each other, stay connected and communicate during social and breeding behaviours.
Yes. Gentoo Penguins build nests using small stones and pebbles. These pebble nests help keep eggs raised off the cold, damp ground. During breeding season, Gentoo Penguins may collect, arrange and defend their pebbles as part of their natural nesting behaviour. This is sometimes affectionately called “pebble season”.
Yes. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium offers a Penguin Encounter experience, where guests can get up close to Gentoo and King Penguins.
AGES 12+ (Guests aged 12-15 years must be accompanied by a paying and participating guardian aged 18+)
