About Us - Ocean Park

About ocean park

Ocean Park is a marine aquarium and oceanfront restaurant just 10km from Denham, offering an unforgettable way to experience the wonders of Shark Bay above and below the surface.

Ocean Park Aquarium is an exciting ecotourism attraction in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, welcoming around 48,000 visitors each year. On a guided tour, you’ll explore the Shark Bay Marine Park with a marine scientist by your side, learning about the incredible animals found right here in local waters. From endangered sea snakes to stingrays, clownfish and more, every tank is designed to educate, inspire curiosity, and deepen your connection to this globally significant marine environment.

More than a tourism experience, Ocean Park is also a recognised conservation and marine research facility with roots in marine science and aquaculture. Visitors can witness the raw energy of shark feeding up close, while hearing the stories behind the animals in our care and the role education plays in protecting Shark Bay’s fragile ecosystems. After your aquarium tour, you can relax at our licensed restaurant and café overlooking the bay—making Ocean Park a complete Denham day-out for families, couples, and ocean lovers.

AWARDS & ACCREDITAION

Ocean Park is proud to be an award-winning, accredited experience, recognised for quality tourism and a strong commitment to sustainability in Shark Bay.

THE HISTORY OF OCEAN PARK

Ocean Park began with a simple, science-led idea: use aquaculture to grow Shark Bay pink snapper locally and share the marine world with visitors along the way. Opened in July 2000 and owned and operated by marine scientists, it started with just two full-time staff, a working aquaculture focus, and tours through small display aquaria that introduced guests to the incredible life found in Shark Bay.

As the years went on, pink snapper aquaculture proved difficult to sustain. The high cost of breeding and ranching a slow-growing species meant it couldn’t compete with wild capture fisheries. Rather than walk away, Ocean Park adapted—expanding the display tanks, refining the guided tour experience, and leaning into what guests loved most: learning directly from people who live and breathe marine science. That evolution helped Ocean Park grow into a major local employer, now supporting a team of around 25 staff.

Today, Ocean Park is built around tourism, research, animal rehabilitation, and education, offering a full visitor experience that goes beyond the aquarium. Alongside the guided tours, guests can enjoy our licensed restaurant and café, and explore more of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area through experiences like scuba diving, marine safaris, and 4WD tours. While Ocean Park has grown well beyond its early aquaculture days, we still hold an aquaculture licence—and we hope to one day farm fish for the restaurant, creating a truly local “from sea to plate” dining experience.

The TEAM

Ocean Park is led by Managing Director Edmund Fenny (BSc Marine Biology), one of the original team members from the early 2000s. Over the years, Ed has helped grow Ocean Park into the award-winning Shark Bay aquarium experience it is today, while also building Shark Bay Eco Tours, offering unforgettable 4×4 tours and boat toursthroughout the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. While Ed focuses on the bigger picture behind the scenes, our dedicated team delivers the day-to-day experience—welcoming guests, running guided aquarium tours, and sharing local marine knowledge with every visitor. Our staff changes with the seasons, but with up to 25 team members working together, we’re proud to provide an exceptional, educational experience that helps visitors connect with the incredible marine life of Shark Bay.