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 Every visitor has the opportunity to be kissed by a seal, shake fins or get a kiss from a dolphin. Feeding the penguins, fish and other animals are also popular with our guests. Whether they actively participate or prefer to stand back and just watch, we know that all of our guests have ample opportunity to ...be touched by magic!
The Pet Porpoise Pool is located in Coffs Harbour, almost mid-way between Brisbane and Sydney near the harbour’s jetty. We first opened our doors back in 1969 as a marine rescue/rehabilitation centre, and we continue to do so. Today, we work closely with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, assisting them with the rehabilitation of many Leatherback and Green Sea Turtles and marine mammal rescues. Our very first priority with all rescues is to try to get the animal back to their natural environment as soon as possible.
We acknowledge the Gumbula Julipi people, the traditional owners of the land that we now occupy and the sacred documented legend of a seal which was killed on a beach near the park. The legend speaks of protecting these mammals in the wild and the Pet Porpoise Pool has been granted special courtesies from the traditional land owners to carry out the writings of this legend by looking after the seals we have at the park.
 Our marine animals are a mix; some rescued from the wild (not suitable for return), some sourced from non-viable aquariums, but all the others have been born onsite.
Everyday, 365 days of the year we offer ‘Marine Magic’ shows (two or three, depending on season), attracting mostly local, intrastate and interstate visitors, but also people visiting from many other countries. Today we strive to educate and inspire all visitors to …be touched by magic; to connect and conserve our marine heritage and to truly participate in the show and experience the magic our animals provide.
We recently won the 2006 Mid North Coast Tourism Award for Significant Attractions and we were a finalist in the 2006 NSW State Tourism Awards in the same category. Both achievements were our first ever industry recognition of our fantastic facility!
Visitors’ acclaim us to be “the world’s most interactive marine park”! The experiences offered are unique; we are the only place in Australia where everyone can touch dolphins and seals! Our visitors experience close up encounters; touching dolphins, being kissed by seals, hand feeding Little Blue Penguins, reef fish and a huge 200 kg Seal!
 The ‘Marine Magic Show’ delights visitors of all ages with 40 minutes of interesting entertaining information (scripted and ad lib), as well as exciting routines that showcase the natural (and some not so natural!) abilities of the wonderful animals. The park also endeavors to educate visitors about the wonders of marine mammals, their habitats and the importance of their continued existence.
Rain or shine we cater for visitor comfort; there is a 250 seat under-cover grandstand with rain curtains, and lots of other places to get out of inclement weather. It’s hard to get wet even in bad weather because of the sheltered walkways and complimentary umbrellas! But chances are that even on a sunny day you are likely to get wet anyway! How else are you going to touch a dolphin?
Interacting with the animals is included in the visitors’ entry fee and these activities are very popular with our guests. Every person who enters the park is able to freely and safely touch these amazing animals. Before each show there are sea-lion kisses, and an opportunity to get a kiss or a fin shake by one of the dolphins and before the show guests can feed one of the larger male seals a fish.
 During each show one special young visitor gets to brush ‘Bucky’s’ teeth. All guests have the chance to play ball with the dolphins or rub their bellies as they glide past in the water.
After the show guests are invited to feed fish in the reef tank and the colony of Little Blue Penguins. This feeding time is very popular with the younger visitors and squeals of delight are often heard as the food disappears into a hungry mouth!
Dolphin Swims are available at two levels. The Senior Dolphin Encounter enables up to four guests (ages 12+) 40 minutes in the  pool with a dolphin and trainer. During the swim, guests meet all three adult dolphins for a variety of interactions (e.g. pat, play ball, tickle tongues). For our younger visitors we offer a Junior Dolphin Encounter which is designed for children aged 6-12. Up to four children sit in a purpose-designed bench in the water where they are encouraged to interact with the dolphins by feeding them fish, playing ball and rubbing tummies.
Seal Swims are offered to people aged 6 and up. In this interaction guests meet both smaller and larger members of our seal population, for example Solomon the 220 kg male Australian Sea-lion allows people to hold on to his neck and ride him like a horse in the water! Great fun for all those who participate!
The ‘Creekside Café’ is one of the few eating venues in the Coffs  Harbour area without street frontage. Rather, it has the perfect outlook: north-facing over Coffs Creek. The 40 seat café is open every day and people can sit on the deck to enjoy a cappuccino, light snack, breakfast or lunch, and for those with canine companions, they can share the experience with them. After their daily walk patrons can stop in for a drink and a light snack for both themselves and their pampered pooches.
Reptile World (seasonal) joins the marine park every NSW school holiday as an extra free activity. Steve and his collection of slithery slippery critters entertain and educate visitors, between Marine Magic Show times. In addition, Steve dispels the backyard myths about snakes and reptiles that we have all heard at one time or another.
Whether you are a local to the area or a visitor, the Pet Porpoise Pool is an incredible experience for all ages. We look forward to welcoming you to our park so that you too can …be touched by magic!
Email address: info@petporposiepool.com
Website: www.petporposiepool.com
 Previous Featured Member - Pet Porpoise Pool
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Previous Featured Member - Zoos South Australia
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