Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary

View and learn about the marine species that are indigenous to Strangford Lough and the coastline of the island

A visit to Exploris enables the visitors to view and learn about the marine species that are indigenous to Strangford Lough and the coastline of the island. Marine communities are recreated to enable the visitor to gain a better understanding of the complex inter relationships between different species.

The Seal Sanctuary affords the visitor the opportunity to view the process of rehabilitation of rescued seal pups from their arrival through to full health when they are re-introduced to the wild.

Open all year, Oct-Mar: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm. Apr-Sept: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12-6pm

Adult £6.90; OAP/Student £4; Child 4+ £4; Family (2 adults & 4 children) £20

View Similar Tourist Attractions

• Westport House, Gardens & Pirate Adventure Park
• The Main Guard
• Athenry Castle
• Adare Heritage Centre
• Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid
• Tintern Abbey
• Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
• The Hunt Museum
• Aughnanure Castle
• Hill of Tara
• Aviva Stadium
• Florence Court
• Chester Beatty Library
• Desmond Hall
• Dromore Wood
• Boyle Abbey
• Cliffs of Moher - Visitor Experience
• Listowel Castle
• Skellig Michael
• Dungarvan Castle
• Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
• St Marys Church
• Iveagh Gardens
• Viking Splash Tours
• Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
• Trim Castle
• Farmleigh House & Estate
• Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
• Ormond Castle
• Tayto Park
• Kilkenny Castle
• Dublin Castle
• Skerries Mills
• Hugh Lane Gallery
• John F Kennedy Arboretum
• Caherconnell Fort
• National Concert Hall
• Funtasia Waterpark
• Armagh County Museum
• The Ark
• Maynooth Castle
• Galway City Museum
• Newmills Corn & Flax Mills
• Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
• Jameson Experience Midleton
• Killarney National Park
• National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
• Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
• Desmond Castle
• Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
• Donegal County Museum
• Galway Atlantaquaria
• Castle Ward House & Demesne
• Cobh Heritage Centre
• Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
• Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
• The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
• Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
• Scattery Island Centre
• Larne Museum & Arts Centre
• Casino Marino
• Adare Castle
• King Johns Castle
• Rock of Cashel
• Malahide Castle
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Skibbereen Heritage Centre
• National Sea Life Centre
• Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge
• Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
• Leopardstown Racecourse
• Thomond Park Stadium
• National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
• Cahir Castle
• Pearse Museum & St. Endas Park
• Dunbrody Famine Ship
• National Transport Museum
• Kilmainham Gaol
• Glenveagh National Park
• Swiss Cottage
• Little Museum of Dublin
• Aras an Uachtarain
• Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
• Eagles Flying
• Clare Museum
• Ulster Museum
• Ballyhack Castle
• Sligo Abbey
• Dan OHaras Heritage & History Centre
• Saint Patricks Cathedral
• Charles Fort
• Russborough House
• Parkes Castle
• Muckross House & Gardens & Traditional Farm
• Castlecomer Discovery Park
• Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
• Arigna Mining Experience
• Kerry County Museum
• Ardfert Cathedral
• Dublinia
• National Leprechaun Museum
• King House
• Croke Park & GAA Museum
• Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
• Fort Lucan
• Phoenix Park
• Titanic Belfast
• Marble Arch Caves & Global Geopark
• Blarney Castle
• Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
• Coole Park
• Dublin Zoo
• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
• Carrickfergus Museum
• Battle of the Boyne
• Dun Aonghasa
• Ceide Fields
• Wicklow Mountains National Park
• Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
• Glasnevin Museum
• Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
• Ferns Castle
• Craggaunowen - The Living Past
• Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
• Funtasia Bettystown
• Giants Causeway
• Glebe House & Gallery - The Derek Hill Collection
• Connemara National Park
• Avondale House & Forest Park
• Armagh Planetarium
• National Wax Museum Plus
• Dingle Oceanworld
• Edmund Rice Heritage Centre
• Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
• Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre
• Ross Castle
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
• Garylough Mill
• Doolin Cave & Visitor Centre
• Mizen Head Signal Station
• Government Buildings
• The Science Gallery
• Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
• National Photographic Archive
• The Burren Centre - Gateway to the Burren
• Old Mellifont Abbey
• National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
• Bushmills Distillery
• Barryscourt Castle
• Rathfarnham Castle
• Museum at the Mill
• Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure Centre
• Natural History Museum
• Donegal Castle
• National Library of Ireland
• Reginalds Tower
• Patrick Pearses Cottage
• Famine Warhouse
• Dunmore Cave
• Navan Centre & Fort
• Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
• Castletown House
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage
• Ballycroy National Park
• Queens University
• Clonmacnoise
• Belfast Zoo
• Portumna Castle & Gardens
• Foynes Flying Boat Museum
• Ennis Friary
• Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
• Emo Court
• Ulster American Folk Park
• Lusk Heritage Centre
• Aillwee Cave
• National Gallery of Ireland
• St Stephens Green
• Hook Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
• Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
• Glendalough
• Somme Heritage Centre
• Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
• Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
• Crag Cave
• Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre
• Doneraile Wildlife Park
• Burren National Park
• Rothe House & Garden
• Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
• House of Waterford Crystal
• Tower Museum
• Guinness Storehouse
• The Butlers Chocolate Experience
• Imaginosity - Dublins Children Museum
• Jerpoint Abbey
• Enniskillen Castle Museum
• Derrynane House
• The Old Jameson Distillery
• St Marys Abbey

Local Recommendations

Hospitality

• Portaferry Hotel
  (0.1km)SE
• Cuan Licensed Guest Inn, The
  (1.2km)SW
• Churchtown Farm Organic Produce
  (4.1km)SW
• Picnic
  (6.9km)NW
• Dufferin Coaching Inn
  (7.0km)NW
• East Coast Seafoods
  (9.3km)SW
• Pheasants Hill Farm
  (10.0km)SW
• Quays, The
  (11.0km)NE
• Curran's Bar & Seafood Steakhouse
  (11.3km)SW
• Eva Paris Macarons
  (11.4km)NW
• Glastry Farm Ice Cream
  (11.7km)NE
• Mill At Ballydugan,The
  (12.1km)SW
• Denvirs
  (12.3km)SW
• Dunnanelly Country House
  (13.0km)SW
• Daft Eddys & Island Coffee Room
  (13.4km)NW
• Balloo House
  (13.7km)NW
• Old Post Office Tea Rooms & Gallery, The
  (17.3km)NW
• Angus Farm Shop
  (17.4km)NW
• Anna's House
  (17.7km)NW
• Old Schoolhouse Inn, The
  (18.2km)NW

Self Catering

• The Colonel's Lodge
  (31.5km)NW
• Rostrevor Holidays
  (48.3km)SW

Farmers Markets

• Castlewellan - Co Down - Saturdays
  (28.9km)SW
• Belfast - St. Georges Street - Saturdays
  (33.9km)NW
• Lisburn - County Antrim - Saturdays
  (34.9km)NW
• Park Shopping Centre - Belfast - Thursdays
  (35.4km)NW

Tourist Attractions

• Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
  (0.0km)NW
• Castle Ward House & Demesne
  (2.7km)NW
• Somme Heritage Centre
  (27.4km)NW
• Ulster Museum
  (33.6km)NW
• Queens University
  (33.7km)NW
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
  (34.3km)NW
• Titanic Belfast
  (34.4km)NW
• Belfast Zoo
  (40.3km)NW
• Carrickfergus Museum
  (40.8km)NW
• Museum at the Mill
  (43.4km)NW
• Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
  (44.6km)NW

Golf Courses

• Royal County Down Golf Club
  (28.8km) SW
• Royal Belfast Golf Club
  (34.7km) NW
• Greenore Golf Club
  (54.9km) SW

Gardens

• Anna's House & Garden
  (17.7km)NW
• Rowallane Garden
  (19.8km)NW
• Mount Stewart House & Gardens
  (20.4km)NW
• Seaforde Gardens
  (20.6km)SW
• Glenmount
  (29.3km)NW
• Redcot
  (31.0km)NW
• Guincho
  (34.0km)NW

Nearby Towns/Areas

• Portaferry
  (0.1km) SE
• Strangford Village
  (1.1km) SW
• Killyleagh
  (6.8km) NW
• Ballyhornan
  (8.8km) SW
• Portavogie
  (10.9km) NE
• Kircubbin
  (12.0km) NE
• Newtownards
  (12.0km) NE
• Downpatrick
  (12.3km) SW
• Ardglass
  (13.7km) SW
• Killinchy
  (13.7km) NW