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

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

Local Recommendations

Hospitality

• Cuan Licensed Guest Inn, The
  (1.2km)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
• Glastry Farm Ice Cream
  (11.7km)NE
• Denvirs
  (12.3km)SW
• Dunnanelly Country House
  (13.0km)SW
• Daft Eddys & Island Coffee Room
  (13.4km)NW
• Balloo House & Overwood
  (13.7km)NW
• Old Post Office Tea Rooms & Pantry, The
  (17.3km)NW
• Angus Farm Shop
  (17.4km)NW
• Anna's House
  (17.7km)NW
• Old Schoolhouse Inn, The
  (18.2km)NW
• Poacher's Pocket, The
  (18.5km)NW
• Crossgar Foodservice
  (19.0km)SW
• Mount Stewart Tea Room
  (20.4km)NW
• White Horse Inn, The
  (20.5km)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