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

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

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
• Newtownards
  (12.0km) NE
• Kircubbin
  (12.0km) NE
• Downpatrick
  (12.3km) SW
• Ardglass
  (13.7km) SW
• Killinchy
  (13.7km) NW