Take a journey halfway across the world to Cape Town, South Africa to meet a colony of African Penguins living on the beach. Visit their newly renovated and expanded habitat where you’llstep right into the enclosure with nearly a dozen African Penguins! Learn all about these amazing penguin ambassadors and their natural environment as you watch them waddle, call, preen and play just inches away from you! Bring your camera to capture all their adorable antics. Plus, you might even get the opportunity to touch one!
All Guests
$59.99
*Tickets are limited for this unique and intimate experience. Encounters sell out fast and it is recommended you purchase your tickets in advance.
Penguin Encounters last approximately 30 minutes and include:
Entry to the African Penguin Exhibit where you’ll be surrounded by a colony of Penguins!
Interactive presentation delivered by an Animal Experience Specialist.
Opportunity to take photos.
Penguin Encounters are generally available Thursday through Tuesday at 11:00am, 12:00pm and 1:00pm. Sometimes additional dates and times are added. Check for additional availability when you get your tickets online or by phone.
Tickets are $59.99. Price does not include sales tax or admission to Newport Aquarium.
Newport Aquarium Silver Annual Members receive a 10% discount, Gold Annual Members and Annual Passholders receive a 15% discount and Platinum Annual Members receive a 20% discount.
Includes 1-Day General Admission plus the opportunity to step beyond the glass for a fully guided adventure behind the scenes to discover all that it takes to care for a million gallons of water and thousands of animals every day!
As Low As
$59.98*
Child discount is available Must be 8 years of age or older to participate
Includes 1-Day General Admission plus you’ll get to step right into the habitat with nearly a dozen rare African Penguins where you can watch them up-close as they waddle, call, preen and play just inches away from you. You may even get the opportunity to touch one!
As Low As
$89.98*
Child discount is available Must be 6 years of age or older to participate
You and 5 guests get to join our Penguin Picasso’s inside their natural environment for a fun and exciting enrichment activity! You’ll be seated just inches away and close enough to listen to the pitter-patter of their little feet as they waddle through your chosen paint colors and across your canvas to create a masterful work of art. Bring your camera to capture all their adorable antics. Plus, you might even get the opportunity to touch one!
Availability is limited for this VIP experience. It is highly recommended that you purchase your Penguin Painting Experience in advance as they may not be available for same-day purchase.
Penguin Painting Experience lasts approximately 45 minutes and includes:
Entry to the African Penguin exhibit for up to 6 people.
Up to 30 minutes of penguin painting time
Choice of one 20”x20” inch canvas or up to six (1 per participant) 5” x 7” canvases.
Choice of 2 paint colors (based on availability).
VIP Penguin Painting Experience is $499.99 and offered Friday & Saturday at 4:00pm, based on availability. Price does not include sales tax or admission to Newport Aquarium.
Newport Aquarium Silver Members receive a 10% discount; Gold Members receive a 15% discount and Platinum Members receive a 20% discount.
NEW! VIP Penguin Painting Experience Discount For Annual Members & Passholders
You and 5 guests get to join our Penguin Picasso’s inside their natural environment for a fun and exciting enrichment activity! You’ll be seated just inches away and close enough to listen to the pitter-patter of their little feet as they waddle through your chosen paint colors and across your canvas to create a masterful work of art. Bring your camera to capture all their adorable antics. Plus, you might even get the opportunity to touch one!
Availability is limited for this VIP experience. It is highly recommended that you purchase your Penguin Painting Experience in advance as they may not be available for same-day purchase.
Penguin Painting Experience lasts approximately 45 minutes and includes:
Entry to the African Penguin exhibit for up to 6 people.
Up to 30 minutes of penguin painting time
Choice of one 20”x20” inch canvas or up to six (1 per participant) 5” x 7” canvases.
Choice of 2 paint colors (based on availability).
VIP Penguin Painting Experience is $499.99 and offered Friday & Saturday at 4:00pm, based on availability. Price does not include sales tax or admission to Newport Aquarium.
Newport Aquarium Silver Members receive a 10% discount; Gold Members receive a 15% discount and Platinum Members receive a 20% discount.
Penguin Encounter Discount For Annual Members & Passholders
Take a journey halfway across the world to Cape Town, South Africa to meet a colony of African Penguins living on the beach. Visit their newly renovated and expanded habitat where you’llstep right into the enclosure with nearly a dozen African Penguins! Learn all about these amazing penguin ambassadors and their natural environment as you watch them waddle, call, preen and play just inches away from you! Bring your camera to capture all their adorable antics. Plus, you might even get the opportunity to touch one!
All Guests
$59.99
*Tickets are limited for this unique and intimate experience. Encounters sell out fast and it is recommended you purchase your tickets in advance.
Penguin Encounters last approximately 30 minutes and include:
Entry to the African Penguin Exhibit where you’ll be surrounded by a colony of Penguins!
Interactive presentation delivered by an Animal Experience Specialist.
Opportunity to take photos.
Penguin Encounters are generally available Thursday through Tuesday at 11:00am, 12:00pm and 1:00pm. Sometimes additional dates and times are added. Check for additional availability when you get your tickets online or by phone.
Tickets are $59.99. Price does not include sales tax or admission to Newport Aquarium.
Newport Aquarium Silver Annual Members receive a 10% discount, Gold Annual Members and Annual Passholders receive a 15% discount and Platinum Annual Members receive a 20% discount.
Step beyond the glass and take a fully-guided adventure behind the scenes to discover all that it takes to care for a million gallons of water and thousands of animals every day! You’ll have exclusive access to staff-only areas as you see some of the complex machinery, filtration systems and miles of pipes that keep water flowing through the exhibits.
All Guests
$29.99
*Tickets are limited for this unique experience. Tours sell out fast so it is recommended you purchase your tickets in advance.
Behind-The-Scenes Tours are approximately 60 Minutes and include:
Exclusive access behind-the-scenes led by an experienced guide.
An immersive look at many key areas like tank filtration, veterinary lab, dive station, animal food prep kitchen and more!
Hands on animal enrichment activity
Opportunity to touch an aquatic ambassador animal
Behind-The-Scenes Tours are generally available every Wednesday – Saturday at 1:15pm. Sometimes additional dates and times are added. Check for availability when you get your tickets online or by phone.
Tickets are $29.99. Price does not include sales tax or admission to Newport Aquarium.
Newport Aquarium Silver Annual Members receive a 10% discount, Gold Annual Members and Annual Passholders receive a 15% discount and Platinum Annual Members receive a 20% discount.
Behind-The-Scenes Tour: Annual Members & Passholder Discount
Step beyond the glass and take a fully-guided adventure behind the scenes to discover all that it takes to care for a million gallons of water and thousands of animals every day! You’ll have exclusive access to staff-only areas as you see some of the complex machinery, filtration systems and miles of pipes that keep water flowing through the exhibits.
All Guests
$29.99
*Tickets are limited for this unique experience. Tours sell out fast so it is recommended you purchase your tickets in advance.
Behind-The-Scenes Tours are approximately 60 Minutes and include:
Exclusive access behind-the-scenes led by an experienced guide.
An immersive look at many key areas like tank filtration, veterinary lab, dive station, animal food prep kitchen and more!
Hands on animal enrichment activity
Opportunity to touch an aquatic ambassador animal
Behind-The-Scenes Tours are generally available every Wednesday – Saturday at 1:15pm. Sometimes additional dates and times are added. Check for availability when you get your tickets online or by phone.
Tickets are $29.99. Price does not include sales tax or admission to Newport Aquarium.
Newport Aquarium Silver Annual Members receive a 10% discount, Gold Annual Members and Annual Passholders receive a 15% discount and Platinum Annual Members receive a 20% discount.
Dive into the ultimate virtual reality experience with Undersea Explorer! Get closer than ever before to incredible ocean animals like sharks and whales and explore their underwater world. Sit in a cinema motion seat pod, put on your 4K VR headset with a 360° field of vision and enjoy an unbelievable ocean journey!
Tickets for your Undersea Explorer experience can be purchased at any ticket window or at the kiosk in Penguin Palooza on the day of your visit.
Children aged 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult
Upper and lower body control is required. Guests must be able to sit upright without assistance. Guests must be able to transfer to the ride unaided or with the help of a carer.
Should you feel dizzy, disorientated or ill during any part of the ride, remove the VR headset and wait until the ride has finished before dismounting.
This ride is not recommended for guests who suffer from or have suffered from photosensitive epilepsy.
This ride is not recommended for guests with back and neck problems, heart conditions, high blood pressure, broken limbs or pregnant guests.
Virtual Reality Experience
Dive into the ultimate virtual reality experience with Undersea Explorer! Get closer than ever before to incredible ocean animals like sharks and whales and explore their underwater world. Sit in a cinema motion seat pod, put on your 4K VR headset with a 360° field of vision and enjoy an unbelievable ocean journey!
Tickets for your Undersea Explorer experience can be purchased at any ticket window or at the kiosk in Penguin Palooza on the day of your visit.
Children aged 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult
Upper and lower body control is required. Guests must be able to sit upright without assistance. Guests must be able to transfer to the ride unaided or with the help of a carer.
Should you feel dizzy, disorientated or ill during any part of the ride, remove the VR headset and wait until the ride has finished before dismounting.
This ride is not recommended for guests who suffer from or have suffered from photosensitive epilepsy.
This ride is not recommended for guests with back and neck problems, heart conditions, high blood pressure, broken limbs or pregnant guests.
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