Fantastic news for Nintendo fans out there who’ve got passion in equal measure for both 2020’s Switch smash hit, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and for ogling and stroking a bunch of wet wildlife – the two worlds are set to collide inside Sea Life aquariums across Australia and New Zealand.
Starting very soon on April 1st in Sea Life‘s Sydney location, the global Animal Crossing aquarium tour is finally making its way to our shores since kicking off in Japan in 2021 and moving on to the US, South Korea and soon the UK.
The “live, interactive experience” promises to give Aussie and Kiwi punters the chance to meet iconic Animal Crossing faces like Isabelle and Gulliver, collect character stamps, buy special Animal Crossing: New Horizons merchandise and generally just immerse themselves in the aquarium experience with a bit of added Nintendo flavour.
“We are thrilled to bring this one-of-a-kind experience to our SEA LIFE attractions across Australia and New Zealand,” says Ian Wood, VP of Merlin Entertainments, which owns Sea Life ANZ, in a press release provided to WellPlayed.
The tour will gradually make its way around the region starting in Sydney from April 1st until May 18th, 2025, before heading to Melbourne, the Sunshine Coast and Auckland – with dates for the other three residencies still to be announced.
Importantly, the Animal Crossing: New Horizons event is fully embedded in the wider Sea Life experience, so it’s included as part of the usual ticket price. I’ve not personally been to the venues outside of Sea Life Melbourne (birthplace of the almighty Pesto!), but if they’re anything similar it’s definitely a great day out with friends, family and/or kids.
You can find out more by visiting any of the relevant Sea Life ANZ x Animal Crossing: New Horizons pages below:
Sea Life ANZ x Animal Crossing: New Horizons
What do you think of this collab? Are you planning to visit your local Sea Life when Isabelle comes to town? Let us know in the comments below or over on social media.
Kieron's been gaming ever since he could first speak the words "Blast Processing" and hasn't lost his love for platformers and JRPGs since. A connoisseur of avant-garde indie experiences and underground cult classics, Kieron is a devout worshipper at the churches of Double Fine and Annapurna Interactive, to drop just a couple of names.
