Australia’s Sydney Aquarium has opened its A$2.25m Seal Sanctuary in time for the spring school holidays.

The new exhibit features a two million litre tank, into which water is pumped and filtered directly from Sydney Harbour.

The new attraction houses Australian, New Zealand, and Sub-Antarctic Fur Seals, as well as an Australian Sea Lion. It incorporates a variety of marine life including seaweeds, kelps, algae, sea snails and sea stars to ensure that the seals' home is as close to nature as possible.

Visitors are able to walk through underwater tunnels to get a closer view of the animals in action.

The sanctuary will be home to seals that are too old to be released back into the wild, due to the deterioration in their eyesight and teeth, as well as those which have been abandoned or have suffered serious injury. Details: www.sydneyaquarium.com.au