Dolphin Swimming, Dolphin Encounter, Seal Swimming, Dolphin Swimming, Marine Parks, NSW. Australia

• 2008 Winner of the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards – Tourist Attraction
• 2008 Finalist of the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards – Tourist Attraction
• 2008 Winner of the NSW Tourism Award for Tourist Attraction
• 2008 Finalist of the NSW Tourism Award for Tourist Attraction
• 2008 Winner of the Mid North Coast Tourism Award for Significant Attraction
• 2008 Winner of the Coffs Coast Business Award for Tourism, Hospitality & Recreation
• 2008 Finalist of the Employer of the Year in the NSW Training Awards
• 2008 Winner of the Employer of the Year in the Mid North Coast Training Awards

• 2007 Finalist in the Australian Tourism Awards for Tourist Attraction
• 2007 Winner of the NSW Tourism Award for Tourist Attraction
• 2007 Winner of the Mid North Coast Tourism Award for Significant Attraction
• 2007 Winner of the Coffs Coast Business Award for Tourism, Hospitality & Recreation
• 2007 Winner of the Coffs Coast Business Award for Employee of the
• 2007 Winner of the Local Region Business Award in Tourism and Accommodation
• 2007 Winner of the Local Region Business Award for Business of the Year

• 2006 Finalist for the NSW Tourism Award
• 2006 Winnerof the Mid North Coast Tourism Award for Significant Attraction

• 2000 Winner of the Prime Ministers Access Award

Dolphin Marine Magic (previously named the Pet Porpoise Pool) is a marine park that provides people with an educational, enjoyable and above all ‘hands-on’ experience, enabling 'connection' with a variety of species of marine animals!

Every visitor has the opportunity to be kissed by a seal or from a dolphin. Feeding the penguins, fish and other animals are also popular with our guests.

Whether they actively participate or prefer to stand back and just watch, we know that all of our guests have ample opportunity to . . .be touched by magic!

Dolphin Marine Magic is the only NSW facility exhibiting Dolphins, one of two in Australia. Our marine animals are a mix; some rescued from the wild (not suitable for return), some sourced from non-viable aquariums, but all the others have been born here at Dolphin Marine Magic.


Encouraged by the Government and Coffs Harbour Council the Pet Porpoise Pool opened on Boxing Day 1969 with semi trained Droopy a bottle nosed dolphin collected from local waters, two emu chicks and four kangaroos rescued from floods – already the park was becoming an animal refuge. The early days saw non holiday periods attracting 30-50 visitors per show and packed in holiday times.

The venture was a truly independent company of shareholders interested in supporting a vision of rescue, rehabilitation and education to people at large about marine life and mammals in particular.

From its inception, the visitor experience was interactive, educational and entertaining/fun. The founder Hec Goodall and three Pickering brothers all worked as volunteers.




Two pelagic dolphins came to the Park, one rescued and one from Marineland on the Gold Coast. An elephant seal pup, Sophie was rescued near Coffs Harbour with a very extensive shark bite on her flank. She grew to be a very big girl and was never aggressive and shared a pool very peaceably with subsequent leopard seal rescues in later years.

An adult female dolphin and her suckling calf were rescued after a stranding at low tide in a lagoon in the Nambucca River; they were badly sunburnt and brought to the park for treatment. Their names were chosen from their situation as Sandy and Buck. Today Bucky is a star of the Show and proud parent of Zippy and baby Bella (born July 2005).

Swoopy, a pelagic (generally bigger and darker than the coastal dolphins usually seen in oceanariums) arrived from Gold Coast Marineland and became a lively and enthusiastic performer.

In the seventies more (and more) seals were introduced to the park, many were rescues. Some were easy to train and others were a challenge. One, Clyde, starred in a TV commercial in later years. The new arrivals included leopard seals, generally regarded as un-trainable but all learnt to wave, vocalize and jump for fish. One seal, Leo, could even lift weights. Another pelagic adult dolphin, Bubbles was rescued from Boambee Beach and she settled in well. More seal rescues occurred and some animals were transfered from the closed Adelaide Marineland.

Many animals received treatment and were returned to the wild when they were fit.

Buttons, was a baby dolphin rescued from Hat Head creek – she was frantically swimming around her dead mother who had choked on an eel. Buttons made history by being the first dolphin calf to be successfully bottle-fed, using a special formula mixed with mashed fish. The older dolphins took a great ‘parental’ interest in Buttons.

She was exceptionally affectionate with people, perhaps because of her early experience. Buttons had her first calf, Zippy. Zippy performs with Bucky today and continues to delight in playing ball/catch (endlessly) with visitors.


Leopard seal ‘Lady’ was rescued and settled in for a stay of about fifteens years. As the Pet Porpoise Pool's rescue and rehabilitation reputation grew, Marine staff were often called on to identify or rescue sighted or stranded animals.
New Zealand Fur seals, Willie, Reggie and Sam, along with Californian sea lions Dusty and Salty were given a new home when the Mt Manganui Zoo NZ closed. Salty became very popular with children, as he learnt to count (bark) up to five.

Dr Bill Dawbin was a scientific adviser to the International Whaling Commission and an internationally respected academic lecturer. He was instrumental in helping whales become protected in Australian waters. Dr Dawbin's extensive collection of marine books and marine artifacts are still at the park.

In the late eighties a NZ fur seal pup named Charlotte was rescued, with a bad wound in her side, and very sore eye. She became a great favourite, with her skateboard routines and one flipper stand. She is now retired and living out her final days at the park.


A group of Australian sea lions (now listed as endangered) arrived to start a breeding program.
Many more rescues took place in this decade with as many as possible being returned to the wild and others being sent to other marine parks/aquariums.

An adult female dolphin, Calamity, was rescued from the Tweed River with fifteen kilos of fishing line and cunjevol wrapped around her body and tail, she could barely move. Very weak and thin and thought to be very old, she was kept apart from the other dolphins and given intensive care. When she recovered, it became apparent she was much younger. When she was strong enough she was moved into the main dolphin pool. Immediately she became a companion for Buck and playmate for Zippy. She quite quickly took an interest in the performances and joined in the show routines. In 2005 she gave birth to Bella with Bucky the proud dad.

Seal pups continue to arrive because of the breeding program and the PPP now has a large and growing family of seals.

The park, Make A Wish and the Starlight foundation have a strong bond providing interactions to sick or disabled children on request. Several young people spend a day a week at the park doing work experience. The park also hosts a number of University Students undergoing Internships.


Today, the park continues to evolve, with the largest colony of Australian Sea Lions, four Inshore Bottle nose dolphins, Little Blue Penguins and a variety of other marine animals. The park delights visitors of all ages with its ‘edutaining’ Marine Magic Presentations.

Its recent success in the 2008 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards is a credit to the dedicated staff who works there. Some employees have dedicated their life to the care of the animals that live there.

The future of the park is exciting, the Board of Directors are exploring expansion ideas, and new products and services that will see the park evolve to meet the ever changing expectations of their guests.