Taz D.
Yelp
It is pretty standard to expect that any attraction, such as a zoo or theme park, will have a gift shop. I think we are generally so desensitised to the marketing that we take for granted things will be for sale everywhere. Often I have been to gifts shops "on my way out" and browsed through a selection of cheap rubber snakes or obnoxious touristy booklets and thought- "ugh, why did they bother?" This is certainly not the case with the AQWA shop.
The reason the shop gets a separate mention to the aquarium is because it is a completely separate operation. The contrast between the aquarium, the cafe and the shop is tangible. The shop has a variety of items, branching out from the run of the mill plush toys (although squid and turtles make a pleasant change from bears, bears, bears!) they've also got active gear, like sea dragon flasks! There may be some mouse pads (which I was sure went out of fashion when the mouse did?) but the variety of educational books, not just about the marine life, but also activities and outdoor places around WA is amazing! What really sucked me in though was the jewellery cabinet! There are some of the most delicate, intricate pieces I have ever seen in a "gift shop." Two pieces in particular, a necklace and a bracelet, have ammonite (which is a fossilised shell, the cross section looks like a swirl) and are surrounded with clusters of rubies, amber and turquoise stones- wow they are gorgeous. . . but for almost $1000 a pop I had to regretfully walk away.
When I am little miss money bags, I shall return to claim the jewels of the AQWA shop.