Penguin Encounter, Wildlife encounter program in Queensland, Australia

Penguin Encounter is an animal exhibit near the front of Sea World on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, housing king and gentoo penguins. Its 90-square-metre enclosure is chilled to −1 °C and holds a 220,000-litre pool at 5 °C, with lighting that mimics Antarctic summer and winter day lengths. Visitors watch from ground-level and underwater viewing areas, and up to five tonnes of snow are made there daily.

Penguin Encounter opened at Sea World on the Gold Coast on 26 December 2010, after the Sea World Aquarium and Shark Attack were closed and demolished in May 2010. The exhibit was announced in July 2010 and received the Zoo and Aquarium Association award for best exhibit in May 2011. In June 2011 Sea World added the Penguin Antarctic Adventure behind-the-scenes tour.

The exhibit's name and layout evoke Antarctica: lighting mimics polar seasons, with over 20 hours of daylight in summer and about 6 in winter, and up to 5 tonnes of snow are made daily. Educational displays around the enclosure cover penguin biology. Since June 2011 the paid Penguin Antarctic Adventure has let guests go behind the scenes and onto the ice with the birds.

Penguin Encounter sits near the front of Sea World, with ground-level and underwater viewing areas plus educational displays. The Penguin Antarctic Adventure, offered since June 2011, runs about 45 minutes, with at least 20 minutes on the ice among the penguins. The enclosure is kept at −1 °C, so bring warm clothing for the ice session.

The exhibit was designed by Sculpt Studios, and up to 5 tonnes of snow are generated inside it every day. Lighting mimics Antarctic seasons, with over 20 hours of daylight in summer and about 6 in winter.