Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium was the first place we visited when we arrived in New Zealand over 12 years ago. Despite being tired from the long flight we were looking forward to seeing penguins and riding the moving sidewalk through the world’s first acrylic tunnels allowing stingrays, sharks, and other southern ocean marine life to freely swim all around us. It lived up to our expectations back then, and to my surprise, surpassed them last week.
The shark tunnels are my favorite memory, and they still hold my interest.
Even before entering, we are transported to a different world as we walk down the ramp from street level to reception. As a visitor, the lighting seems perfect; as a photographer I found it a bit dark. Here are some of my highlights:
Our southern journey starts with a walk-through replica of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s Antarctic hut and an opportunity to imagine life in Antarctica over 100 ago.
Captain Scott lead the Discovery Expedition to Antarctica in 1901–04. Several years later he led a second expedition that reached the geographic south pole on 17 January 1912, 34 days after Norwegian Roald Amundsen became the first to accomplish this. Sadly, Scott and his team were lost in a whiteout blizzard in 1912 on their return.
The pathway through Kelly Tarlton’s allows us to experience the disorientation of a whiteout as we pass through a slowly spinning white tube. Stopping for a few moments and turning to the side enhances the effect.
Before we leave “Antarctica”, large glass windows offer plenty of space to view a colony of King and Gentoo penguins. On most days, a maximum of four people are allowed enter the enclosure. Book early if you want to do this.
Have you heard of a Polar Plunge? It’s the jumping into the icy cold waters. Just sticking my hand into this was enough to know the “real” polar plunge is not for me. Kelly Tarlton’s challenge is to keep your hand submerged for 30 seconds. I found it painful, but not as bad as it must have been for Sarah who was challenged by friends to go for two minutes.
Leaving Antarctica, we return to the Southern Ocean of New Zealand . . . literally:
You can see the ocean splashing up against the glass at the cafe. Just beyond the cafe is a children’s discovery centre that I didn’t enter this visit, but was a favorite years ago.
On the way to the shark tunnel we passed Stingray Bay.
Finally, the area I remember most clearly from all of our visits so many years ago.
Moving footpath and a walkway allow visitors to enjoy the shark tunnels.
While I viewed the exhibits, I wasn’t brave enough to don SCUBA gear and have a supervised swim in the shark tank. (This is an adults only option – 18+)
As you leave the shark tunnel don’t forget to turn around and look back.
There is still more:
Fish Gallery
Crab
Interesting seahorse
And finally, a gift shop.
Practical Information:
- Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium is located at 23 Tamaki Drive, along the Auckland waterfront about 6 kilometres east of the Auckland CBD. It is an underground facility, therefore doesn’t look like much from the outside.
- The buildings at either ends of the car park are the entrance and exit, so there are no bad spots, however the lot is often full and street parking is required.
- A free shuttle bus runs daily with pick up in the CBD on the half hour from 172 Quay Street (opposite the downtown ferry terminal). Last shuttle pick up is at 3.30, however, the last shuttle to return to the city leaves from Kelly Tarlton’s at 3.20, so plan accordingly. You’ll recognize the bus as it looks like a giant shark with wheels.
- Save money by purchasing tickets on-line before you arrive.
Conclusion: Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium is good fun for young and old. Most of the more adventurous activities include entrance, so a bit of planning can save quite a bit of money.
Penguins, shark tunnels, marine life, Antarctica; which is your favorite bit of Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium?
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Disclaimer: I was provided with a complementary entry, however the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
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I’ve been to aquariums and water parks, but I’ve never seen anything like this. The footbridge alone looks surreal. Your pictures turned out great. Thanks for the tour.
Kelly Tarlton’s is pretty cool. We had annual passes for the first several years after we moved here to New Zealand.
We love aquariums that we have an annual membership to Monterey Aquarium.
I also love the Monterey Aquarium. I haven’t been there in years.
Beautiful tour underwater! Joining you from Our World Tuesday.
Thanks.
Loved seeing all the creatures you found and photographed in the water.
Thanks Margaret. This is only a small sampling of what I found there.
this tunnel looks interesting!
It’s really cool. As you walk through the fish, rays and sharks swim all around and pass overhead.
Hi Rhonda – what a wonderful experience … how very interesting and it looks so well done. Love all the photos and the ocean waves, and then the icy water – not for me … is Sarah’s hand still with her?! Incredible place … I’d love to visit – one day … cheers Hilary
It is really well done, laid out well and easy to move along without missing anything.
That looks like a real adventure in photography. It would also be fun to see the penguins up close like that.
It was much more challenging than it appears. Everything is behind thick plexiglass, loaded with fingerprints and smudges. You don’t notice it when you look at the display, only when you go to take photos. And it’s dark, with lots of artificial lights as it’s underground.
Well I thoroughly enjoyed this Rhonda fab shots & close-ups love the shark tunnel 🙂
Have a jawstastic day 🙂
Thanks Steve. The shark tunnel is my favorite feature.
This looks like an amazing aquarium! Wow!
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Yes, it is an amazing place, both the aquarium and the Antarctica exhibit.
Nice photos. We used to visit the aquarium in Galveston, TX a lot when we lived there. It was one of Drama Teen’s favorite places when she was little.
Kelly Tarlton’s was a favorite of my girls when they were little also.
Love your photo especially that one of the seahorse. We visited the Acquarium 10 years ago, and remember how cool it was to see the penguins.
They no longer have that vehicle that drives through the penguin exhibit. Now everyone walks through it.
Amazing photos. Those aquarium tunnels are really cool. Next best thing to being underwater.
I will pass on the plunge though.
The tunnels are fascinating. They are in a loop, with entrance/exit on either end. I have been known to go around a few times, each time spotting something new and interesting.
Amazing and super cool! Wish I could take my grands there! Have a great week, Rhonda!
Your grandkids will love it. There is a big playzone, with quite a subtle educational focus.
What a great tour!
And it is self guided, so you can spend as much time as you want watching your favorites.
What fantastic photos. what a great day out.
Thanks Raychael, actually it only takes a few hours to do it all.
That cafe that’s party under water…is it weird that I want to live there?! I can’t imagine anything more peaceful and beautiful 🙂
I think living in the cafe would get old after a while, but they do have sleepovers in the tunnels, and yes, they turn off the moving walkways.
Amazing, simply amazing! I’ve never seen anything like that, but would love too. Seeing that water against the glass very scary. Claustrophobia may not bode well in those tunnels. 🙂
Actually, they are really light and open. I get claustrophobic in airplanes sometimes (not to flash for a travel blogger), but not a drop here.
Wow, what great photos. What a wonderful place to spend a day.
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Thanks Patrick.
What a cool place to visit. I want to go. I love the penguins the very best.
Have a fabulous day Rhonda. 🙂
You need to live in the Southern Hemisphere to see more penguins, or at least come for a visit.
Wow amazing! What amazing creatures. We have an aquarium here too but none as awesome as this one.
Much of the sea life in the southern oceans is different from that of the north. Even saying that, Kelly Tartlton’s has a large number of unusual creatures.
What an incredible experience! Gorgeous photos! I know I will never get to New Zealand so its so nice to get to see things that are worth seeing through your blog!
Happy to share my world with you.
Oh wow, you got some beautiful shots here, looks a great place to visit 🙂
It is a place worth visiting.
This looks amazing! Much better than our sea life centres! x
LOL – and to people from the Southern Hemisphere, yours probably seem pretty cool.
Aquariums are fun, and this one looks really great too!
You are right on both counts.
Awesome aquarium! The tunnels are usually my favorite part, too.
Both my girls have had the chance to sleep in them overnight. Cool opportunity.
That seems a great place to visit. I love a good aquarium. I know I can’t remember all that I’ve visited. I remember Seattle, Vancouver, Baltimore, Victoria, and maybe Boston. I have a certain fondness for penguins and the way they walk, wearing tuxedos.
Love,
Janie
In the US, Monterey Bay was always my favorite, in New Zealand it’s Kelly Tarltons.
We went to Kelly Tarlton’s in January this year and like you really enjoyed ourselves. My favourites were definitely the penguins, in fact seeing them was the main reason we went. David, a history buff, loved the Scott memorabilia. I remember the story behind the creation of Kelly Tarlton’s was quite interesting too.
I debated whether to include the history here, maybe I should have.
Wow, already 12 years in NZ!! Despite the lack of light (I had the same feeling in london’s sea life), the pictures are great!
Thanks Shere. Yes, 12 years. I can’t believe it either.
This is wonderful! The colors re so amazing. I’d love to do this! (Though I’ll leave the polar freeze to other hands and won’t be swimming with sharks any time soon! lol) Thanks for all the awesome pics! 🙂
The polar freeze isn’t that bad, simply remove your hand if it’s too cold. The sharks, wouldn’t be as easy to get away.
What a fun adventure! Tweeted it…
Thanks Lisa.
Wonderful! We have a small SeaLife in Helsinki. My favorite part is the tunnel beneath the shark tank. Not sure I would go diving with them though.
I am with you, outside the sharks enjoying them from the tunnel.