Information
Landmark: Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life AquariumCity: Auckland
Country: New Zealand
Continent: Australia
Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium, Auckland, New Zealand, Australia
Overview
At Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium, families can explore shimmering tanks filled with marine life, get hands-on with interactive exhibits, and see New Zealand’s largest gathering of sharks and penguins.Just minutes from the city center, on Ōrākei’s waterfront, it draws you into an underwater world where schools of silver fish flash past like quicksilver.Here’s the first big draw at Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium: 1.Shark Tunnel – New Zealand’s very first underwater viewing tunnel, where sleek grey fins glide overhead, remains one of the aquarium’s biggest draws.Visitors step into a clear glass tunnel where sharks glide overhead, stingrays sweep past, and big silver fish flicker in the light.You’ll find sand tiger sharks gliding past, wobbegong sharks tucked against the seafloor, and broadnose sevengill sharks cruising in the shadows.Number two.Antarctic Ice Adventure-step into New Zealand’s largest penguin colony, where king and gentoo penguins shuffle across the snow under icy blue light.You can get right up to the penguins in a chilly sub-Antarctic setting, where real ice crunches underfoot and snow drifts in the air.With the Penguin Encounter, you’ll slip behind the scenes and hand-feed the birds as they snap up fish right from your fingers.Number three.Seahorse Kingdom and Ocean Discovery run one of the world’s largest seahorse breeding programs, where tiny, curling tails cling to swaying seagrass.Bright schools of reef fish shimmer beside drifting jellyfish, sleek moray eels, and a swirl of tropical ocean life.Number four.The Turtle Rescue Centre is a devoted haven where injured sea turtles recover, their shells drying in the sun before a return to the sea.Visitors can explore how scientists work to protect endangered marine life, from sea turtles gliding through clear waters to coral reefs slowly regrowing.Number five.Stingray Bay is a wide, open pool where massive stingrays glide past, their wings slicing the water like slow-moving shadows.Visitors can watch as divers hand-feed stingrays, the water rippling with each gentle swoop of a fin.Number six.At the Interactive Rock Pools, you can roll up your sleeves and feel the cool, rough skin of a starfish, the soft give of a sea cucumber, and the gentle wave of a sea anemone’s tentacles.Seven.Shark Cage Adventure (For the Brave) - an optional Shark Dive Xtreme where you drop into the clear, chilly water and swim alongside sleek sharks in a safe, controlled setting.You don’t need any diving experience, and that’s what makes it one of Auckland’s most exciting adventures-just strap on a mask and plunge into the clear blue.Marine archaeologist Kelly Tarlton opened the aquarium in 1985, making it one of the first to let visitors walk through curved glass tunnels with fish gliding overhead.Inside, you’ll find more than 30 live animal exhibits, from darting silver fish to slow-gliding sea turtles.The penguin exhibit recreates the chill of Antarctica, with crisp air, powdery snow, and glistening ice kept at just the right temperature.Visitor Information: We’re usually open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., though hours can change-sometimes the doors stay shut a little earlier on quiet afternoons.Admission costs apply, but families and those booking online can get a discount.It’s just a 10‑minute drive from Auckland’s CBD, and there’s a free shuttle that’ll pick you up downtown-look for the bright blue bus.The best time to go is early in the morning, when the air’s still cool, or on a weekday if you want to avoid the crowds.Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium bursts with dazzling marine life, hands‑on exhibits, and inspiring conservation work, making it a top spot in Auckland for families, nature lovers, and thrill seekers alike.
