Kelly Tarlton’s aquarium has been one of Auckland’s most beloved attractions since opening in 1985 — the vision of New Zealand marine adventurer Kelly Tarlton, who literally built it inside disused sewage tanks on the Tāmaki Drive waterfront. What emerged was a world-first: curved acrylic tunnels with moving walkways carrying visitors through tanks teeming with marine life above, below, and beside them. Four decades later it remains one of the most unforgettable things to do in Auckland with kids and adults alike.
At the heart of the experience is the Antarctic Ice Adventure, home to New Zealand’s only colony of sub-Antarctic penguins. Here you can watch King Penguins parade with regal indifference and Gentoo Penguins dart through the water with astonishing speed. For those wanting something truly extraordinary, the Penguin Passport experience lets a small group step onto the ice and spend time in the enclosure alongside them — one of those rare wildlife moments that stays with you for life.
The Pacific Shark Zone takes you through a 110-metre acrylic tunnel where sandtiger sharks, broadnose sevengill sharks, and schools of shimmering fish glide overhead. Brave visitors can go further and book a Shark Cage Adventure, snorkelling directly in the tank — no previous diving experience required. It’s one of only a handful of such experiences in the world.
Beyond the headline acts, Kelly Tarlton’s rewards curious visitors across its 13 themed zones. Seahorse Kingdom houses the world’s only display of Spiny Sea Dragons. The Turtle Rescue Centre — New Zealand’s only facility of its kind — rehabilitates injured sea turtles for return to the wild. The jellyfish display is hypnotic, and the rockpool touch zone lets younger visitors connect hands-on with coastal marine life.
The aquarium sits just 10 minutes from the Auckland CBD along the scenic Tāmaki Drive waterfront, with free parking on site. Online booking is recommended and attracts a discount of up to 20%. Whether you’re a first-time visitor to Auckland or a local looking for a rainy-day adventure, SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s delivers a genuinely world-class experience beneath the waves.
