New Zealand Tourism Online

Theme Parks, Auckland, New Zealand

Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World Introduction

Plunge under Auckland’s waterfront and you’ll discover spectacular secrets of the Southern Ocean and see the magical fantasyland of an Antarctic adventure, complete with penguins strutting in fresh snow and ice!

Head for the Antarctic Encounter, where you’ll be taken back in time to the life-sized replica hut of intrepid South Pole explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Come out of the hut and into an Antarctic snowcat, where you’re transported to a magical world of snow and ice. Frolicking in the white wilderness is a colony of sub-Antarctic Penguins. From your snowcat, you’ll get a fantastic fish eye-view of the birds as they swim underwater.

At our marine world in Auckland come see the largest stingray Phoebe, and the rest of the stingrays in their new home, Stingray Bay! It’s no ordinary home that’s been built for them either, how could it be when Phoebe has a two-metre wingspan and weighs over 200 kilograms! Phoebe and the aquarium’s other rays moved to a new super-sized 350,000 litre open topped acrylic tank.

After your Antarctic adventure, head to the Amazon tank to view the deadly piranha. Now step onto the moving walkway in our underwater marine world in Auckland, where you’ll come face-to-face with a broadnose sevengill shark, proudly displaying some of the most powerful jaws on the planet.

Enclosed by seven centimetres of acrylic, this is the best view you can get.

You’re travelling in a clear tunnel, surrounded by two million litres of ocean water and the hundreds of awesome sea creatures within it—you’re just centimetres away from a bronze whaler and a two-metre wide stingray!

There’s so many sea creatures for you to enjoy at our underwater marine world in Auckland, including the moray eels, magical seahorses, huge crayfish and some of the worlds most poisonous fish.

There’s even a special learning place, The NIWA Discovery Room, where children can see, feel and hear the special sea creatures including Snuggles the octopus, who changes colour and texture to match his surroundings!

Location of our Marine World in Auckland

Located along Auckland City’s picturesque waterfront, Kelly Tarlton’s can be easily reached by car, bus or taxi.

Kelly Tarlton’s is just 10-minutes drive or six kilometres from downtown Auckland. Free car parking is available, both in the Kelly Tarlton’s car park and on Tamaki Drive.

General Information

• You won’t need any special clothing when you visit us because your Antarctic snowcat is heated, and in Underwater World you’ll stay dry thanks to the see-through acrylic tunnel which protects you from the water.
• You are permitted to bring your camera, but the use of flashes or spotlights in the direction of the animals is prohibited.
• Wheelchair and disabled access is provided throughout the attraction.
• Information sheets are available in 10 different languages and the Antarctic snowcat commentary is available in English, German, Mandarin and Japanese.

Our hours of operation are from 9 am to 6 pm all year round, and the last entry is at 5 pm.

For further information about our Antarctic encounter, please contact us, or visit our marine world in Auckland Web site.

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