How about stepping into a world beneath the waves? Right here at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium, adventure awaits. This isn’t just any aquarium. It’s a story etched in acrylic and filled with marine wonders.
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium opened in 1985. It was the vision of Kelly Tarlton. He was a marine archaeologist and diver from New Zealand. Tarlton had a brilliant idea. He wanted to showcase the underwater world in a unique way.
The aquarium is located at 23 Tamaki Drive. What makes this place truly special? It’s built in disused sewage storage tanks. Yes, you heard right. Kelly Tarlton transformed these tanks into a stunning aquarium. He used a new method of acrylic shaping. This allowed for curved tunnels. Earlier aquariums only had flat panels. This innovation gave visitors an immersive experience. It feels like you’re walking on the seabed.
The aquarium was also one of the first to use moving walkways. These walkways let people travel slowly. They could soak in the viewing areas.
In 1983, Tarlton proposed his idea. He wanted to build an aquarium in unused sewage tanks. These tanks were underground on Auckland’s waterfront. Visitors would view fish through a long acrylic tunnel. Construction took only 10 months. Tarlton developed a new way to build the acrylic tunnel. He heated large sheets of clear acrylic in an oven. This made them take the shape of a mold. Some sheets weighed over one tonne. The fish appear smaller because of refraction. Light travels through water and acrylic sheets. This makes the fish look about one third smaller.
The tunnel is 110-metre long. It runs through tanks below the suburb of Ōrākei. These tanks had been unused since the 1960s. The location overlooks the Waitematā Harbour.
Once the tunnels were in place, the tanks were filled with water. This checked for leaks and none were found. A seascape of caves and reefs was created using concrete. More than 1800 marine creatures were carefully selected. They were placed in one section. Another section was filled with sharks and stingrays. There are bronze whalers and sevengill sharks. Wobbegongs and school sharks also live here.
In 1994, SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium expanded. A replica of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s hut was added. It was used on his tragic expedition to Antarctica. An Antarctic penguin colony was added in a climate-controlled exhibit.
In 2004, Stingray Bay opened. This giant tank holds 350,000-litre of water. It is open topped. The tank is made of crystal-clear acrylic. It’s perfect for viewing.
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s is home to over 1500 animals. There are over 50 species. The aquarium has eight major exhibits. These include the Antarctic Ice Adventure. You can also explore the Pacific Shark Zone.
So, dive into SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium. Discover the magic beneath the surface. It’s a testament to innovation and a celebration of marine life.