SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium — Attraction in Ōrākei

My recent visit to Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium was a memorable experience, blending education, conservation, and sheer wonder. Nestled in the scenic Mission Bay area, the aquarium’s iconic shark-themed entrance sets the tone for an immersive journey into marine life.

Exhibits & Highlights: The standout feature is undoubtedly the Antarctic Ice Adventure, home to a colony of playful king and gentoo penguins. The moving walkway through their habitat offers a 360° view, and the icy environment (a chilly -2°C!) makes their antics even more enchanting. Watching them dart through the water or waddle on land was a joy—kids around me were mesmerized.

Next, the Shark Tunnel delivers on its promise: gliding through the acrylic tunnel as stingrays, giant trevally, and sleek sharks swim overhead feels surreal. The tunnel’s design ensures you’re surrounded by marine life without feeling cramped, even during busy hours. I appreciated the informative panels explaining each species’ role in the ecosystem.

The Pacific Ocean Tank (with its graceful stingrays and schools of fish) and the Seahorse Kingdom (showcasing delicate, otherworldly seahorses) were quieter but equally fascinating. The Turtle Rescue Centre stood out for its conservation focus—learning about rehab efforts for injured turtles added depth to the visit.

Interactive & Educational Elements: Kelly Tarlton’s excels at making marine science accessible. The touch pool (with harmless starfish and sea cucumbers) was a hit with children, and staff were on hand to explain how to interact gently with the creatures. The daily feedings and talks (check the schedule!) were well-paced and engaging—the shark feeding demo debunked myths about these misunderstood predators.

Facilities & Accessibility: The aquarium is stroller-friendly, with ramps and elevators throughout. Clean bathrooms and a small café (with decent coffee and kid-friendly snacks) are available, though bringing your own water bottle is wise. The gift shop has a mix of affordable souvenirs (shell necklaces, plush sharks) and pricier items, but nothing felt...

It's the perfect gift you can give to your children. My 5-and-a-half-year-old enjoyed seeing the sharks and penguins. Although it's not very large and doesn't have a wide variety of sea fishes, it's well-built considering the limited space. My daughter especially enjoyed playing the role of a doctor and receiving a certificate for checking the teddy penguins' health, which is placed near the front after the penguin exhibit. They have plenty of penguins, and it's nice to see them swimming and resting in the artificial rock. It was her first encounter with penguins, and she enjoyed it a lot. I've been to Cape Town and had the opportunity to see them up close, witnessing how they care for the young and interact with each other.

Apart from the fish and other sea animals, there are lots of small activities for children. There's a small play area attached to a cafeteria where you can grab something to eat and drink. Next to the cafeteria, you'll find big and small fish, sharks, and stingrays. Children will love this part. There's a massive transparent glass aquarium filled with these big fishes, and the pathway is divided into two sections—one for walking and the other rotating on its own, allowing you to stand and enjoy the fishes.

The next area features starfish that you can touch, lobsters, colorful deep-sea fishes, and seahorses.

At the end, you can buy goodies from the shop, although they're a bit expensive.

Considering the price tag, it may not seem like a big aquarium, but we got a discount using our AA membership card, making it a decent deal for us.

Regardless of the price, it's a nice way to spend 2 hours and make your kids happy while enjoying the sea creatures. While you may not see all the sea creatures, they've managed to showcase a maximum with the minimal...

Although I have visited many international aquariums, there is something special and truly unique about this venue. My 8-year old son recently went for the shark cage experience with my partner and had a blast. They have only recently begun to allow children into the shark cage experience provided they are over 130cm tall with a supervising adult.

If your child is a strong swimmer and comfortable in a wetsuit and snorkel, this is a truly unique experience. They have a ‘shark cage’ which has a Perspex floor and fish net walls which they move along the length of their shark tank. The ‘shark cage’ only serves as protection for the sharks against the humans since the sharks are completely docile and well adjusted to visitors.

The experience is sadly very short but at least it is very affordable. Although it is advertised as a 1-hour experience, it only entails about 20 minutes in the ‘shark cage’ for about $90 per person. It includes the rental of wetsuits and snorkel, although my son and partner used their own. I’d encourage anyone who has a child fond of sharks to get in on this experience before it becomes cost prohibitive.

Lastly, remember to pack a lunch picnic since this is one of the few private venues which allow and encourage their attendees to bring their own food. Their cafeteria is simply not designed to cope with the volume of guests that typically have, especially on weekends. So avoid the queue and save some money with your own food.

There are multiple exhibits which are regularly maintained and there is clearly some effort to improve the facility. The penguins are truly adorable. The jellyfish are stunning. Many improvements are in progress and I hope to see them evolve and...