Photo of SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium in Auckland1 / 2
Aquariums

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium

πŸ“ Orakei, Auckland

β˜…4.3(9,206 Google reviews)πŸ’°$34-$109πŸ‘ΆAll ages

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's features a walk-through tunnel where sharks, stingrays and manta rays swim overhead, Antarctic penguins that approach the glass, sea turtle exhibits, and keeper talks with audience Q&A.

βœ“ Shark tunnelβœ“ Penguin encountersβœ“ Keeper talksβœ“ Sea turtlesβœ“ Parents room

πŸ† Family Action Verdict

Keeper talks with genuine Q&A are a standout, and the tunnel draws children back for second passes. Toddlers suit the compact indoor format well, and the parents' room makes it practical for families with infants. Weekdays are noticeably quieter than Saturdays when parking on Tamaki Drive can be hard to find.

ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go

πŸ’‘Weekday visits avoid the Saturday parking scramble on Tamaki Drive and the added noise of large weekend crowds
⏰The tunnel is short - families routinely walk through it twice - factor that into your timing
🎟️Keeper talks are interactive with audience Q&A; check the schedule at entry to time your visit around one
πŸš—A parents' room is available on site for feeding and changing infants

πŸ’¬ What Families Are Saying

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4.3
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9,206 Google reviews

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881
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G Reviews from Google

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Corey Vandenberg

8 months ago

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β€œIt’s very small but they make up for it with informative talks by the experts and taking our questions and answers. The tube to see the sharks, manna rays, and fish swim above and around us was fantastic, we did it twice! The turtle and manna ray pool os perfect to enjoy a little lunch or snack time. The penguins alone were worth the trip. They seem to interact with you, got a couple of selfies and enjoyed seeing them up close and a variety would walk up to the window to check us out! Highly recommended, brief but highly educational!”

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Bryan G

9 months ago

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β€œA really wonderful place. Each one of my family loved it. The fish are beautiful. The sharks are ominous. The Stingrays are graceful. The sea turtles are majestic. The lobsters are creepy and awesome at the same time. And the octopus are one of a kind. The talk at the tank was informative and a great presentation. The antarctic penguins were so fun to watch. Much bigger than I thought they were. The museum was filled well preserved items and photos of the Scott expedition. Kelly Tarlton would be proud of today's operation.”

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Kya Washington

7 months ago

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β€œWhat a fantastic experience, we went for my son's 1st birthday and enjoyed every moment. The animals all look healthy and happy. There's lots to see, read and do. The cafe food selection was a little basic but nice enough for a quick refresher and had gorgeous views of the harbour and sky tower. There was a parents room which was lovely and clean. It was a perfect activity for our little one as wasn't too long and was out of the hot summer heat. Unfortunately I most of the photos have family in then so could only upload a few.”

πŸ“Š Commonly mentioned in Google reviews

Based on Google review tags

Penguins

1,026 reviews

Friendly staff

275 reviews

Stingrays

156 reviews

Sharks

156 reviews

Turtles

83 reviews

Overview

The walk-through oceanarium tunnel carries sharks, stingrays, manta rays and tropical fish overhead - many families go through twice. Antarctic penguins regularly approach the viewing glass. Keeper talks are interactive with audience Q&A. The sea turtle and ray pool is a relaxed sitting spot. A Scott expedition museum section adds historical context. Compact indoor layout, pram-accessible, with a parents' room and cafΓ© with harbour views on site.

πŸ• Opening Hours

Monday09:30-17:00
Tuesday09:30-17:00
Wednesday09:30-17:00
Thursday09:30-17:00
Friday09:30-17:00
Saturday09:30-17:00
Sunday09:30-17:00

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