Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World, a public aquarium was the brainchild of renowned New Zealand marine archeologist and diver Kelly Tarlton (1937-1985). Built in disused sewage storage tanks, the aquarium used a new form of acrylic shaping, which allowed curved tunnels rather than viewing areas with flat panels only, as in previous aquariums. The project is also believed to be the first, or one of the first, to use conveyor belts to slowly move people through the viewing areas.
The aquarium's features are listed below, the two main features are the Antarctic Encounter and the Underwater World:
Antarctic Encounter - This is the first feature found after entry. Visitors can view the aquarium's penguins through glass in their temperature controlled habitat. Visitors then pass through a recreation of the hut used by Captain Robert Falcon Scott during his South Pole expedition in 1912. After this visitors take a ride on an Antarctic Snowcat, a type of vehicle, through the penguin enclosure. The aquarium has a colony of king penguins and gentoo penguins, the ride also has other features relating to Antarctica and its exploration.
Shark tank, which is part of the Underwater World area of the aquarium.Stingray Bay - Is a 350,000 litre open topped acrylic tank. This tank contains two species of stingray and other smaller fish species including; kingfish, blue mao mao and "Phoebe" a 250 kilogram short tailed stingray with a two metre wingspan. This area of the aquarium has a refreshment kiosk.
NIWA Interactive Room - This room is located adjacent to Stingray Bay and aims to educate children about the marine world and Antarctica while entertaining them.
Underwater World - The original part of the aquarium. This 110 metre acrylic tunnel is separated into two tanks which can hold up to 2000 animals. The first tank is filled mainly with shark species, while the second tank has mainly schooling fish such as blue mao mao.
Sea Creatures - This area contains smaller aquariums usually filled with single species. Here you can find; two tropical marine tanks, red bellied piranha, an octopus, sea horses, moray eels, crayfish plus stonefish and pufferfish in the Poisonous and Venomous fish tank. Adjacent to this area is the gift shop which also contains the exit.
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