SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Auckland

Sharks, Penguins and Rock Pools on the Waterfront

Tucked into the city’s historic stormwater tanks on Tamaki Drive at Orakei, SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s is New Zealand’s original underwater aquarium and one of Auckland’s best-loved family days out. It’s where the curved, see-through shark tunnel was first pioneered, and it’s still a winner with kids. You’ll walk beneath sand tiger sharks, meet a live Antarctic colony of King and Gentoo penguins, and get hands-on at the rock pools — all fully indoors, whatever the weather throws at you.

Why Families Love Kelly Tarlton’s

The Oceanarium shark tunnel: The big drawcard — sand tiger sharks and eagle rays glide right overhead while kids stand wide-eyed below.
Antarctic Ice Adventure: A chilled habitat home to a live colony of King and Gentoo penguins — one of only a handful of aquariums anywhere with both species.
Turtle Bay: Shelters rescued sea turtles destined for release.
Sea Cave: Showcases creatures of the Tikapa Moana / Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
Hands-on for younger ones: Stingray pools and interactive rock pools where kids get hands-on with local marine life.
Free daily talks and feeds: Included with admission and dotted across the day — penguin, turtle, sea cave and shark-tunnel sessions.
Compact and easy: Built into historic waterfront stormwater tanks, so the circuit flows naturally from zone to zone with no long queues. A 4.1-star Tripadvisor rating, a Travellers’ Choice award, and a spot among the top things to do in central Auckland.

2026 Pricing & Family Passes (NZD)

The smart move is to book online at least one day ahead, which saves you up to 25% on the gate price.

Family Pass (1 adult + 2 children): from $57 online — a solid saving against roughly $113 bought separately
Adults: from $33 (weekday online) | Children (2–15): from $24
Student & senior concessions: from $27
Under-2s: FREE
Annual pass: from $99 per person
Add-ons: The VR Experience and Shark Cage Adventure cost extra on top of general admission

Weekend and NZ school-holiday prices are higher across the board, so weekday visits stretch your dollar furthest.

Getting There (Public Transport & Parking)

2026 change: The old free “shark bus” shuttle has been discontinued — don’t plan around it.
By bus: The AT TamakiLink (route TMK) — bright blue buses running every 15 minutes, seven days a week. Board at Stop 7019 (55 Customs Street East near Britomart) and hop off at Stop 7320 by the aquarium; the trip takes around 20–30 minutes, and buses are pushchair- and wheelchair-friendly.
Driving: Roughly a 10-minute, 6km trip from downtown Auckland, with free on-site parking plus free street parking along Tamaki Drive when spaces are going.