If this is the first time you’re visiting Auckland, then hold your breath and prepare yourself for a roller coaster ride, as the mouth opening, jaw dropping scenic beauty of the massive oceans and fierce volcanoes, altogether with the excursion of dancing dolphins, bungee jumping from the 192 meter tall building and swimming with the sharks and sting rays at Kelly Tarlton awaits you. Auckland has been ranked 4th in the list of World’s Most Livable Cities, so if you are bored with the monotony of life, now is it time to live it up!
Auckland lies on the isthmus between Mangere Inlet and the Tamaki River. It has two harbors; Waitemata Harbour to the north, which opens east to the Hauraki Gulf, and Manukau Harbour to the south, which opens west to the Tasman Sea. Auckland has a warm-temperate climate and is considered to be New Zealand’s warmest main centre with 2060 sunshines per annum. At an average, Auckland is recorded to have 137 rainy days, making more than a quarter of a year musical and romantic.
Out of the many breathtaking perks in Auckland, this wholesome package of selected marine being put together known to be the Kelly Tarlton is for ones sight to enjoy. This can be considered as an amazingly humongous aquarium in which, if you dare to, can join the deadly sharks, friendly dolphins and the much cute penguins for a good swim. You can swim with the masters, defend yourself against the deadly sharks, live up the adrenaline rush and become your own superhero for the moment.
Kelly Tarlton was opened to public in 1985 after an assiduous effort of two years; investigating the place, inspecting the tanks, importing 7cm thick acrylic sheets and molding them into tanks that were the world’s first design and till now which is copied all around the world for aquariums. This place was a dream come true for Mr. Kelly Tarlton who had an intimate love for the marine life. Mr. Kelly Tarlton was a “diver, dreamer, explorer, inventor, instigator, worker, storyteller and father; a man who linked us all with his love of the sea” as they put it. It was his childhood dream to explore the majestic oceans which lay as a mystery in front of him and thus he devoted his life to it, not only unveiling the wonders to himself but to the world.
This underwater world encountered 1 million visitors only after one year of its opening, leaving each one of them awe inspired, though the founder of this place had already passed away only after 7 weeks of its opening. After about 10 years, in 1995, other attractions were added to it; the Antarctic Encounter with King and Gentoo Penguins live in action along with a replica of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s 1910 Hut and the venturesome Snowcat Ride. Till 2004, Kelly Tarlton was adorned not only with the NIWA Discovery Room with a touch tank and interactive displays, but also a State of the Art life support system (filtration) for the Aquarium replacing the original sand filters. The next year, in January 2005, Stingray Bay officially opened with special touch screens to provide instant information. The same year a Discovery Room was opened with a window cut into the sea wall which not only gave a connection to the Auckland city but also the Waitemata Harbor. What makes this Discovery Room special is that the acrylic sheets used for its construction were the leftover of the original Kelly’s construction.
The animal collection of this place is worth viewing as you come across the amazing God’s creations up-close. You could either go for ‘Shark Cage’ or ‘Shark Survival’ which a cage-free-shark-dive. Did u just skip a heartbeat? Well, you’ll be accompanied with experienced divers who not only have a passion for marine life but also immense knowledge and a focus on conservation which means you will be in safe hands.
A refreshment corner at the Kelly Tarlton with huge glass windows opening in the sea gives a deep connection to the reality of it. One can sit and enjoy light snacks watching the tides.
Auckland is said to be heaven for the adventure lovers, so if you consider yourself that, don’t miss the chance to meet the marine life in a totally different and intriguing manner. Ask the resort management to get your Flights to New Zealand NOW. Gates to this treat open at 9 in the morning and close at 6 in the evening, latest you can enter by 5pm, so run for the fun.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.