Thursday, February 11, 2010

Friday Shootout: aquarium - Kelly Tarlton Underwater world


The aquarium is part of the sea. It is a disused sewage holding tank.

The entrance is at Tamaki Drive, Auckland's most famous water front strip.


Inside, you see fish swim above you, while a conveyor belt takes you around, giving you the illusion of being under the water.

The Kelly Tarlton bus picks visitors from Downtown.




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Feb. 12 - "Aquariums" by ChefE

The water engineer was privileged to work with the Engineering company that helped build Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World. Kelly Tarlton had the idea to build an aquarium in the disused sewerage holding tanks under Auckland’s waterfront. Visitors stand on a conveyor belt as they go in a tunnel while viewing the fish swimming above them. 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.

Auckland's underwater world is the first of it's kind. Since then, others have sprouted including the Singapore's Sentosa's underwater world.

http://www.kellytarltons.co.nz/Visitor-Info/About-Us.htm

Opened in 1985, the original Underwater World was the vision of Kelly Tarlton - an extraordinary Kiwi adventurer, diver, explorer and inventor, who wanted to share his love of the ocean with others.

Today, Kelly's vision has grown to become a world-class visitor attraction, offering a uniquely New Zealand Pacific and Southern oceans experience.

Antarctic Encounter

The Antarctic Encounter is home to New Zealand’s only sub-Antarctic penguins, offering a rare opportunity to see the magnificent birds up close in their icy domain. A unique snowcat ride brings you within arms length of the 80-strong colony of King and Gentoo penguins to watch their playful antics on the snow and their elegant flight underwater.

A walkthrough replica of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s Antarctic hut (established back in 1911), complete with authentic memorabilia offers a glimpse at what it was like to live 100 years ago in the coldest place on earth.

Underwater World

Enter Stingray Bay for an awe-inspiring look at the giant stingrays, before delving deep into the Underwater World to see the rich variety of species from New Zealand’s coastal waters. Come face to face with sharks, turtles, giant rays and other incredible deep sea creatures on the moving walkway.

New Zealand’s rocky shore and tropical species await you in Fish Alley. See everything from crayfish to seahorses, octopus to piranha and moray eels or sit down at watch our latest viewing in the Aqua Cinema.

Animal Adventures

Kelly Tarlton’s offers thrilling Animal Adventures for the daring, including cage-free shark dives, snorkel and scuba safaris through the Oceanarium and or you can even take a dip to hand-feed the giant rays! If you’re looking to kick start your dive adventures, our Discover Scuba encounter provides you with PADI-recognised training in an environment where you’re guaranteed clear water and plenty of fish. Take the plunge today.

24 comments:

Reader Wil said...

Great post and very interesting! I should like to see this underwater world! I have seen those tunnels underwater in Sydney and in Rotterdam, and I like them very much! Thanks for your visit, and comment. My knowledge comes from Google and Wikipedia!! Ha , ha...LOL.

Bagman and Butler said...

I want to go there and see it! It looks great! And that looks like a bus that picks you up whether you want to get on it or not...

Suburban Girl said...

That bus is great! I can just imagine my kids when they were little begging to ride the shark bus!

wenn said...

wow, very unique bus!

GingerV said...

Galveston island (houston TEXAS) there is an aquarium like this. you go down a curving ramp with a fish tank in the center all the way down.... the top has surface eaters, and at the bottom are bottomfeeders... then there is a huge tank with a walkway through it, huge sharks are only one of the great fish you see up close and personal.

NanU said...

Love that bus. The aquarium looks like a treat to visit; all underwater viewing like you're in there with the fish.

Thomas Lee/Lee Lip Pang said...

nice bus,sitting in one is like being swallowed by a shark.

Barry said...

YIPES! That is one terrifying bus. Did Stephen Spielberg have a hand in its design?

What an amazing way to recycle a sewage treatment plant!

spiritsoflena said...

Loved that shark bus!

Anonymous said...

I rode a bus like that one time in Rhode Island, but it looked like a duck. Went around the town and then into the water. I liked you post Ann. Good job.
QMM

Gordon said...

Great fun on the bus I'll bet. Good post!

Kerry said...

Jaws on wheels! I'm glad you got a picture of that crazy bus.

Jama said...

I love that crazy bus! I've been only once to the Underwater World in Singapore, just didn't find the time, plus the entrance fee is quiet expensive!

Chef E said...

Ann you so intrigue me with your history and tales! I love that bus, too funny!

Pauline said...

Great post, Ann. You are lucky to have Kelly Tarlton's in your town! Love the bus, I've never seen it before.

J9 said...

Wow! I want to come visit! Love the bus, and it's kind of creepy at the same time!

Scriptor Senex said...

Not sure I'd want to get on a bus with teeth!!! Fascinating post though.

Dave said...

My goodness Ann, a good advertisment for Underwater World! Ask for commission! :-) Well done with this. - Dave

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I am glad you liked the carzy shark bus. I thought it was crazy too when I saw it. Thank you Chef E for this topic so I could post my shark photos.

Ensurai said...

Very interesting. First time I have an indepth knowledge of this kind of concept....must come and see.

Happy CNY.

Kong Hee Fatt Choy.

Jama said...

The aquarium in Wisma had long gone, I remembered bringing my kids there, they love it! We used to have one aquarium in River Valley, but it was closed down due long long time ago. I remembered going there during school excursions, and they had pirahnas on display!
CheJawa in Ubin is still there, has been turned into a conservation area. The starfish was photographed at the Kusu Island, one of many offshore islands we have here, just next to St John Island. A few of the southern islands have been joined with bridges, so we can walk from one island to the other.

aurbie said...

Great commentary to go with your post. We don't have aquariums here - the nearest being three-hours away in Baltimore.

Love your mean shark ride. Cool.

Thanks for sharing.

Sarah Siwicki said...

Wow, this is now on my list of places to go !!!!

Jen said...

I LOVE that shark bus! Too cool! :)