Kelly Tarlton’s is turning 25 and to celebrate they are curating a special memorial exhibition paying homage to the visionary behind Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World. Opening Christmas Day (December 25th) and running through to Auckland Anniversary Day (February 1st) 25 Years Under the Sea digs up a treasure trove of Tarlton memorabilia and celebrates the adventures of this true Kiwi legend who was simultaneously an inventor, a passionate advocate for marine protection, a salvage expert and a treasure hunter.
For those who haven’t been underground in a while, the 25-year anniversary and exhibition offers the perfect excuse to revisit Kelly Tarlton’s and see what has changed over the years. Take the Snow Cat ride through the Antarctic Encounter and meet this season’s baby Gentoo Penguin chicks and New Zealand’s only colonies of sub-Antarctic penguins. Get face-to-face with Phoebe the enormous Stingray in Stingray Bay. Glide through the original Kelly Tarlton’s tunnel and marvel at the fierce inhabitants of the Shark Tank and the myriad of species in the Oceanarium. Meet the weird and wonderful creatures that call Fish Alley home.
Kids will also have loads of fun on Kelly’s Treasure Trail discovering all kinds of deep-sea creatures as they emulate Kelly and search for sunken treasure. They can also express their artistic flair in the Under the Sea colouring competition and be in to win great Coca-Cola Beach Prize Packs.
Young and old will enjoy learning about Kelly’s aquatic adventures and getting an insight into how and why he created his namesake Underwater World. The exhibition will feature photos and memorabilia from his family’s personal collections – many of which have never have been exhibited in Auckland previously
