Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World

OVERVIEW

Venture into the snowy Antarctic where penguins play, walk underwater through a reef where sharks and rays swim, and catch bird’s-eye city views from 1,072 feet up. This excursion is all about exciting environments – beginning with Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium, named for a well-known Kiwi adventurer. Inside, moving walkways transport you through clear underwater tunnels revealing all sorts of aquatic habitats. You may see sharks being hand-fed, massive stingrays gliding by, or neon-colored fish and delicate seahorses nestling in the reef. The Antarctic Ice Adventure section replicates polar life above and below the water – with a colony of King and Gentoo penguins as the featured entertainment and a replica of Captain Scott’s polar expedition base from 1911. The scene at Sky Tower is considerably elevated, as you zoom by glass elevator to the top of New Zealand’s tallest manmade structure – an engineering marvel built to withstand winds of 125 mph or a magnitude 8.0 earthquake. Your heart will be doing the pounding today as you take in breathtaking 360-degree views over Auckland and its harbors, bays and volcanoes. On a clear day, the range is about 50 miles – but even watching fog up here is an amazing experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel along scenic Tamaki Drive to Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium along Okahu Bay.
• Experience a diverse range of aquatic life up close, walking along transparent underwater tunnels.
• See everything from feeding sharks and stingrays to tiny, delicate seahorses and vibrant reefs.
• Enter the frozen domain of the Antarctic and watch penguins cavort above and below the waters.
• Zoom up to the glass-walled observation deck atop the Sky Tower for wondrous panoramic views over Auckland.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.