SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium celebrates the return of international guests

With New Zealand’s borders having reopened on Tuesday, SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium is celebrating the quarantine-free arrival of international guests back through their Auckland attraction.

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s has been operating without international guests since COVID-19 caused the borders to shut back in March 2020. The attraction heavily relies on the patronage of international tourists and faced a huge percentage of revenue loss following the border’s closure and travel grinding to a halt.

Dan Henderson, General Manager of SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium advised “after adhering to all Government guidelines including closing our aquarium for extended periods, implementing capacity restrictions and creating additional measures to ensure the safety of our staff and guests, our focus is now on business and economic recovery with the launch of a new zone, Sea Cave Adventure, to be unveiled in October 2022. 

“The reopening of borders and international arrivals means that SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s and the tourism industry as whole can now finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.”

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s is an iconic Auckland attraction that celebrates the incredible aquatic life of Aotearoa and beyond.  A must-visit for international and domestic tourists alike, visitors to the attraction will meet the largest colony of sub-Antarctic King and Gentoo penguins in the Southern Hemisphere, witness sharks glide gracefully underwater and learn all about New Zealand’s only turtle rehabilitation centre.

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