Kelly Tarlton's: 30 years of underwater wonder

Joseph Schwalger,10 at Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Kelly Tarlton opened his walk-through tunnel aquarium in 1985, tragically dying just seven weeks later

The king penguins huddle together, protecting their eggs from the cold, as others waddle across the ice into the water.

Inside the enclosure at Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium, New Zealand's only colony of Antarctic penguins appear oblivious to the numerous families and tourists peering through the glass.

The Gentoo penguins are moulting, which means they're not waterproof and can't swim, but it gives curious visitors a better chance to watch them up close.

The aquarium is celebrating its 30th birthday this month, and has even dedicated a wall to memories from visitors over the three decades.

Sharks, stingrays and Gentoo penguins. Photos / Jason Oxenham, Richard Robinson, Supplied

The key original features haven't changed much in the 30 years since Kelly Tarlton opened his "Underwater World" in an old sewage works on Auckland's waterfront.

The walk-through tunnel with its travelator walkway is still there, as is a short-tail stingray called Phoebe who was caught by Tarlton himself, and is one of the original sea creatures still housed in the underground centre.

The passionate marine archaeologist and diver returned to New Zealand from the Netherlands with an ambitious dream to build an aquarium "that had never been imagined before", said Philip McGowan, Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium's general manager.

After setting his sights on the redundant stormwater and sewage tanks at Takaparawha Point, near Mission Bay, he began construction in 1984 on a 2.4m diameter tunnel and a moving walkway - inspired by an airport luggage carousel.

The doors opened to the public on January 25, 1985 - and since then an estimated 11.5 million visitors have walked through the underwater aquarium.

Kelly Tarlton used old sewage tanks to create his aquarium. Photos / Supplied

But Tarlton barely lived long enough to see his dream become a success - seven weeks after opening, and after personally greeting the 100,000th visitor to his aquarium, Tarlton died from a heart condition, aged 47. However, his aim of 200,000 visitors in the first year was exceeded, and the place has continued to wow visitors since.

Kelly Tarlton Sea Life Aquarium Facts
• 20 sharks circle above visitors heads and those brave enough can swim with the wobbegong, school, sand tiger, and broadnose sevengill sharks.
• It is the home of New Zealand's only colony of Antarctic penguins.
• It has treated more than 80 turtles since the inception of its rehabilitation programme. The turtles are cared for behind the scenes, before being released into the wild. Four turtles are currently being looked after by staff.
• A stingray can weigh up to 300kg. Kelly Tarlton's has three resident female stingrays, including Phoebe who was caught by Kelly Tarlton more than 30 years ago. The other two are her daughters.
• 18 million litres of water fill the tanks.
• 5 tonnes of fresh snow is made every day.