NOTE:
This blog is divided into 10 separate sections as there are far too many photos to put on one post
Auckland - Kelly Tarlton' Sea Life Aquarium & Penguin Discovery Experience
There is an amazing gem to visit tucked away on the coast, just outside the CBD of Auckland. This is Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium. This has the largest colony of Emperor & Gentoo penguins in the Southern Hemisphere outside of Antarctica.
(note: there are a lot of penguin photos coming up)
You enter through the walk through replica of Scott's Antarctic hut, which is very informative (especially, the authentic memorabilia). Gives you a view into the past of what it was like.
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| Antarctic Snow Vehicle |
Penguins are one of my favourite creatures. Why? I don't know, I just do. So the opportunity of getting inside the enclosure and be surrounded by them, was something that I couldn't miss.
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An Emperor Penguin
Their plumage just doesn't come across in the photos |
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| Just a "small" gathering of penguins |
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| A Gentoo Penguin taking a swim |
On the tour you are taken around behind the scenes to see what goes on as well as being given a very informative and interesting history of the aquarium. We saw the holding tanks where injured animals are cared for and brought back up to health, before being re-released into to the wild. We met some of the people who look after the animals, who were preparing food for their charges, before we headed off and fed some fish.
Our guide so far, Darren, introduced us to Sarah and Michelle. One thing was very clear, was the passion that, not just Sarah and Michelle had, but everyone we met had for their charges.
Now into the enclosure. We were directed to go to spot where there was a rock and if the penguins wanted to come up and say "Hello" it is up to them. What happened when we where in there I couldn't have imagined. As we were sitting there and Sarah was talking and answering questions, one of the Emperor Penguins "Toddy" started coming towards me. Toddy, who has just become blind with cataracts, will head towards male voices.
Next thing, there he was leading against me. There is no way I can describe the feelings that I had with this. Not only was I in there amongst a large number of Emperors and Gentoo Penguins, but here was one leaning against me!
As Sarah was talking to us Darren was taking pictures, some of these I've included, as we are not allowed to take our own cameras with us into the enclosure.
All too soon it was over.
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| A couple of the Emperor Penguins |
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| As you can see there are a good number of penguins |
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| The Gentoo penguins were currently nesting and about 1-2 weeks out from the eggs hatching |
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In the 'U-shaped' enclosure one side and the end was ice/ground while the other side was a pool.
The pool can be seen through an access path in the background right |
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| An Emperor Penguin in the pool |
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| Which side is better, my left or right? |
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| It's my right side |
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| Two Gentoo penguins enjoying the ice bath |
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| Gentoo penguins coming out of the pool |
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| Gentoo Penguin |
Time for the feeding show. The Sarah (with pink headband) and Michelle feed their charges, while Darren talks about the penguins and what is going on. Well done by all.
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This shows the clever 'U-shaped' enclosure
Pool on right and ice on left & front |
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Feeding Time!!
Sarah (left) & Michelle bring out the fish |
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Sarah feeding the Emperors
The rock in the foreground is where we had to sit when we were inside the enclosure |
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Darren is informing everyone about the penguins
The Emperor by his leg is "Toddy" |
Feeding time over & time for a swim.
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| Emperor's diving in |
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| Swim done |
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| Michelle & Sarah about to give an Emperor its identity bracelet while a Gentoo looks on |
There were other exhibits, beside the penguins, so here are a few.
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| An adult Jellyfish |
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| Baby Jellyfish |
There is an awesome underwater tunnel that runs in an oval under two tanks. One side of the tunnel path is fixed and the other is a travelator which allows you to look at everything without walking into anyone.
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| Inside the tunnel under the shark and stingray tank |
The following photos are some of the photos that were taken by Darren while we were inside the enclosure with the penguins.
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| A Gentoo penguin and its eggs |
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| Are you looking at me?! |
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| Its a very well set out enclosure. You can see the glazing for public to look through and how close the nesting pods are. Great visibility to the whole enclosure. |
I understand why the cost of a ticket can seem high to places like this, but now after seeing the huge water filtration system (which needs to run 24 hours / 7 days a week), the food and up keep of the animals.
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| Shark Car!!! |
I'm so glad that I got to experience such a unique experience. Even if I didn't do the Penguin Experience, to see these animals (and the other fish) it would have been worth it.
This is a link to their website:
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