National Aquarium of New Zealand

National Aquarium of New Zealand
The National Aquarium of New Zealand's logo.
The entrance to the aquarium.
39.5007°S 176.9189°E / -39.5007; 176.9189
Date opened	1976
Location	Napier, New Zealand
No. of animals	1500+
No. of species	50+
Major exhibits	Oceanarium, New Zealand Native Animals
Website	www.nationalaquarium.co.nz

The National Aquarium of New Zealand, also known as Napier Aquarium is a public aquarium in Napier, New Zealand. There is a gift shop and cafe on site.

History

View from inside the 50m acrylic tunnel of the 1,500,000L oceanarium.

The aquarium originally opened in its current location napier in 1976. In its first year of its life it attracted 230,000 visitors at a time when the population of Napier was about 50,000. In its first 5 years of operation over 750,000 people visited.

In 2002 the aquarium underwent a NZD $8 million extension and renovation which included the addition of a 1,500,000L oceanarium with a 50m acrylic tunnel and the replacement of all the original tanks with newly constructed ones.

In June 2017 the aquarium named Timmy its 'Naughty Penguin of the Month' for stealing fish and pushing another penguin into the water.

Exhibits

The aquarium boasts the following exhibits:

• African Cichlids
• Amazon Pacu
• Asian Tropical
• Asian Paddyfield
• Dinosaur fossils
• Asian Water Garden
• Australian Out Back
• Water Dragons

Viewing window into the 1,500,000L oceanarium.

• Waterfall
• Coral Reef
• Tuatara
• New Zealand Stream
• Kiwi Enclosure
• New Zealand Fresh Water
• Little Penguins
• Eels
• Hawksbill Sea Turtle
• Rocky Shore
• Seahorse
• Oceanarium
• Exhibition Hall

Facilities

The aquarium has two temporary exhibit halls, one on the upper level and the other adjacent to the oceanarium, a souvenir shop and cafe.

See also

• Marineland

External links

• Media related to National Aquarium of New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website