National Aquarium of New Zealand

National Aquarium of New Zealand

The National Aquarium of New Zealand's logo.
The entrance to the aquarium.
Date opened	1976
Location	Napier, New Zealand
Number of animals	1500+
Number of species	50+
Major exhibits	Oceanarium, New Zealand Native Animals
Website	http://www.nationalaquarium.co.nz/

The National Aquarium of New Zealand, also known as Napier Aquarium is a public aquarium in Napier, New Zealand.

History

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

The aquarium originally opened in its current location in 1976. In its first year of operation 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 dollar 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.

Exhibits

The aquarium boasts the following exhibits:

• African Cichlids
• Asian Tropical
• Asian Paddyfield
• Discovery Centre
• Asian Water Garden
• Australian Out Back
• Water Dragons/Snake Necked Terrapins

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

• Waterfall
• Coral Reef
• Fish Theatre
• Tuatara
• New Zealand Stream
• Kiwi Enclosure
• New Zealand Fresh Water
• New Zealand Geckos
• Eels
• Hawke-Billed 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 theatre, a souvenir shop and cafe.

See also

• Marineland

External links

• National Aquarium of New Zealand

Coordinates: 39°30′03″S 176°55′08″E / 39.5007°S 176.9189°E / -39.5007; 176.9189