tiger sharks from the US. In 2011, Village Roadshow sold Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World and other Sydney-based attractions to the Merlin Entertainments group. In March 2012 Merlin Entertainments announced a $5.5 million upgrade introducing new exhibits, a new layout and a more interactive experience, due to open in September 2012. As part of the expansion the aquarium was rebranded Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium, bringing it in line with Merlin Entertainments' global Sea Life Centres brand. The upgrade and rebranding was launched on 29 September 2012. Facilities The aquarium's main features are the Antarctic Encounter and the Underwater World, but it also includes several other exhibits and several education rooms. Antarctic Ice Adventure and Scott Base (formerly Antarctic Encounter) – This exhibit was opened in 1994, and is the first exhibit encountered by visitors. Visitors can view the aquarium's penguins through glass in their temperature controlled habitat. Visitors then pass through a recreation of the hut used by Captain Robert Falcon Scott during his South Pole expedition in 1912. The aquarium has a colony of king penguins and gentoo penguins. A snowcat ride used to go around the area but was changed in 2012 to a walk around exhibit. NIWA Southern Oceans Discovery (formerly NIWA Interactive Room) – This room is located adjacent to Stingray Bay and aims to educate children about the marine world and Antarctica while entertaining them. Turtle Bay (formerly Stingray Bay) – Is a open topped acrylic tank. This tank contains rescue turtles being rehabilitated by Kelly Tarltons. Formerly this area was home to stingrays. This area of the aquarium has a refreshment kiosk. Pacific Shark Zone and Shipwreck Explorer (formerly Underwater World) – The original part of the aquarium. This acrylic tunnel takes visitors through two tanks which can hold up to 2000 animals. The first tank (or predator tank) is filled mainly with shark species, and holds about , while the second tank has mainly schooling fish such as blue mao mao. Fish Gallery and Seahorse Kingdom (formerly Sea Creatures) – This area contains smaller aquariums usually filled with single species. Here you can find; two tropical marine tanks, red bellied piranha, an octopus, sea horses, moray eels, crayfish plus stonefish and pufferfish in the Poisonous and Venomous fish tank. Adjacent to this area is the gift shop which also contains the exit. References External links 1985 establishments in New Zealand Aquaria in New