The National Aquarium of New Zealand sits on Marine Parade and is one of the better aquariums in the country, with a walk-through oceanarium tunnel that puts sharks, rays, and large fish swimming directly overhead. It is small enough to see thoroughly in two hours, and the displays are well designed for both adults and children.
The kiwi enclosure is a highlight — nocturnal and shy, kiwis are almost never seen in the wild, and the aquarium's darkened enclosure gives you a realistic chance of watching one move around. The aquarium also houses tuatara, New Zealand's ancient reptile, which are similarly invisible in the wild. For anyone visiting New Zealand for the first time, this is a good introduction to the endemic wildlife.