40 years after the untimely death of Kelly Tarlton, a team made up of friends, family and marine enthusiasts embark upon an adventure to complete one of his final expeditions.
Critical new information is found prompting a one man mission to see if it will lead to completing the treasure hunt.
Special thanks to the Tarlton family for their support and trust in making this podcast.
For more about Kelly Tarlton we recommend:
Watch: Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor (https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/lost-and-found-the-story-of-cooks-anchor-1979)
Throw Me the Wreck, Johnny: memories of Kelly Tarlton by Steve Locker-Lampson
Kelly: the Adventurous Life of Kelly Tarlton by E. V. Sale
Navigators and Naturalists, By Michael Lee
The Fateful Voyage of the St Jean Baptiste, By John Dunmore
The Expedition of the St Jean Baptiste to the Pacific 1769 - 1770, Translated and edited by John Dunmore
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details (https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/kelly-tarltons-final-treasure-hunt?share=cf5bc0a5-3ad1-4ad3-8536-6eb71191d70b)
26 Jun 2025
The Final Treasure Hunt
Hamish faces a surprising turn while trying to finish Kelly Tarlton's last treasure hunt when the anchor is missing from its expected location.
19 Jun 2025
Anchor Me
Explorers utilize journals and technology to scour Doubtless Bay for the final anchor of the St Jean Baptiste, aiming to rediscover this historical artifact.
12 Jun 2025
Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World
The final year of Kelly Tarlton’s life saw him forever change the way that aquariums around the world were built. Those who were there share the memories of this achievement and the legacy that’s endured.
Special thanks to the Tarlton family for their support and trust in making this podcast.
For more about Kelly Tarlton we recommend:
Watch: Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor (https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/lost-and-found-the-story-of-cooks-anchor-1979)
Throw Me the Wreck, Johnny: memories of Kelly Tarlton by Steve Locker-Lampson
Kelly: the Adventurous Life of Kelly Tarlton by E. V. Sale
Navigators and Naturalists, By Michael Lee
The Fateful Voyage of the St Jean Baptiste, By John Dunmore
The Expedition of the St Jean Baptiste to the Pacific 1769 - 1770, Translated and edited by John Dunmore
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details (https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/kelly-tarltons-final-treasure-hunt?share=06e2e30e-1102-4853-adc3-3d41b13f4c71)
5 Jun 2025
The Voyage of the Saint Jean Baptiste
This episode explores the perilous voyage of the St Jean Baptiste, a French smuggling ship, and its connection to a 125-year-old map leading to New Zealand.
29 May 2025
Gold, Jewels and Gelignite
Former treasure hunters recount outrageous and dangerous expeditions undertaken for Kelly Tarlton, revealing insights about a lost anchor and its potential discovery.
22 May 2025
Meet Kelly
Most people know Kelly Tarlton as the founder of a famous underground aquarium in Auckland. What you may not know is that he was also New Zealand's most successful treasure hunter. 40 years after his death, a tale told on the high seas ignites a quest to complete his final treasure hunt.
Special thanks to the Tarlton family for their support and trust in making this podcast.
For more about Kelly Tarlton we recommend:
Throw Me the Wreck, Johnny: memories of Kelly Tarlton by Steve Locker-Lampson
Kelly: the Adventurous Life of Kelly Tarlton by E. V. Sale
Navigators and Naturalists, By Michael Lee
The Fateful Voyage of the St Jean Baptiste, By John Dunmore
The Expedition of the St Jean Baptiste to the Pacific 1769 - 1770, Translated and edited by John Dunmore
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details (https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/kelly-tarltons-final-treasure-hunt?share=5a907d28-9b8a-413d-845a-60cd8ee7e02e)
9 May 2025
Introducing: Kelly Tarlton's Final Treasure Hunt
Kelly Tarlton is widely known as the visionary of Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World. He was also a highly successful treasure hunter of multiple ship wrecks across the world. 40 years after his untimely death a team made up of friends, family and marine enthusiasts embark upon an adventure to complete one of his final expeditions.
Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details (https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/kelly-tarltons-final-treasure-hunt?share=cf42729e-f6e6-4a65-b0c2-4f77081ec4bb)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
124,480,811
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
66 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
28
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
51
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