"Antarctica - the BIG Ice" Top 5 Page for this destination Antarctica by tiabunna

Antarctica Travel Guide: 1,197 reviews and 2,531 photos

'Orhog', one of the huskies at Mawson, 1966

Antarctica! Because of the magic of mass communications and the internet, it's somewhat better known now than when I worked for a year with the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) at Mawson Station in 1966. In those days, the reaction from most people was "why would you want to go there, it's just cold and white?" . In December 2005, when I returned with my wife so that she could find out if all my stories were even vaguely accurate :) , most friends were not only interested but very envious. Times do indeed change!

Our ship and trip

Our ship "parked" in fast sea ice

We travelled with Aurora Expeditions, on their inaugural voyage to 'Mawson's Antarctica' using the 'Marina Svetaeva', a 4575 tonne Russian ice ship built in Poland in 1989. The ship, as promised, proved 'comfortable and homely', rather than luxurious: think of a good two star hotel. But everything else was at least four star: most importantly, the expedition had excellent leaders, staff and guest lecturers. It also was equipped with a fleet of zodiacs and two helicopters.

The route took us from Hobart, Australia across the Southern Ocean to Macquarie Island (Australia); Commonwealth Bay (site of Mawson's Hut); the South Magnetic Pole; the French base at Dumont d'Urville; Cape Jules; the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands (New Zealand) and Snares Islands (New Zealand); finally returning to Bluff in New Zealand. Overall, the trip lasted 25 days.

For me, the highlight of the trip was visiting Mawson's hut. For my wife, it was the novelty of walking on thick sea ice.

As I said earlier, times have changed since my first trip: Mawson and the other Australian stations have since been extensively rebuilt and can be seen on the Australian Antarctic Division website. But the Antarctic remains the same: still challenging, always fascinating, usually spectacular.

So, were my recollections from way back even vaguely accurate? A little hard to say, because we had little but good weather for our trip and, because it was in summer, we did not experience the winter cold. But, from time to time, the katabatic winds still roared down from the plateau, just as they did at Mawson Station in 1966, and as they did for Mawson's Australian Antarctic Expedition in 1911-1913 at Commonwealth Bay "The Home of the Blizzard". And the Southern Ocean still unsettled a few people.

Some internet links for more information.

Some people will do anything for a white Christmas

A few links:

Read about Australia's greatest Antarctic explorer and his epic experiences with the Australian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1913 here: Sir Douglas Mawson

Aurora Expeditions' website is here: Aurora Expeditions

The Australian Antarctic Division website, for information about Australia's current Antarctic activities is here: AAD

Pros and Cons

Pros:What a place! Pristine, magnificent, uncompromising.
Cons:Access is neither inexpensive nor easy - maybe as well!
In a nutshell:As the OIC of the French base said, after being there most people succumb to "Le virus Antarctique"

Last visit to Antarctica: Dec 2005
Intro Updated Jun 10, 2006
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Reviews (54)

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Favorites (5)
See All Unloading the ship
Local Customs (6)
See All Home brewing
Hotels (3)
See All Living Hut at Mawson Station
Sports & Outdoors (1)
Skiing in Antarctica

Off The Beaten Path (8)
See All Work in antarctica - Ancient history #5
Warnings Or Dangers (5)
See All Crevasses are 'interesting'
Nightlife (2)
See All Maybe see an aurora?
Restaurants (1)
Good, but watch the waistline!

Travelogues (3)

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Comments (89)

kiwi Aug 19, 2011 at 3:15 PM Report Abuse

I love looking at your old Antarctic photos, and they look great on the new format. Did you read that the whiskey they found down there was made with water from Loch Ness :-))
xaver Oct 27, 2010 at 11:40 PM Report Abuse

Thanks, this is definitly one of my dream trips.
DennyP Aug 27, 2009 at 4:30 AM Report Abuse

HI George...great page with wonderfully detailed informative tips with great pics also...must return to this page mate .just so much to digest..and yes tis is a destination for me..cheers Denny
junecorlett Apr 22, 2009 at 1:46 AM Report Abuse

My husband would love to do this trip, well written tips, we have seen the "March with penguins" doccie. very intersting, even sad.
Arkeolog Apr 15, 2009 at 6:34 AM Report Abuse

your photos are great, tips are useful and page is excellent. That chocolate rock looks interesting.
uglyscot Mar 24, 2009 at 3:40 AM Report Abuse

Fascinating site and marvellous pictures . I now know where to go when sweltering in a Sudanese summer- your antarctic page on VT! Virtual cooling! Adding Coleridge was genius.
lynnehamman Jan 28, 2009 at 4:20 PM Report Abuse

AMAZING page & tips on Antartica. I will re-visit as the tips are extensive, andI want to absorb more. Thank Heaven that giant penguin is extinct!Imagine that walking around now!!Beaut pics too
jumpingnorman Oct 20, 2008 at 5:03 PM Report Abuse

1966 pics nice - everybody had a beard for the cold I guess! I think I will shiver there because i don't grow one! LOL...thanks for signing my map, too!
nora_south_africa Aug 9, 2008 at 1:50 AM Report Abuse

wow absolutely fantastic!!
Knoto Apr 19, 2008 at 3:37 AM Report Abuse

Wow, I`m impressed!Sounds like an wonderful trip!Great pictures!!!Greetings from Germany,Peter