Antarctic Festival 2022

Welcome to Australia's second oldest capital, Hobart. A contrasting blend of heritage, scenery and culture. This quaint city offers plenty of world class activities and attractions. Located at the entrance to the Derwent River the surrounding bushland meets with a welcoming blend of picturesque waterways, rugged mountain scenery and captivating history which combine to offer one of Australia's most quaint and inviting destinations.
You will be met at Hobart airport by a Chimu representative and transferred to the Movenpick Hobart where your room will be available to check in from 2pm. The rest of your day is free to explore and orientate yourself with Hobart. Please advise flight arrival details
At 4pm, we will meet 200 metres from the hotel at the Mawson’s Hut Replica Museum where you will learn all about Tasmania’s rich Antarctic history, about Sir Douglas Mawson and his men that bravely ventured off to Antarctica 111 years ago. You will be guided through Mawson’s replica huts by the museum’s CEO and will conclude with a whiskey sampling from local Tasmanian distilleries. Activities will conclude at 6pm and no further activities are planned for the rest of the evening.
Please note: For guests joining us on our incredible Southern Lights flight you will disembark your flight at 6:30am and a coach will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel for an early check in on arrival.

Today your day will be filled with activities organised by Mawson's Huts Foundation, highlighting Hobart's rich Antarctic heritage. We meet at 2pm in Franklin Square, next to the Movenpick where you will meet your tour guide for a guided walking tour around Hobart’s Antarctic heritage sites. This tour will last for approx 1.5 hours and will finish back at the Movenpick Hotel where you can relax before the festival’s main event, The Australian Antarctic Festival gala dinner.
Tonight’s Gala dinner is to celebrate Australia’s proud Antarctic heritage, with guest speakers and plenty of entertainment throughout the night. Chimu clients are treated to exclusive VIP tables and seating. Dress code is smart casual, and the dinner includes a 3-course meal, non-alcoholic and local alcoholic beverages and a night filled with fun, laughs and good food.

Please note: due to client numbers, today’s schedule may vary slightly with tour times.

For those departing Hobart today, check out time from the hotel will be at 10am. Transfers will be operating throughout the day to Hobart airport to meet your departing flight.

If you wish to extend your stay in Hobart for an extra night, we have an optional 1 night extension add on, which includes a day trip to Bruny Island with return coach transfers from Hobart to Bruny Island and a 2 hour wildlife cruise around the south coast of Bruny Island, the last stop heading south before Antarctica. This wildlife cruise offers an insight to what Antarctic travellers experience when they first arrive to the great white continent, with the possibility of sighting Penguins, seals, Albatross, whales and other sea birds that frequent Antarctica. After your wilderness cruise, we break for lunch (included) at Adventure Bay before departing on the Bruny Island ferry back to the Tasmanian mainland and on to Hobart. The rest of the evening is free at your leisure. If you would like to join us for this optional extension, please contact Chimu Adventures.