Travelling to Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand can be achieved a few ways, either fly to South America or depart directly on your Antarctica cruise from Australia or New Zealand.
The most popular and affordable Antarctic journey is to fly to Argentina and board your ship in the southernmost city of the world, Ushuaia. From here you can visit the Antarctic Peninsula as well as the sub Antarctic islands such as South Georgia and the Falkland islands on your Antarctic cruise. A cruise will take anywhere from 10 to 21 days when leaving from Ushuaia, if crossing directly to the peninsula you can be there in as soon as one and a half to two days.
The Antarctic Peninsula is the most popular due to accessibility and for the plethora of wildlife found. The coast offers a dramatic mountainous backdrop being an extension of the Andes Mountain range. The entire region including the sub Antarctic Islands is home to incredible history including Shackleton’s epic journey of survival.
Australia and New Zealand themselves also act as gateways to the lesser frequented East Antarctica leaving from Australia (Hobart) or New Zealand (Invercargill or Bluff) it will take about seven days to arrive to the white continent, which can be broken up by visits to Macquarie, Snares, Auckland and Campbell Islands, all rich in wildlife and nature. Once having arrived to Antarctica, you will spend time around Commonwealth Bay or the Ross Sea region.
A cruise to Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand offers the opportunity to witness the immense natural landscapes and seascapes of this incredibly remote yet ruggedly beautiful part of Antarctica and the best chance to see emperor and king penguins. Steeped in history, East Antarctica is where the explorers Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen gained fame with their expeditions to be the first to reach the South Pole. This part of Antarctica is also home to the historic Mawson’s Huts at Commonwealth Bay.
If you’re interested in Antarctica cruises out of South America, please visit our main Antarctica Cruise page here
To help you decide where you want to visit. Click on the trips below and start dreaming about your Antarctic cruise.
Travelling to Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand can be achieved a few ways, either fly to South America or depart directly on your Antarctica cruise from Australia or New Zealand.
The most popular and affordable Antarctic journey is to fly to Argentina and board your ship in the southernmost city of the world, Ushuaia. From here you can visit the Antarctic Peninsula as well as the sub Antarctic islands such as South Georgia and the Falkland islands on your Antarctic cruise. A cruise will take anywhere from 10 to 21 days when leaving from Ushuaia, if crossing directly to the peninsula you can be there in as soon as one and a half to two days.
The Antarctic Peninsula is the most popular due to accessibility and for the plethora of wildlife found. The coast offers a dramatic mountainous backdrop being an extension of the Andes Mountain range. The entire region including the sub Antarctic Islands is home to incredible history including Shackleton’s epic journey of survival.
Australia and New Zealand themselves also act as gateways to the lesser frequented East Antarctica leaving from Australia (Hobart) or New Zealand (Invercargill or Bluff) it will take about seven days to arrive to the white continent, which can be broken up by visits to Macquarie, Snares, Auckland and Campbell Islands, all rich in wildlife and nature. Once having arrived to Antarctica, you will spend time around Commonwealth Bay or the Ross Sea region.
A cruise to Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand offers the opportunity to witness the immense natural landscapes and seascapes of this incredibly remote yet ruggedly beautiful part of Antarctica and the best chance to see emperor and king penguins. Steeped in history, East Antarctica is where the explorers Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen gained fame with their expeditions to be the first to reach the South Pole. This part of Antarctica is also home to the historic Mawson’s Huts at Commonwealth Bay.
If you’re interested in Antarctica cruises out of South America, please visit our main Antarctica Cruise page here
To help you decide where you want to visit. Click on the trips below and start dreaming about your Antarctic cruise.
[ Read Less ]We are true Polar specialists. Almost every Chimu team member has travelled to either Antarctica or the Arctic and collectively we have experienced over 50 expeditions.
You can choose from over 130 cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic,including itineraries aboard our own charter vessels.
We have inspected and continue to thoroughly research each individual vessel we work with, selecting only those with environmental, safety and value credentials.
We know all things Polar by heart and will work with you to determine which ship and itinerary is best suited to your needs.
Travellers visit the Polar regions for different reasons so whether your interests are wildlife or photography, or Antarctic activities such as snowshoeing and kayaking, we can work around you for the perfect trip.
From your initial enquiry until your trip ends, you will be assigned a personal Destination Specialist who will offer a full service for your travel needs: we can book flights, insurance and any ancillary travel required to complete your journey.
Antarctic Peninsula
SHIP: Ocean Endeavour
START: Ushuaia, Argentina
FINISH: Ushuaia, Argentina
PRICED FROM
CAD 11,905*
PER PERSON
Antarctica & Ross Sea
SHIP: Le Commandant Charcot
START: Santiago, Chile
FINISH: Hobart, Australia
PRICED FROM
CAD 86,213*
PER PERSON
Sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand & Antarctica
SHIP: Le Soleal
START: Dunedin, New Zealand
FINISH: Dunedin, New Zealand
PRICED FROM
CAD 38,466*
PER PERSON
East Antarctica, French Southern Lands
SHIP: Le Commandant Charcot
START: Hobart, Australia
FINISH: Cape Town, South Africa
PRICED FROM
CAD 87,553*
PER PERSON
Australia & Subantarctic Islands of Australia & New…
SHIP: Heritage Adventurer
START: Hobart, Australia
FINISH: Queenstown, New Zealand
PRICED FROM
CAD 15,282*
PER PERSON
Ross Sea and Subantarctic Islands
SHIP: Heritage Adventurer
START: Queenstown, New Zealand
FINISH: Queenstown, New Zealand
PRICED FROM
CAD 48,546*
PER PERSON
All Chimu Adventures' clients are given the opportunity to review their trip once they return home. These reviews are administered by a third party and as such are unfiltered by Chimu Adventures.
All of our tours are 100% tried and tested to ensure that when you travel with us, you are doing so in a controlled and safe environment with trained experts. We consistently monitor weather conditions and will always provide you with the best possible adventure without risk of injury to you or the vessel. While some landings and activities may need to be rescheduled or cancelled due to weather, every effort is made to have a contingency plan should such conditions become a reality during your expedition. Chimu have been the experts in Antarctic travel for well over 10 years and use our vast experience and knowledge when picking the vessels we sell to provide you with an adventure that is unforgettable for all the right reasons.
A pre-arranged visa is not required to enter Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand.
Cruises to Antarctica from Tasmania (Hobart) and to Antarctica from New Zealand (Invercargill or Bluff) can reach East Antarctica in 6 to 7 days, but most voyages break up the days at sea with visits to The Snares, Auckland Islands, Macquarie Island and Campbell Island.
Unfortunately we cannot guarantee that you will be able to see Mawson’s Huts. The presence of two immense icebergs had blocked access to Commonwealth Bay for many years. In January 2016, Chimu Adventures operated the first commercial expedition to the site for 5 years, after the two icebergs finally shifted. Although access to Commonwealth Bay was possible, the huts could not be reached due to the ice floe. Cape Denison in Commonwealth Bay where the timber huts are located, is known as the “home of the blizzard”, one of the windiest places on Earth, with frequent strong katabatic winds. Your chances of seeing Mawson’s Huts will always depend on the weather and ice conditions and the accessibility of Commonwealth Bay. If you are fortunate enough to gain access to the huts and see some of the relics of Mawson’s infamous 1911-14 Australasian Antarctic Expedition, it will be an amazing experience that will give you an insight into the harsh conditions that these explorers were subjected to and endured.
Scott’s Hut is located on Ross Island, on the north shore of Cape Evans. Scott’s Discovery Expedition Hut is located at Hut Point on Ross Island, near to McMurdo Station, the US Antarctic Research Station and Base. Access to the huts is completely dependent on ice and weather conditions, and although every effort will be made to visit the huts, this cannot be guaranteed. In recent years the success rate of visiting Scott’s Hut has been high.
A high level of fitness is not necessary for cruises to Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand, but you need to be in good health as although there is generally a doctor on board the ships, you are a long way from any other medical assistance. The majority of activities are focused around shore excursions and zodiac cruising and so you need to be agile and able-bodied enough to climb into and out of the inflatable zodiacs from both the ship and the shore. On shore landings you may need to negotiate uneven and slippery ground. Shore excursions generally involve some walking