Do I need to be fit to go to East Antarctica?

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

How many days are East Antarctica cruises?,Is it safe to travel to East Antarctica and the Ross Sea?

Due to its remote location, cruises to East Antarctica range from 23-33 days. Longer cruises will also visit the beautiful Sub-Antarctic Islands, famed for their bird species, wildlife, and dramatic landscapes.

Do I need a visa to travel to East Antarctica?

A pre-arranged visa is not required to enter Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand.

How long will it take to reach East Antarctica?

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.

What are the chances of seeing the Mawson’s Huts?

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 endure

What are the chances of getting into Scott’s Hut?

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.

Why are there fewer Antarctica cruise departures from Australia and New Zealand?

The voyages are longer (typically 25-35 days) which requires more fuel, more days at sea and higher operating costs making it more expensive. The weather in the Ross Sea region is more unpredictable and has a shorter operating window.

Antarctica Cruises from Australia and New Zealand

TRAVELLING TO Antarctica Cruises from Australia and New Zealand

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.

Search cruises to Antarctica from South America starting from AU$11,135

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.

Taking a cruise ship to Antarctica from Australia

You can also cruise Antarctica from Australia, departing or disembarking from either Australia (Hobart) or New Zealand (Invercargill, Lyttleton or Bluff). This amazing adventure visits the lesser frequented East Antarctica and 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 you've arrived in 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, so Antarctica tours departing from Australia and New Zealand allow you to see a unique part of the continent missed by many visitors.

One of the biggest advantages of Antarctica tours from Australia and New Zealand is that you board your ship and head straight to Antarctica—no international flights required. However, the trade-off is that you’ll spend more time at sea and the journey is longer, which means the cruise to Antarctica from Australia price is more expensive.

Where does a cruise from Australia to Antarctica depart from?

Australia and New Zealand both have acted as lesser-known cruise gateways to visit the incredible sights of East Antarctica. Here you will board your vessel and travel directly to one of the earth’s most remote and incredible locations.

Hobart in Australia and Invercargill in New Zealand both host Antarctic cruise vessels heading south for the summer. A round trip cruise to this part of the world will take about 21 days all up, including 7 days crossing to Antarctica, frequently stopping to visit remote islands such as Macquarie, Snares, Auckland and Campbell.

What is it like: The cruise to East Antarctica alone is an extraordinary journey in itself. Visiting remote islands along the way offers the traveller an incredible opportunity to witness unique wildlife, history and geology. These islands were frequented and studied by Australia’s Antarctic Iceman of the heroic age of exploration, Douglas Mawson, and continue to be examined by modern scientists today.

Reaching the continent of East Antarctica after a week of exploration is a sight to behold with large ice shelves, vast seas and icebergs greeting travellers like a giant spectacle, a reward for taking the time to get there. Here you have the best chance of seeing the famed Emperor penguin, and it is also the base for some of Antarctica’s most incredible historic moments. If weather conditions allow, it is also the place to be to visit Douglas Mawson’s huts and indulge in Australia’s first true link to Antarctica.

Getting there: Using your local airlines in Australia should offer great connections through to both Hobart or Invercargill where you will meet the vessel for your Antarctic cruise adventure.

More information: There are fewer options to visit East Antarctica than there is on the Peninsula, but they are all incredible journeys. Click below to browse our favourite journeys.

Want to travel to Antarctica first flying from Australia/New Zealand then cruising from South America?

Where: Argentina’s Ushuaia, the southernmost city of the world, is the primary gateway for Antarctica cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula as well as the sub-Antarctic islands such as South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. It is also possible to depart your Antarctica cruise from Chile’s Punta Arenas – this is where our Fly/Cruise options depart from, for those passengers who want to skip the crossing of the Drake Passage.

What is it like: The Antarctic Peninsula is the most popular and most frequently visited region of Antarctica and perfect for first-time visitors. It offers the ideal introduction to Antarctica, its incredible wildlife, glacier landscapes and history.

Getting there: LATAM flies from the east coast of Australia to Santiago where connections can be made through to Ushuaia or Punta Arenas. Leaving from Perth, you may want to consider an Emirates flight to Buenos Aires, which can both save time and money. If you’re interested in Antarctica cruises out of South America, please visit our main Antarctica Cruise page.

For the best rates for Australians travelling to Antarctica: click here

Still wondering? Contact us for a chat, we know it’s a big decision to visit the world’s last frontier, we’d rather talk you through the options, so feel free to reach out for advice.