Do you dream of visiting the spellbinding White Continent but are unsure how to get to Antarctica from New Zealand? Wonder, no more! We detail how NZ travellers can reach Antarctica and the many itineraries that allow you to explore the region extensively. We also highlight the pros and cons of each travel method – this way, you can easily find your ideal way to visit the southernmost continent on earth.
This guide will cover the four ways to reach Antarctica from New Zealand. Click the links below to skip through the article:
- Cruise to Antarctica from Ushuaia, Argentina
- Cruise to Antarctica from Punta Arenas, Chile
- Cruise to Antarctica directly from New Zealand
- Sightseeing flights to Antarctica for the day
Antarctic Ice
1. Cruise to Antarctica from Ushuaia, Argentina
Most Antarctic cruises depart from Ushuaia, the so-called 'gateway to Antarctica' at the southernmost tip ofSouth America. This is the closest inhabited city to the White Continent - read the pros, detailed below, and you’ll understand why Ushuaia is the most popular departure point for Antarctic cruises.
The easiest and fastest way to reach South America from New Zealand is to take LATAM Airline’s non-stop flight from Auckland to Santiago de Chile and, from there, catch a connecting flight to Ushuaia via Buenos Aires.
Once you board your expedition ship, you're looking at a 2-day journey across the Drake Passage to reach the Antarctic continent. There, you will find protected bays teeming with wildlife, scientific research bases, remote military outposts and remnants of the polar pioneers. If you dream of kayaking, SCUBA diving, hiking, camping on ice and endless wildlife watching expeditions in Antarctica, then this is the option for you.
Cruises from Ushuaia generally fall into three categories:
(1) Antarctic Peninsula Cruises - Classic cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula generally take 10-12 days.
(2) Antarctic Peninsula Cruise with Crossing of the Antarctic Circle - As above, with the addition of a few extra days to cross the Antarctic Circle, Earth's southernmost parallel.
(B) Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands – These longer and more comprehensive expeditions take up to 22 days, including visits to sub-Antarctic Islands that offer unique wildlife encounters and fascinating historical sites. South Georgia is known as the Galapagos of Antarctica and boasts the world's largest population of penguins (notably King) and seals. It is also the final resting place of Sir Ernest Shackleton.
> READ MORE: Top 5 reasons to visit South Georgia
Pros of cruising from Ushuaia:
- Offers the greatest choice of vessels, itineraries and activities
- The least amount of sailing time to reach Antarctica
- The most affordable cruise options
Cons of cruising from Ushuaia:
- Unless you absolutely hate boats and do not want to cross the Drake Passage (the bit of ocean between Argentina and the Antarctic Peninsula) by ship, then there are not really any cons to this option at all. Cruising from Ushuaia is an absolute bucket-list dream adventure.
> Learn more about flying over the Drake Passage
Kayaking in Antarctica
2. Cruise to Antarctica from Punta Arenas, Chile
Rather than cruise from Ushuaia, you also have the option of boarding an expedition ship in Punta Arenas (Chile), at the northern fringes of the Strait of Magellan. Expeditions departing from here reach several Antarctic destinations, including the Falklands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula.
South Georgia is one of Antarctica’s greatest highlights. The sheer concentration of wildlife and awe-inspiring landscapes are truly breathtaking. The island is one of the remotest on earth, almost 1,500km from its nearest inhabited land (the Falklands). For this reason, Antarctica cruise itineraries including the Falklands and South Georgia last much longer – around 15-22 days.
From Punta Arenas, there are also options to fly to King George Island and enjoy a Fly/Cruise Antarctica expedition instead. King George is part of the South Shetland archipelago, found just north of the Antarctic Peninsula. Fly/cruises are generally more expensive than classic Antarctica cruises departing from Ushuaia, but they offer the benefit of avoiding the Drake Passage, known for its rough seas.
Pros of cruising from Punta Arenas:
- Convenient springboard if you wish to explore Torres del Paine National Park or enjoy a Patagonia tour pre- or post-cruise.
- If you’re short on time, flight + cruise tours from Punta Arenas offer a time-saving convenience.
- With fly/cruise options, you can avoid the choppy Drake Passage and sail only in the more sheltered waters of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Cons of cruising from Punta Arenas:
- Cruises departing Punta Arenas are typically more expensive, and there is less variety of vessels and itineraries from which to choose.
- Bad weather can cause flight delays which can disrupt the planned itinerary on fly/cruise itineraries.
Penguins in South Georgia
3. Cruise to Antarctica directly from New Zealand
Every year, an exclusive number of expedition cruises depart for Antarctica directly from New Zealand/Australia – specifically from Bluff (Invercargill) and Hobart (Tasmania). These epic voyages tend to be around 3-4 weeks long, so much longer than most options from South America.
It takes about 7 days to reach Antarctica from New Zealand, with the considerable voyage broken up by stop-overs in fascinating sub-Antarctic islands such as Macquarie Island, Campbells Island, Auckland Islands and the Snare Islands, revered for their incredible offerings of unique wildlife, including King, Royal, and Crested Penguins.
Once in Antarctica proper, visitors will spend their time around Commonwealth Bay or the Ross Sea region in East Antarctica – the remotest and least-visited part of the White Continent . Only a few hundred visitors head to this isolated region of Antarctica annually, as opposed to tens of thousands who make landfall on the western side of the peninsula.
A trip down to this part of Antarctica and crossing the Ross Sea makes for a pretty extreme adventure. This is as remote as it gets, and the expedition, generally, is not for the light-hearted. It’s colder, windier and with higher chances of rough seas. There is no one else nearby besides your fellow cruising companions.
Yet if you're an intrepid explorer willing to brave such a colossal voyage, you'll experience a side of Antarctica not many humans have been to.
There are preserved huts and historic sites from the heroic age of Antarctic Exploration (1897-1922), which can be visited, left behind by famous explorers Mawson, Scott and Shackleton. There are emperor penguins and the wildlife-rich Sub-Antarctic Islands to see. You'll also have the opportunity to see the massive Ross Ice Shelf and Mount Erebus, the world's southernmost active volcano.
Once every year or two, truly intrepid explorers have the chance to do it all: tackle a 30-day, one-way odyssey that starts in South America, crosses the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula, travels further south to cross the Antarctic Circle, then travels west to cross the International Date Line. From there, the expedition picks up the East Antarctica cruise itinerary back to New Zealand via the sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. This jaw-dropping expedition – Unexplored Antarctica – is one of the world’s most phenomenal sea voyages.
Pros of cruising directly from New Zealand:
- The cruising adventure starts directly in New Zealand.
- Experience one of the least visited corners of Antarctica.
- See the preserved history of early Antarctic exploration.
- Itineraries include New Zealand's sub-Antarctic Islands.
- Some of the most epic commercial sea expeditions offered anywhere in the world.
Cons of cruising directly from New Zealand:
- You'll spend more days cruising in open seas, with higher chances of experiencing rough and extreme conditions.
- These trips are more expensive than Antarctic cruises from South America.
- With only a few departures yearly, your itinerary and travel date options are more limited.
- There is less wildlife to see compared to the Antarctic Peninsula on the South American side of Antarctica.
> Read more: Travelling to Antarctica from New Zealand
A cruise in Antarctica
4. Sightseeing flights to Antarctica for the day
Don't have enough time off to travel to Antarctica from New Zealand? There is one more time-saving option – one that allows you to experience the magic of Antarctica from above.
Aboard a privately chartered 747, you can glide over the dazzling White Continent, the world’s last pristine pocket of wilderness and one of its least-explored frontiers. These one-day sightseeing flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth give you a spectacular bird's-eye view of this vast, untamed polar desert and its desolate beauty.
Pros of sightseeing flights to Antarctica:
- The only way to cast your eyes on Antarctica without cruising for days or weeks on end.
- There is no danger of getting cold, wet, or seasick – no rough seas to endure!
- Comfortable and relaxing experience – just sit back, enjoy the in-flight service, absorb your unique view of Antarctica and marvel at the awe-inspiring scenery of the uncharted frozen south beneath you.
- Flights are ideal for anyone of any age or fitness level. If you can sit on a plane, you can see Antarctica!
- Even if you are short on time, you can see Antarctica in just a single day.
Cons of sightseeing flights to Antarctica:
- Seeing Antarctica is not the same as setting foot on its icy landscapes.
- You won’t see any of Antarctica’s magical wildlife.
- Since you won't be landing on the continent, you won't have the chance to enjoy the many unique activities you can do in Antarctica - one of cruising's unrivalled highlights!
Landscapes in Antarctica
If you’ve been dreaming of seeing and experiencing the world’s last untouched continent, we hope this guide has helped inform you about the myriad ways to reach Antarctica from New Zealand.
Viva Expeditions offers a wide collection of Antarctica cruises (and flights) to match an array of budgets and travel styles. For more information, contact us today to speak to one of our Antarctica Destination Specialists – they’ll help you find the Antarctica expedition that’s tailor-made to your needs and desires.
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