Antarctica Travel Forum

Hello

Would like to avoid the tourist cruises and get to Scott's hut and other more remote places. Saw a travel company that leaves from New Zealand and does such an exped some years ago but cannot find it.

Any suggestions?

Try Quark or Orion. They are of course one of those 'touristy' things you want to avoid but I don't know of another way of getting where you want to go unless you do it on a private charter...which would be pricey and bumpy crossing the southern ocean by boat and air is probably out of the question also. You might have to bend your ideals and get aboard an expedition cruise out of NZ. Most do good jobs. If you know anyone in the NZ govt you might wangle some sort of site inspection tour to the place...but again that is highly unlikely. Hope on a ship...it's not a vacation...it's an expediton...they usually work you as hard as you would want to be worked without all the silly frills of the 'glitzy cruise ships'. Good Luck.

I ended up getting a job at McMurdo Station on Ross Island through the US Antarctic Program. New Zealand also has a station there. Scott's Discovery Hut is located at Hut Point within the McMurdo 'city limits' and is easy to reach. Scott's Terranova hut at Cape Evens is more difficult to reach if you are not a scientist, but I managed to get out there several times as well - It is a really amazing hut, because it is still completely provisioned and just waiting for the next expedition. Shackelton's Nimrod Hut is near-by as well at Cape Royds, but it is nearly impossible to reach with the rules regarding travel over the sea ice (for the US program at least), so you would need to join up with Quark Expeditions - They were the only cruise ship (it is a lovely Russian Icebreaker called Kapitan Khlebnicoff (bad spelling)) that arrived in the sound when I was there and they have helicopters that make it easy to see the huts.

Hope this helps.

Keith

Not sure if you're still checking you post, but just got this info. Aurora Expeditions, Sydney Australia, are doing two 'Deep Antarctica' trips, in 2008. These voyages include Scott's Hut at Cape Evans, Shackleton's Hut on Cape Royds and Discovery Hut at Hut Point. 26 day voyages, leaving Hobart (Tasmania, Australia) 7 January, 2008 to Bluff (South Island, New Zealand) 1 February, 2008. (Other way, Bluff to Hobart 2 February to 27 February, 2008). Prices range from US $10,990 quad share to $20,590 best Suite). 100 people maximum on board, so guaranteed landings, weather permitting of course! Their link is on my Antarctica page. Get in touch and get the latest 'Deep Antarctica' booklet sent to you. All the info should be on their site anyway. Good luck:)

It was another member who asked the original question about getting to Scott's Hut.

I was more interested in the far side. Quark is making a 38 day out of Falklands to include So Georgia, So Sandwich (rarely visited), the far side (east Ant)...finishing up in Freemantle, Aust. Regretably I can't make that one (will weep for the entire 38 days here at home!) It will probably be several years before it, or a full circumnavigation is repeated and I'll probably have had a ceremonial parka burning funeral for all polar gear by that time. I do feel I had the best of the best witih the 02/03 66-day full circumnavigation so I can't cry too hard...but it sure did make me hungry for more.

Thanks anyway. It looks like a pretty good trip for the explorer-historian. They are awesome visits...eerie in some places to ponder the consequences of all that planning...most poignant...the crate of horseshoes for Scott's ponies.

Liked your shot of the bridge climb.