Exploring the Enchanting Australian Antarctic Territory: 15 Must-Visit Destinations

The Australian Antarctic Territory is a breathtaking region filled with awe-inspiring natural beauty and exotic wildlife. As one of the most remote places on earth, it offers unique adventures in a landscape of glaciers, islands, and icy terrain that simply can not be found anywhere else. This blog post highlights and reveals details on the top 15 best places to add to your Australian Antarctic bucket list.

1. Davis Station

As one of Australia’s four permanent research stations located in Antarctica, Davis Station offers visitors a special opportunity to meet and talk with climate scientists who are conducting critical polar research studies. Guided tours are available of the station’s facilities and the wildlife, like seals and penguins, that live near the shores can be observed.

2. Mawson’s Huts Historic Site

The set of huts built in 1911 by the famous Australian Antarctic explorer, Sir Douglas Mawson, allows visitors to literally step back in time. Walking through these historic structures provides a glimpse into the very early days of human exploration and habitation on the seventh continent. Entry is only allowed as part of an organized and guided tour group.

3. Cuverville Island

The small pebble and rock covered Cuverville Island is home to very large colonies of gentoo penguins and seals. Visitors can hike the island trails, coming face-to-face with penguin rookeries full of noisy chicks and eggs in a stunning natural setting surrounded by glistening icebergs and dark ocean waters.

4. Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 119

The Australian Antarctic Territory contains specially protected land areas. Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 119 features environmentally fragile moss beds that have scientific importance for research. Strict guidelines on human activities serve to minimize the environmental impact of tourism and research in these restricted zones.

5. Subantarctic Islands

Offshore islands, like the wildlife haven of Macquarie Island, offer refuge for many millions of penguins and seabirds across numerous rookeries. Visitors can observe the unique subpolar flora and fauna ecosystems that flourish in these isolated locations. And some locations, like Macquarie, provide easier access than the deep Antarctic destinations further inland.

6. Iceberg Alley

Along the Antarctic Peninsula coastline near the northern tip stretches Iceberg Alley, where colossal tabular icebergs drift nearly stationary in the ocean currents. Visitors can cruise through this alley by zodiac boats for an almost surreal sight, where the glowing hulking ice forms stand frozen against the stark dark waters.

7. Lemaire Channel

The narrow Lemaire Channel forms a strait between Booth Island and the Antarctic Peninsula, flanked by towering rock cliffs and dazzling white ice in permanent views. This passageway is so photogenic, it’s considered one of the most beautiful spots on the continent. The channel is only navigable by smaller expedition ships, offering an intimate cruising experience.

8. Deception Island

In the Shetland Islands, Deception Island’s collapsed volcanic caldera forms a natural protected harbor and historic site of old whaling and research settlements. Adventurous visitors can walk inside the extinct crater, view beaches filled with volcanic ash, or even take polar plunge swims in the geothermally heated waters along the shoreline.

9. Cape Denison

Cape Denison is the site of Douglas Mawson’s historic 1911 Australasian Antarctic expedition, where a memorial cross marks the exact spot of the explorers’ makeshift camp location with relics still remaining. It’s considered an important location for learning about Antarctica’s history and golden era of exploration while also surrounded by abundant wildlife activity and scenic vistas.

10. Commonwealth Bay

Commonwealth Bay remains mostly inaccessible, with only the most experienced Antarctic expedition ships visiting this isolated bay. Here mammoth glaciers slowly carve their way down from the Polar Plateau spilling into the ocean, creating a spectacular vista looking up at the towering sheer cliffs of ice rising straight out of the deep blue waters.

11. Snow Hill Island Emperor Penguin Colony

One of the few places where emperor penguins breed in Antarctica’s harsh interior is Snow Hill Island. Visitors can observe these stately and regal birds raising their grey fluffy chicks in the frigid winter breeding grounds, far away from the open ocean. Reaching this rookery requires a 20 mile snowmobile ride across the ice.

12. Mount Erebus

The world’s southernmost active volcano, Mount Erebus offers seasoned climbers a chance to scale its icy slopes for a peek directly into the bubbling lava lake down inside its crater. Expert guiding by polar mountaineers is absolutely required on this trek due to the severe weather conditions and risks like hidden crevasses.

13. Southern Lights from Macquarie Island

From the remote isolation of subantarctic Macquarie Island, visitors can lay beneath spellbinding views of the magical Aurora Australis, the Southern Lights, as they dance across the night skies. Capturing photos of this dazzling light show against a pristine backdrop of stars and Milky Way makes for ideal photo opportunities during the darker months between April and September.

14. Antarctic Polar Plunge

For the ultimate thrillseekers, taking a plunge into the frigid Southern Ocean makes for guaranteed bragging rights with the penguins! Special polar plunge events are held on New Years Day near Antarctic research stations like Casey Base, where survival suits and emergency staff must be present. This instant ice cream headache induces smiles all around.

15. Kayaking in Neko Harbor

Paddling bright orange kayaks around the brushing icebergs of secluded Neko Harbor allows visitors to float stealthily through whale, seal and penguin filled waters while listening to the thunderous sounds of calving glaciers. Multiple beginner friendly excursions are available for taking in this surreal landscape from an intimate on-the-water perspective with towering glacier views.

Conclusion:

From historic huts to penguin colonies to volcanic craters, the Australian Antarctic Territory offers limitless buckets list destinations in one of the harshest and untouched environments across the globe. Start planning your dream expedition to this remote polar paradise, filled with unmatched sights and fantastic wildlife found nowhere else Earth!