The International Antarctic Center
38 Orchard Road
Christchurch, 8052 NZ
October 9, 2023
'See it. Love it. Save it.'
Quoting directly from the International Antarctic Centre website:
Christchurch is one of five cities in the world known as a ‘gateway to Antarctica.’ This is far more than an empty title. The garden city acts as a conduit to the icy continent, sharing and championing Antarctic geography, history and culture.
In 1990 Christchurch International Airport saw the need for a visitor centre to Antarctica. The airport wanted a complex that could show people why the airport was so important to the Antarctic scientific programmes, and why these programmes and the continent was so important to the world.
The airport commissioned Tim Hobson (a regular Antarctic visitor himself) to shape and manage the development of the centre. Renowned local architects Warren and Mahoney were contracted to design the building.
The airport campus proved the perfect site for the new building. Home to a number of other Antarctic programmes and organisations, the campus provided an important focal point for the many endeavours happening further south.
Since opening in 1992, the International Antarctic Centre has welcomed millions of visitors, steadily introduced exciting new exhibits and experiences and won plenty of awards and much recognition for work in tourism.
You can link direct to them here:
For about $30 each, we got a chance to experience a Hagglunds Field Trip, the Storm Dome, see the Penguin Rescue and watch a feeding, pet some adorable huskies and watch a 4D movie of life on the Antarctica! It was a FUN day out and very informative as well. Enjoy the pictures!
Around the centre, waiting for our Hagglund Tour
The Hagglund Experience
We boarded the Pink Hagg for our experience, it was thrilling, loud and incredibly bumpy! Designed to make you 'feel' what it is like for scientists in the Antarctic as they make their way across the icy fields, up and down hills, through the water and deep crevasses...it's not for the faint of heart as we were strapped in and bounced around for about a 15-20 minute journey! I definitely have a newfound respect for that mode of transport. Our driver was awesome and navigated the obstacles in a very fun & safe environment!
The Storm Dome
So the only way to experience an Antarctic Storm is to take a grueling expedition to the continent or walk into the storm dome at the centre and have an equaling teeth chattering and chilling experience. The room itself is chilled to minus 8 degrees Celsius, about 17 degrees Fahrenheit. But when the wind chill machine ramps up, it quickly cools you to minus 18C, which is about zero degrees Fahrenheit. I kid you not, it was COLD! A few minutes of that nonsense and you are ready to get out!
The Penguins!
The kororā (or Little Blue Penguin) is New Zealand’s smallest penguin and certainly the cutest as well! Humans, dogs and other pests have had a negative impact on the survival rates of these adorable little guys. Currently at an 'at risk' status, their numbers have been steadily declining and that's why it's so important to provide a place of healing and educating at the Penguin Rescue Centre. We were lucky to visit at feeding time so we got to know more about each of the 'education ambassadors' that reside at the IAC.
Antarctic Gallery and Husky Zone
Antarctica is probably one of the world's most beautiful places with its untouched wildernesses, glaciers, icebergs and wildlife. Someday I hope we get a chance to see it in person, but until then, you can experience it IAC! The gallery provided more education and hands on experiences with a final stop The Husky Zone. Who wouldn't want to pet the sweet pups in training!
