Antarctica’s heritage under the Trust’s care for current and future generations globally
The world’s greatest polar exploration stories
Young people to explore the physical world to educate and inspire them
Sustain and grow the Trust’s programmes, while caring for people and the planet
This once-in-a-lifetime expedition is open to New Zealand citizens and residents aged 18–30 and will take place from 10 January to 10 February 2026.
Develop your ‘Explorer Mindset’, challenge yourself, and learn about heroic era (1898-1922) ships and the incredible Antarctic expeditions they supported on the Trust’s next Inspiring Explorers Expedition™.
A small team of Inspiring Explorers™ will set sail aboard Bark EUROPA, a three-masted Dutch tall ship built in 1911 and beautifully restored for modern exploration. Departing from Ushuaia, Argentina, the team will journey across the legendary Drake Passage, one of the most challenging stretches of ocean on Earth.
This experience echoes the spirit of the heroic era of Antarctic exploration (1898-1922). Scott and Shackleton’s ships weren’t just transport, they were homes for explorers, dogs, ponies, and even a cat during their journeys. Onboard, they started to develop their ‘Explorer Mindset’, growing the personal skills and teamwork they would need in Antarctica.
This expedition will challenge you, inspire you, and change the way you see yourself and the world. You’ll return not only with unforgettable memories, but with the confidence and purpose to share the legacy of exploration in your own way.
During April and May, charities New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust (NZAHT) and UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) joined forces to tour England and Scotland for the first time with two exciting immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences that use cutting-edge digital technologies to transform how the British public can learn about Antarctica’s rich history of science and exploration.
British expeditions played a significant role in shaping the course of Antarctic history from the heroic age through to the more recent scientific age on the continent.
Participants were able to take a unique step back in time by donning a VR headset and controllers, which will instantly transport them to Antarctica. They also had the chance to step inside and explore historic huts, come face to face with penguins, ride in a hydrogen balloon, feed huskies, meet early explorers and scientists and hear incredible tales of resilience, teamwork and innovation on the ice.
We were proud to host our first-ever Ōtautahi Christchurch Explorer Conference on Wednesday 18 June at Te Pae, welcoming 85 Year 12 students from 10 schools across the region.
The day was packed with energy as students heard from an inspiring line-up of speakers including keynote speaker and world record sailor Lisa Blair, inspirational speaker William Pike, and best-selling author Jake Bailey. The message was clear throughout the day: step outside your comfort zone.
Our Inspiring Explorers™ alumni led hands-on workshops exploring the ‘Explorer Mindset’ of resilience, leadership, curiosity, teamwork, and innovation. Students also had the chance to delve into Christchurch’s unique Antarctic heritage through visits to key historic sites.
Watch the new short film about the Trust’s ninth Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ which journeyed to South Georgia Island.
Across the Atlantic, directed by Inspiring Explorer Te Aroha Devon, follows climber Sam West as he prepares for a guided attempt to climb Mount Worsley with a small team of Inspiring Explorers™, and data scientist Jenny Sahng, part of the science outreach team tasked with capturing weather and ocean data and observations using both historic-era methods and MetSevice’s world-leading technology.
Donors and supporters across the world answered our call to enable an important conservation project which is now getting underway in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The Ross Sea Party tent, an invaluable artefact from Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1914-17, is under scrutiny as three specialist conservators develop the most appropriate processes to conserve it.
In September 2024, metal conservator Emily Fryer and textile conservators Kate Blair and Sarah Clayton met to carefully look over this evocative piece of history. They are considering its current state, what conservation processes it needs and can withstand, and have taken samples for analysis to inform what happens next.
Antarctic Heritage Trust
7 Ron Guthrey Road, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand
Private Bag 4745, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Antarctic Heritage Trust
7 Ron Guthrey Road, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand
Private Bag 4745, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
