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Link to: Conserve
CONSERVE

Antarctica’s heritage under the Trust’s care for current and future generations globally

Link to: Share
SHARE

The world’s greatest polar exploration stories

Link to: Encourage
ENCOURAGE

Young people to explore the physical world to educate and inspire them

Link to: Sustain
SUSTAIN

Sustain and grow the Trust’s programmes, while caring for people and the planet

Our mission is to conserve, share and encourage the spirit of exploration

Bark EUROPA 1911 Historic Tall Ship. © Bark EUROPA/Matthew Lynch
Bark EUROPA 1911 Historic Tall Ship. © Bark EUROPA/Matthew Lynch

Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ Antarctic Peninsula 2026 – Applications Now Open.

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.

Find out more and apply now at inspiringexplorers.co.nz

Work With Us!

Fundraising Advisor

Join our Income Generation team as a Fundraising Advisor.
This is an exciting opportunity to advance your fundraising career. You’ll enjoy strong team support while taking ownership of impactful fundraising programmes that help conserve Antarctic heritage and inspire the explorers of tomorrow.
If you’re passionate about strategy, storytelling, and building relationships, we’d love to hear from you!
This is a full-time role (4 days part-time is also considered), office-based in Christchurch, NZ. Applications close Wednesday 17 September 2025
Find out more and apply now through Seek
Scott’s 'Terra Nova' hut at Cape Evans. © AHT/Daniel Bornstein
📸 Patron of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, HRH The Princess Royal, meets school children from Selborne Church of England Primary School at Gilbert White's House & Gardens to explore Antarctica through immersive virtual reality experiences (VR) as part of a nationwide tour by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust, aimed at making Antarctica more accessible. © UKAHT/ HESTERPHOTO

Immersive Antarctica: Virtual reality tour brings Antarctic exploration to the UK

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.

Read the full media release here

Explorers Inspire Christchurch Students

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.

Read the full media release here
Inspiring Explorer Sam West © AHT/Sasha Cheng

New Short Film: Across the Atlantic

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.

watch here

Ross Sea Party Tent Conservation Journey Begins

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.

Click here to read the full story
L-R: Conservators Kate Blair, Emily Fryer, and Sarah Clayton examine the Ross Sea Party tent. © AHT/Yvonne Densem

Latest Inspiring Explorers™ News

New Zealand Huts Pilot Programme a Success

The Trust in partnership with Backcountry Trust, successfully piloted a new initiative connecting young Kiwis with conservation work.
August 29, 2025/by Brittany Fox

Explorer Conference debuts in Christchurch

The Trust’s Explorer Conference held in Christchurch for the first time inspires students to ignite their Explorer Mindset.
August 29, 2025/by Brittany Fox

Trust Joins Antarctic Treaty Meeting

The Trust attended the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, connecting with global partners.
August 29, 2025/by Brittany Fox
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Latest News

The Explorer August 2025

The Explorer Newsletter August 2025
August 29, 2025/by Brittany Fox

New Zealand Huts Pilot Programme a Success

The Trust in partnership with Backcountry Trust, successfully piloted a new initiative connecting young Kiwis with conservation work.
August 29, 2025/by Brittany Fox

Explorer Conference debuts in Christchurch

The Trust’s Explorer Conference held in Christchurch for the first time inspires students to ignite their Explorer Mindset.
August 29, 2025/by Brittany Fox
Load more

antarcticheritage

Conserve, share and encourage the spirit of exploration.

Antarctic Explorer Robert Forde was born #OnThisDa Antarctic Explorer Robert Forde was born #OnThisDay in 1875 in the parish of Moviddy, County Cork, Ireland. He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16 where he worked his way up to earn the rank of Petty Officer First Class.

In 1910 he volunteered for Scott's British Antarctic 'Terra Nova' Expedition 1910-13 as Petty Officer. He took part in two depot-laying missions and was involved in studying glaciers to the west of Ross Island. It was on the return from checking one of these supply depots under extreme weather conditions and low temperatures, that he was badly frostbitten. His frostbite was a blow to Scott and although Forde appeared to be recovering, his condition was deemed critical, and he was ordered by Scott to return to the 'Terra Nova' where he received medical treatment and returned to New Zealand in 1912.

Forde is honoured by the naming of Mount Forde, standing at over 1,200m high at the head of Hunt Glacier in Victoria Land, Antarctica. His role in the 'Terra Nova' expedition led to his promotion to Chief Petty Officer whereby he served on HMS Vivid during World War I.

📸 Robert Forde. © Public Domain

#inspire #explore #dicover #Antarcica #TerraNova
#OnThisDay in 1934 Sir Tannatt William Edgeworth D #OnThisDay in 1934 Sir Tannatt William Edgeworth David passed away at age 76.

Early on in his studies, David’s interest in geology grew from lectures he attended at Oxford. By 1880, encouraged by a local naturalist, he was studying evidence of glacial activity in his home region, work that led to his first publication the following year. In 1882 he was appointed assistant geological surveyor in New South Wales and arrived in Sydney, Australia that November. He carried out work throughout the country, published his first monograph in 1887, and in 1891 was appointed professor of geology at the University of Sydney.

Later in his career, Sir Ernest Shackleton invited David to join his 1907–1909 expedition south, with plans to return on the ‘Nimrod’ at the end of the summer. In December 1907 David, accompanied by two former students, Sir Douglas Mawson and Leo Cotton, set out with Shackleton from New Zealand. Even before arriving in Antarctica, David decided to stay with the expedition. 

David's 50th birthday passed within sight of the active volcano Mount Erebus. In March he stood on its summit, leader of the first successful climbing party. Impressed, Shackleton next spring put him in charge of an attempt to reach the south magnetic Pole. The four month journey saw David, Mawson and Forbes Mackay drag laden sledges 1250 km from sea-level up more than 2200m to their goal on the Polar Plateau and back, an epic journey of courage and endurance. Captain John King Davis of the ‘Nimrod’ praised David highly in his High Latitude.

David returned to Sydney late in March 1909. He now embarked on a lengthy lecture tour of Australia to raise funds for publishing the scientific results from the expedition. This and the ensuing publications were successful, and he went onto to lend his support to promote Mawson's Antarctic work.

📷Professor T.W.E. David, F.G.S, 'Nimrod' 1908. ©Lyttelton Museum

📷Alistair Mackay, Professor Edgeworth David and Sir Douglas Mawson at the Magnetic South Pole, after erecting an English flag. ©Alexander Turnbull Library
As part of Australia’s National Science Week, In As part of Australia’s National Science Week, Inspiring Explorer and cultural materials conservator Daniel Bornstein, who joined our Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ to the Ross Sea earlier this year, was one of five keynote speakers at Kids Conference Antarctica. 

Daniel spoke alongside four academics from The University of Melbourne at this online event, which aimed to spark dialogue about new and emerging research in Antarctica and explore some of the critical issues and wider implications facing the region.

The conference, held on Tuesday 12 August was attended by around 300 students, many of whom presented their own Antarctic research projects.

During his talk, Daniel introduced participants to conservation thinking, and how it applies in remote and extreme environments. He spoke about the cultural legacy and achievements of the polar explorers, the work of the Trust, his experience being part of the Inspiring Explorers™ programme, and the value of sharing it with friends.

"The conference was broadcast by The Royal Society Victoria, which operates out of a beautiful heritage building built by famous Melbourne architect Joseph Reed in 1859. In 1886 the Royal Society Victoria joined with the Geographical Society to form the Australian Antarctic Exploration Committee, which lobbied the Royal Society in London and were responsible for early exploration efforts, so this was a fitting venue for the presentation", says Daniel.

Thanks to Inspiring Explorers™ Fund donors, Expedition Partner @heritageexpeditions , and supporter @cheshirearchitects  for making this journey possible.

📷Inspiring Explorer Daniel Bornstein inside Shackleton's 'Nimrod' Hut, Cape Royds, Antarctica. © AHT/Daniel Bornstein. The Royal Society of Victoria heritage building. © Public Domain

#outreach #Inspire #InspiringExplorer #RossSeaAntarctica #Encourage #Share
Inspiring Explorer Louise Piggin, a Conservation T Inspiring Explorer Louise Piggin, a Conservation Technician at Canterbury Museum, says it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have the opportunity to help conserve, and then return a historic copy of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' back to its former home at 'Discovery' hut, where over a century ago, it would have entertained historic explorers.

“Being offered the unique opportunity to undertake conservation treatment on an Antarctic object and then return it to ‘Discovery’ hut completely blew me away. Although I work with historic items every day, it was something entirely different to conserve and then return ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ back to Antarctica. Placing the book back onto a shelf, perhaps where it was once read by explorers, was a full circle moment I’m not sure I’ll ever experience again. Illuminated by the soft light from a nearby window, the object covered in smudged sooty fingerprints from use in this place, was now back in context. What had felt slightly out of place in the pristine conservation lab in Christchurch, made perfect sense surrounded by lamps, blackened canvas and crates full of food supplies.”

To learn more about Louise’s experiences and reflections, read her blog post through our Link in Bio!

📸Cruising the Drygalski Ice Tongue. © AHT/Louise Piggin
📸The final leg of the journey. ©AHT/Daniel Bornstein
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