Coming to New Zealand, I told myself I wanted to do things I wouldn’t do at home. Step out of my comfort zone. Do things I wouldn’t usually want to do. I wanted to find places to visit that I wouldn’t find anywhere else. Well, I’ve never been to an Antarctic Centre before, so why not give it a visit while I’m here in Christchurch with the International Antarctic Centre right near the airport?
I’ve never really put myself out there to learn about Antarctica or any related subjects, besides penguins because they’re cute and I LOVE animals. So I’m kind of going to The International Antarctic Centre with no knowledge of the subject. Opening in 1992, the complex has become a popular tourist spot for those interested in the “icy continent”. The centre keeps the connection between the polar desert and the rest of the world open, allowing people to learn about the important work scientists are doing down there.
So, first things first. You can’t visit the International Antarctic Centre without hopping aboard a hägglund and going for a ride! These vehicles are built for the rough, unpredictable terrain of Antarctica, and the obstacle course at the centre was set out to simulate this environment. We drove over tyres, through water, over hills and down slopes, feeling every bump and thump! If you ever go on one of these, you see those handles hanging from the roof? Hold on! Although it was the most violent ride I’ve ever had, it was definitely the most fun experience at the International Antarctic Centre. It was probably the most fun part of New Zealand actually, everything so far has been very beautiful and calm but this was pure exhilaration!
Next, we tried out the storm room, a simulated Antarctic storm with temperatures of -8 degrees Celsius and wind gusts of -18 degrees Celsius. And yes. It was cold. They gave us proper snow jackets so we wouldn’t completely freeze. But of course, I was the one person to get the jacket with the broken zipper. It was still really cool to experience what an Antarctic storm is like in person. Plus the room was decorated with igloos, tents and vehicles you would see if you were a scientist in Antarctica, just to make it all the more realistic and fun!
It’s penguin time! I’m sure you guys know by now that I absolutely adore animals. The International Antarctic Centre house rescued Little Blue Penguins who are not able to defend themselves in the wild anymore. But these little guys were so fishing (for not wanting to be censored) cute! The way they waddled. The way they paddled in the water. Everything they did was just adorable. And you could really see the different personalities in each penguin. One of them for example was very hesitant to hop into the water, whether that was due to the reason it is being housed at the International Antarctic Centre, or maybe it’s just more shy than the others. One of them was also a little clumsy, but so am I, so I kind of favoured this one. I loved that you could pick up on these different traits by just watching the animals for a while, and trust me as an animal lover, I was there for a long while!
The next stop was the Antarctic Gallery, a museum-type room with everything to do with the continent of Antarctica and the expeditions that have taken place. The centre did a fantastic job creating an atmosphere that made you feel like you were actually on the ice continent, and I learnt a lot here that I didn’t know. We explored further through an icy tunnel, and guess what was on the other side… Huskies! We were told all about how these beautiful dogs helped with the exploration of Antarctica and other icy endeavours, with sadly no recognition for such a demanding job. These huskies were actually very funny, rolling around all over the floor and barking when the speaker was trying to talk. But they were very cute, and we got to pet them and take photos when the presentation was over.
The International Antarctic Centre also has a 4D cinema. No, that’s not a typo. This is like a 3D cinema, except they also include physical effects like water spray, wind and moving chairs to make you feel like you’re actually part of the action on screen. Now yes, this is a really cool idea, especially for those who love 3D movies and want to experience even more. But, I’m not that big of a fan of 3D, and with my sensory issues, I was a little reluctant to try this out. But, I really want to try new things lately and it was only a short film anyway so I decided to give it a shot. The film showed what it was like to travel to Antarctica by boat, and with the 4D effects it did feel like you were on the boat yourself, braving the icy waves and stormy winds. I’ll say it again, the International Antarctic Centre really knows how to make you feel like an icy explorer!
Sadly, the day was over and so was our experience. But I couldn’t let myself forget this place, it definitely goes on the top ten list of my New Zealand Holiday. Their gift store was pretty big with lots of different things to choose from. Lucky me! I found a nice comfortable shirt with “The International Antarctic Centre” on it so that I won’t forget where I got it, as well as a Little Blue Penguin plushie. And yes I mean little. I’m starting to run out of space in my suitcase from all my souvenirs…
The Travel Journal 
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