Antarctica in a day: What to expect on this bucket list trip, from seeing penguins to a volcano eruption
It seems almost impossible to explore what the Antarctic region has to offer in the space of a day. But that's exactly what I did... one activity I can now tick off on my bucket list.
I'd never been more keen to set my alarm for the wee hours of the morning. I checked in at 7am at the Qantas Domestic Terminal, ready to depart at 8am for the journey ahead.
All up it's a 12-hour trip, four hours of which is spent over the ice, and something I will never forget.
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Yep, you can see Antarctica in a day. Nine
What are the inclusions?
While it's regarded as a domestic flight with no passport required, you get all the perks of flying international. Think full bar service (cheers to the champagne!), meal service (two meals plus snacks) and the standard in-flight entertainment you would expect.
The beauty of the 787 Dreamliner vessel is that the windows are 65 per cent larger than any other vessel of its size, meaning you'll get even greater vision over the ice, which of course means even greater photos.
To offer a different viewing point, halfway through the flight most ticketholders will swap seats except for those with an Explorer Economy Class ticket.
What will you see?
The triangle-like shape towards the centre of the photo is where penguins live. Nine
Pictured is Mount Erebus,the world's southernmost active volcano. Nine
Paths are chosen based on the weather and luckily for me, I was fortunate enough to explore the Antarctic Continent on a "good day".
Alongside scattered ice and mountainous topography, I was able to spot a few icebergs, Mount Erebus, the world's southernmost active volcano, the McMurdo Dry Valleys and even a few penguins!
Watching a volcano erupt in none other than Antarctica is wild beyond words, and the photos and videos simply don't do it justice. Located on Ross Island, Mount Erebus has been active for around 1.3 million years and is the highest active volcano in Antarctica. On board we were able to watch the lava erupt from its inner summit crater on both sides of the aircraft - truly a unique experience.
READ MORE: Penguin causes delay at NZ airport after wandering onto runway
Flying over the McMurdo Dry Valleys. Nine
The location in the Transatlantic Mountains is what makes this region mostly ice-free valleys. Nine
Passengers go over the ice for around four hours. Nine
The fact that one of the world's most extreme deserts is located in Antarctica is something I still can't quite grasp. Flying over the McMurdo Dry Valleys and seeing brown hues as opposed to icy whites is not what you would expect to find in this part of the world.
But as the experts told us from the cockpit, the location in the Transatlantic Mountains is what makes this region full of mostly ice-free valleys. The extremely low humidity and lack of snow and ice cover makes it one of the world's most extreme deserts.
Wild, huh?
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Flights start from $1,199 AUD and go up to $7,999. Nine
What else is good to know?
Prices start from AU$1,199 for the Explorer Economy Class ticket and go up to $7,999 for Business Class Deluxe.
2024/2025 journeys are now available with new dates and information for Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne found on the website here.
The new dates also include an exciting flight out of Melbourne on 31 Dec 2024 which makes for a spectacular New Year's Eve celebration.
