Antarctica, a photo diary of the great wilderness

When I told people where I was going on my next adventure, there were two reactions. Some would be super excited, and some would ask, “Why are you going there?”

Antarctica has got to be one of the most epic, intimidating and surreal destinations on the planet. From the gigantic, icy peaks that line the shores to all the different the wildlife that call Antarctica home.

Here is my Antarctica photo diary.

As Antarctica is literally at the end of the earth, getting there can be quite difficult if, A) you don’t like flying or B) hate boats. To get to Antarctica via boat you will most likely be crossing the notorious Drake Passage – nicknamed the “Drake Shake” or for the lucky ones the “Drake Lake”. I took all precautions legally available to me to avoid seasickness prior to leaving Australia, but that still didn’t stop the Drake Shake from getting me. It takes about 2-3 days to reach the Antarctic Peninsula from Ushuaia, Argentina. The good thing is, I didn’t miss many (if any) photo opportunities by being in bed sea sick during this time as the view below was what is was like for those 2-3 days. Hot tip – If you plan on crossing the Drake Passage, get a seasickness patch from a doctor…it was a lifesaver!

Our first day visiting the Antarctic Peninsula looked exactly like the below photo…absolutely perfect!

This perfect location is called Danco Island and this is also the very first place I have ever kayaked. I GOT TO KAYAK IN ANTARCTICA!

We spend the next 2-3 hours navigating around Danco Island, taking in the sheer enormity of the landscape, dodging bergy bits (small bits of iceberg) and battling 8-10 knots of wind coupled with a bit of swell. Being a first-time kayaker I am nervous but I don’t fall in…even when we had to get out of our kayaks IN THE OCEAN into a waiting zodiac. My exit from the kayak into the zodiac is not very graceful at all!

I’ve seen my fair share of near perfect sunsets, but my first night in Antarctica has taken the top spot of perfect sunsets. It’s 10:30pm in this photo and it didn’t get much darker than this the whole night. What makes this sunset even better is the fact that there are two humpback whales playing in the bay where we are anchored for the night. Seeing these creatures, free and in their element make me feel as though I am trespassing on their home, but I also feel so very welcome at the same time.

The next few days are filled with LOTS of Gentoo Penguins, icebergs, snowshoeing, camping and more penguins.

Camping in Antarctica? Yep! That’s right, I got to camp in Antarctica!

Layered with two pairs of leggings, my tracky dacks, my ski pants and two jumpers with my jacket I ‘m ready for one very warm, comfortable sleep. The sleeping bags provided are 4 layers thick, very puffy and so warm I only need one layer of clothing!. I’m not as daring as a few of my companions though, who dug holes in the snow and sleep outside! Brrrr!

When I was planning my trip, I was just as excited about seeing icebergs, as I was penguins and seals. The one place to go if you want to see awesome icebergs is the Iceberg Graveyard. How cool is that?! – pun intended 😉

During our time in the Iceberg Graveyard we get lucky and come across two Crabeater Seals (so cute!) just lazing around on some icebergs. Despite their name, they don’t actually eat crabs, they eat krill.

Next, I do the craziest thing I have ever done in my life. I go swimming in Antarctica! Well more or less floundering in the water trying to get out as quickly as possible. It is hands down, the coldest I have ever been in my life but defs one of the best experiences!

Just before I decide to jump into the icy cold water and almost freeze my toes off, we come across one of these guys.

This is a leopard seal, the most formidable hunters of all the seals and easily the scariest. He does pirouettes around and under our zodiac and then swims up to a nearby iceberg and tries and jump out, fail and then come back to our zodiac. It is so awesome!

The whole time I was in Antarctica I felt so privileged to be there, sharing this experience with the wildlife, watching nature at its finest and seeing first hand, what the first explorers would have seen in their wooden boats, is once in a life time experience.

Over to you- is Antarctica on your bucket list?

We can’t get you to Antarctica – but we can get you close.

Flights to Argentina