Your Ultimate Guide to
Antarctica
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
ON SALE NOW INTRODUCING
U LT R A M A R I N E GOING BEYOND IN THE POLAR SEAS Some travelers stand at the water’s edge, look out into the distance and wonder: “How far away is that point on the horizon?” And then there are those of us who ask instead: “But what’s past that point on the horizon? That’s where I want to go—and beyond.”
THAT’S WHY WE’RE BUILDING ULTRAMARINE. Ultramarine will be more than just a ship. Quark Expeditions’ new technologically-advanced vessel will be an unrivalled operational base for polar adventures. In the hands of the most experienced and passionate expedition team in the industry, Ultramarine will allow our guests to maximize their expedition experience, push their boundaries and experience the life-changing magic of the polar regions.
*Terms & Conditions apply
Helicopter Flightseeing Excursion included
Exceptional Comfort
Two Twin-Engine Helicopters and Twin Helidecks
Advanced Sustainability
Quick-Deploy Zodiacs
Ultramarine is designed to get you off the ship and deep into the polar wilderness faster and safer than ever before, while minimizing the ship’s environmental footprint to an extent previously unseen for a vessel of this size.
ULTRAMARINE WILL TAKE YOU PLACES NO ONE ELSE CAN.
Contact your travel professional for more information. www.QuarkExpeditions.com
www.signatureluxurytravel.com.au CEO & Group Editor Cathy Wagstaff cathywagstaff@signaturemedia.com.au Editor Natasha Dragun General Manager Tina-Louise Jackson Associate Publisher Cara Wagstaff Head Designer Gemma Kightly Digital Managers Samantha Rowntree, Lisa Wagstaff Guest Contributor Natarsha Brown Business Development Managers Colleen Hinch, Nicola McClean, Howard Shaw, Virginia Shirley Advertising Enquiries sales@signaturemedia.com.au General Enquiries admin@signaturemedia.com.au +61 2 9406 4400
Signature Luxury Travel & Style is Australia’s leading and highest circulated travel magazine, reaching more than 230,000 high-net-worth individuals quarterly. Quark Expeditions has spent the last three decades taking travellers to remote parts of the Arctic and Antarctic. Since the first tourist transit of the Northeast Passage in 1991, the company has continued to deliver industry breaking firsts, including the launch of its game-changing ship, Ultramarine, designed to go beyond the familiar in polar expedition, to discover new places and immerse passengers in the best the regions have to offer. Follow Quark on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to newsletters for up-to-date cruising and destination information.
Published by Signature Media PO Box 1825 Chatswood NSW 2057 Australia
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S I G N AT U R E
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Foreword
01 Up close with the penguins of South Georgia © David Merron
U
pon returning from their voyage to the magical seventh continent, firsttime visitors to the Antarctic recount (almost without fail) how they were humbled by the staggering beauty of Antarctica – passionately recalling the icebergs, glaciers, ice-laden waterways, snow-covered mountain tops and incredible wildlife. They speak of life-changing experiences: off-ship adventures that took them out of their comfort zone; sitting in a Zodiac watching whales breach the surface of the water; standing at the edge of a rookery witnessing thousands of penguins in their natural habitat… This ebook contains those lifealtering experiences, and much more. You’ll learn about our new polar vessel, Ultramarine, which – with
its two twin-engine helicopters and 20 fast-launching Zodiacs – forever changes the way we explore the polar regions. You’ll also learn more about Quark Expeditions’ passionate commitment to protecting and conserving the polar regions, and how our guests play a vital role in achieving this mission. This ebook also shares insights into daily life on board a polar vessel. Most importantly, we bring to life the magic of an Antarctic expedition. We look forward to welcoming you on board with Quark Expeditions!
Jarrod Zurvas
Quark Expeditions Regional Sales Director, Asia Pacific
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Contents
28 Win
one of five $50 EFTPOS vouchers! Find out how on page 44.
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Southern Exposure
We uncover what has been drawing adventurers to the Antarctic region since the times of Shackleton.
20 W hich Cruise to Choose? Want to explore wildlife-filled islands? Keen to spend time skiing, snowshoeing and hiking? Here are the itineraries best suited to every type of adventurer.
26 E xpedition Leaders Speak Up We talk to the people that make your Quark Expeditions journey to Antarctica so amazing.
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34 Going Green on the Great White Continent A pioneer in sustainable tourism in Antarctica, Quark has grand ambitions for preserving this fragile part of the world.
40 Th e Future of Cruising A look at the design features that make new ship Ultramarine so special.
42 P acking Guide What are the essential items to pack in your suitcase, and what should you leave at home?
28 O nly in Antarctica From dunking your head below icy water to soaring above it, we reveal eight Antarctic experiences that will give you goosebumps.
32 E ssential Antarctica Quirky facts and figures that reveal the scale and importance of the continent.
Cover Image Drifting past soaring icebergs is a highlight in Antarctica. Š David Merron
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SOUTHERN Natarsha Brown discovers what has been drawing adventurers to the Antarctic region since the time of Shackleton.
EXPOSURE
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s a black-spotted leopard seal surfaces just 10 metres from our idling kayaks – gracefully scaling onto an iceberg and lazily flopping itself down – our group falls eerily silent. Fierce and feline-looking, it stares at us with a curious and predatory gaze as we drift quietly by. Only once we are out of view does anyone dare make a sound. “Well, that was a complete shock!” exclaims our expedition leader. “I have never been that close to one of those before.”
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With steaming hot chocolates in hand, we continue gliding through the mirrored reflections of dwarfing snow-capped mountains and bobbing brash ice, which chinks against our boats like cubes in a cocktail glass. At sea level, the frozen landscapes somehow appear even more grand: luminescent glaciers loom ahead and our cruise ship becomes an increasingly smaller speck on the retreating horizon. As in most surreal situations, things keep getting dreamier. While making our way over to the wreck of the Norwegian vessel Guvernøren – a haunting reminder of the whaling heyday at Wilhelmina Bay – an Adelie penguin starts porpoising alongside, it’s furlike feathers glistening in the sunlight. I am so enthralled, it takes me a moment to notice the whiskered Weddell seal lolling on the snowbank above. It yawns nonchalantly and rolls over, utterly unperturbed by our presence.
A land of extremes
Ours is a 16-night voyage encompassing South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula on Quark Expeditions’ World Explorer. Every suite has either a private walk-out or French balcony, expert-led lectures are held twice daily in the theatre and the open-seating restaurant serves up three-course dinners each night, with menu items ranging from beef bourguignon to seared Alaskan salmon. The most important space on board, however, is ‘The Mudroom’ – where we are called, group by group, to don our boots and canary-yellow life jackets before alighting one of the Zodiacs to be ferried ashore.
01 A group of gentoos resting on an ice cap 02 & 03 Elephant seals at Gold Harbour 04 Zodiac views of South Georgia’s glaciers
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Want to know what Antarctica sounds like? Click here to find out.
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We spend three days in the wildlife-rich South Georgia wandering among cawing colonies of king penguins and their clumsy, fluffy-brown chicks at St. Andrews Bay; hiking to a hidden lake among the lofty peaks of Godthul bay; and paying tribute to Shackleton with a shot of whisky after ducking between whaling station relics and the gregarious fur seals that have taken residence at Grytviken, before making a pit stop on the South Orkney Islands so we can learn about the everyday workings of a remote research station. When we start to to move again, craggy floes begin to make way for sculpted icebergs, some the size of six-storey buildings.
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"Perhaps the most rewarding experience of all is taking a quiet moment to absorb the desolate and chilling beauty"
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Most magnificent
Antarctica lays claim to a lot of the world’s ‘mosts’: it experiences the most acute cold, the most powerful winds and is home to the most accumulations of ice. The knowledge that you are visiting the most immense wilderness on Earth – 4,649 kilometres from civilisation, with the notorious Drake Passage separating you from Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city – is also a major draw, the continent’s sheer enormity and raw and tenacious conditions proving an allure for all types of adventurers. Despite its unrelenting extremes, the sub-Antarctic region is home to all manner of animals – and we see them
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05 An endless spread of king penguins 06 A proud-looking fur seal at St. Andrew’s Bay 07 Incredible views at Godthul 08 World’s Explorer’s cabin balconies
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Click here to see what life on board a Quark Expeditions ship in Antarctica is really like.
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all. Even a pod of orcas, which materialise beside the ship as we are gathered in the glass-domed Observation Lounge for a guided bird-watching session. And the elusive blue whale, whose small dorsal fin glanced above the Scotia Sea to the delighted gasps of staff and passengers alike. We make our first landing at Portal Point on the Antarctic Peninsula, trudging through kneedeep powder to take the obligatory photo with the ‘seventh continent’ flag, before cruising to Cuverville Island to watch the charming tetea-tete courtship display of gentoo penguins. While every species has its charms – the chinstrap’s soldier-like imprint, the macaroni’s stiff orange monobrows giving them the look of a James Bond villain, the Adelie’s tuxedo-like coat and the king’s humanlike mannerisms – it’s the gentoo’s romantic pebble exchanges I love most of all. I laugh as one particularly tenacious male darts around, stealing from other nests, eventually producing the perfect rock for his beloved. While passengers are instructed to stand a minimum of five metres away from the wildlife at all times and I try to keep a respectful distance, the natural inquisitiveness of the
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D E S T I N AT I O N
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09 A lone gentoo at Neko Harbour 10 A blue sky day at South Orkney Islands 11 Stepping foot on the seventh continent 12 A lazy pair of crabeater seals
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13 13 Up-close with a chinstrap penguin 14 A lone Wedell seal. All images © Natarsha Brown
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penguins often negates any efforts – one waddles up to my boots, gawkily squawks at the sky, and moves on. Each landscape is more dramatic than the next. Yet nothing prepares me for the otherworldliness of Neko Harbour: the clouds are low, the air is still, the polar silence punctuated only by an ancient glacier cracking its colossal knuckles, calving into the calm, inky black waters below. In this magical moment, a pod of humpback whales fluke in
tandem on either side of the ship. Goosebumps are an understatement. In 1911 Roald Amundsen, the first man to reach the South Pole, wrote in his expedition diary that: “by the sun, the land looks like a fairytale”. Today, it is just as bewitching. Perhaps the most rewarding experience of all is simply taking a quiet moment to absorb the desolate and chilling beauty of this boundless continent, lying at the end of the world; uncompromising, unconquerable and unknowable.
Click here for more advice on visiting Antarctica.
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ARGENTINA
CHILE Ushuaia
DELVE DEEPER With so many diverse and intriguing destinations to explore, it can be difficult to choose the itinerary for you. Here, we delve deeper into the highlights of the Antarctic region. Fjords, glaciers, rugged coastlines; humpback, penguins, sea lions; hiking, swimming, skiing… there’s a lot to do and see in Antarctica. And the cruise itinerary you choose will have some impact on the experiences and encounters you have over the course of your journey.
Drake Passage
The Drake Passage extends about 1,000 kilometres between Cape Horn – on the tip of South America – and the South Shetland Islands. Crossing is a rite of passage for polar travellers: this journey is known as the ‘Drake Shake’ for a reason (when still, it’s dubbed the ‘Drake Lake’). Spot whales (humpback, orca, minke and fin) and seabirds during the journey. Don’t want to put your sea legs to the test? Quark also offers a fly/cruise option, so you can skip the Drake Passage.
Click here to get a feel for Antarctica’s attractions, at a glance.
ANTARCTICA
S I G N AT U R E
/ ITINERARIES
Stanley
FALKLAND ISLANDS
SOUTH GEORGIA
Drake Passage
KING GEORGE ISLAND SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS
ANVIERS ISLAND Nekko Harbour
Wilhelmina Bay
Marguerite Bay
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
S I G N AT U R E
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Antarctic Peninsula Want to experience exquisite isolation and icy landscapes unlike anywhere else in the world? The Antarctic Peninsula is the best way to get a taste of this vast and wild seventh continent. Be humbled by the staggering beauty – icebergs, glaciers, fjords, inlets and snowcovered mountains of every conceivable shape and size. For those interested in adventure, this is your chance to try stand-up paddleboarding, go camping, join heliadventures and more.
Neko Harbour
Neko Harbour, which was named after the Neko whaling ship and floating factory that operated here from 1911 to 1924, is bordered on one side by giant glaciers, which commonly carve before your very eyes. Gentoo penguins breed on the cobblestone beach, which is also a popular location for Weddell and fur seals; meanwhile, birders are drawn to the area due to the high concentration of skuas.
Danco Island
Despite its relatively small size (1.6 kilometres long and 180 metres high), Danco Island – sitting in the middle of the Errera Channel – is home to a staggering 2,000-plus pairs of breeding gentoo penguins. Humpback and minke whales pass through the channel towards the end of summer as well.
Antarctic Circle
Crossing the Circle is an achievement, as most expeditions don’t reach this far south – 66°33´S. Celebrate with a glass of bubbles, taking pride knowing you’ve made it to a part of the world few see.
Lemaire Channel
Nicknamed ‘Kodak Gap’, this channel is a photographer’s dream, wonderfully calm and covered in reflections of the surrounding glaciers and mountains.
Wilhelmina Bay
Clockwise from above The Lemaire Channel © Acacia Johnson; Hiking the seventh continent © Acacia Johnson; Spotting humpbacks © David Merron; Crossing the circle © David Merron
This stretch of sea also has a monicker: ‘Whale-mina Bay’. You get the idea... it’s one of the best places in the world to spot all manner of these marine mammals.
Click here to see what it’s like to explore South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
South Georgia
Grytviken
Stromness
South Georgia is a mustdo if you want to witness wildlife in unimaginable and incredible hordes. The island is often on bucket lists for its huge colonies (think, millions) of penguins and other animals – although you still see remnants of abandoned whaling outposts scattered throughout.
St. Andrews Bay
Salisbury Plain
Clockwise from above Still waters make for excellent Zodiac cruises © David Merron; The wildlife-rich shores of South Georgia © David Merron; Penguins by the thousands on South Georgia © David Merron
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The largest of South Georgia’s former whaling stations, this is a mandatory port of call for all visitors (to get their passport stamped). The attractive harbour is home to a church, museum, post office and the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton.
This 3.2-kilometre beach on Georgia – framed by rugged mountains – is home to more than 300,000 king penguins, the island’s largest colony (as well as countless seals). The colour, noise and smell guarantee a sensory overload.
South Georgia’s wellpreserved former whaling station is where you can hike the last few miles from Fortuna Bay on the ‘Shackleton Walk’, following the footsteps of his gruelling 1916 journey to save his men on Elephant Island.
This slip of South Georgia is best known as the breeding ground for as many as 60,000 king penguins, not to mention elephant and fur seals. Incredibly, these creatures are as curious as they are cute – have your camera at the ready.
S I G N AT U R E
The Falkland Islands
South Shetland Islands
Immerse yourself in early Antarctic exploration on these sub-Antarctic islands of the South Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago contains two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, and is rich in wildlife – most notably birds, home to Magellanic, gentoo and southern rock hopper penguins, as well as two endemic species, the Falkland steamer duck and the elusive Cobb’s wren.
Located 120 kilometres north of the Falklands, the South Shetland Islands are often the first stop for those travelling en route to the Antarctic Peninsula. Wildlife enthusiasts come for the various species of penguins (gentoo, Adélie and chinstrap), seals and orcas.
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Port Stanley
Also known as Stanley, this town is the capital of the Falkland Islands. A quintessential British town all the way on the other end of the globe, Stanley offers a glimpse into daily life with pubs, churches and museums.
Click here to see what it’s like to partner with Penguin Watch.
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Meet the
TEAM
Ever wondered what it’s like to work on a Quark Expeditions ship in Antarctica? Read on to find out more about the people that make your journey so memorable.
Edward (Ed) Webster ROLE Historian FROM Raised in Lexington, Massachusetts, in the US PAST LIFE Degree in anthropology. My writing and photographs have appeared worldwide in dozens of publications, and I’ve also penned an autobiography. PASSIONS I’m a veteran of seven Himalayan expeditions, and am an avid rock climber and mountaineer. FUN FACT I’m one of only three mountaineers cited in Trivial Pursuit (the other two are Mount Everest’s first ascensionists, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay).
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Annie Inglis ROLE Marine Biologist FROM The outback of Australia TIME IN POLAR REGIONS Every polar season since 2002 LIFE BEFORE Education in sciences and management. I also have my commercial skipper’s licence. PASSIONS I continue to be amazed, and humbled, by the beauty of this remote area. I have a true passion for (and knowledge of) the incredible wildlife, history and ecology of the world’s farflung polar regions.
Adrian Boyle ROLE Ornithologist FROM South Australia LIFE WHEN NOT AT SEA I first visited Antarctica in 2006, and started working for Quark in 2012/13. Since then, I’ve spent four months of every year in the region. At other times, I work for Quark in the Arctic; I also spend two months of the year studying migratory shorebirds in China for the Global Flyway Network. PASSIONS I’m keen on all wildlife, but my main passion is birds. CRAZIEST EXPERIENCE Visiting the Danger Islands and seeing a staggering amount of Adelie penguins: three million of them!
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Wayne Broomfield ROLE Logistics Coordinator, Inuit Guide FROM Nunatsiavut, Labrador, in Canada PAST LIFE I grew up on the water practicing traditional Inuit ways, transferring those skills into a variety of work through cruise ships, or for Parks Canada at the Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station. I’m also the former mayor of Makkovik! PASSIONS I love my Inuit culture: hunting, fishing and spending time out on the land and water.
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EXPERTS
David (Woody) Wood ROLE Expedition Leader (extraordinaire) FROM Australia PAST LIFEE I have a degree in political science and law, and previously worked in a paediatrics hospital. PASSIONS I love the ocean and wild places at the extreme ends of the planet: landscapes, ice, wildlife and polar history. I spend as much time as possible on ships heading into the ice. There’s nothing better than being enchanted by polar regions.
Phil Wickens
Boomer Jerritt
ROLE Geologist FROM London, UK TIME AT SEA A decade PAST LIFE PhD in plant pathology. I then spent time working as a field guide for the British Antarctic Survey, on geology projects deep in the heart of Antarctica. PASSIONS I’m a keen climber and ski mountaineer, and have led numerous expeditions to remote mountains in the greater ranges. FUN FACT I’ve climbed almost 150 Antarctic summits, including 50 that were previously unclimbed. In 2019, I completed the first ski traverse along the narrowest sections of the Antarctic Peninsula.
ROLE Photographer FROM Canada PAST LIFE I had my own photography business for more than 25 years and have authored three photography books. PASSIONS I’ve always been an active participant in nature’s ‘outdoor playground’ and am a passionate photo educator, working to unlock the creative within us all.
Click here to meet more of the Quark team.
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ONLY IN
Antarctica
From dunking your head below icy water to soaring above it, here are 8 Antarctic experiences that will give you goosebumps.
1.
Go ahead and jump!
Taking the polar plunge is a rite of passage on any Antarctic cruise. Don your swimsuit, take a shot of tequila and leap into that freezing water – it’s a moment you won’t forget in a hurry.
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Walk with penguins There aren’t many places in the world where you can get up (reasonably) close and personal with penguins. Antarctica is one. While there are strict rules around interacting with wildlife, many creatures are naturally curious and will want to check you out.
3.
Have a whale of a time It’s one thing spotting humpback whales from a distance – it’s another seeing them breach metres from your kayak or Zodiac. Getting up close and personal with these gentle giants will leave you speechless.
02 01 The plunge is a rite of passage © David Merron 02 It’s hard to beat sea-level sightings of wildlife © David Merron 03 Ultramarine’s heli experiences 04 Balancing on a SUP © Michelle Sole
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See stars
With no streetlights, no cars and no skyscrapers, light pollution in Antarctica is non-existent. Which makes star gazing a dazzling affair. Get cosy in a sleeping bag on the snow and prepare for the coolest night of your life.
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5.
Get sky high for a bird’s-eye view
The best way to grasp the vastness of the world’s most southern continent is from the air. New Quark Expeditions’ ship Ultramarine comes with twinengine choppers that are the perfect perch to gaze over icebergs and glaciers.
S I G N AT U R E
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Do your research
Many countries have research facilities in Antarctica, including Argentina (Brown Station) and the Ukraine (Vernadsky Research Base) – at the latter, you can order a shot of housedistilled vodka to warm your bones.
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EXPERIENCES
Pull out your postcards
The museum at Port Lockroy gives you a glimpse into what life was like for yesteryear researchers stationed in Antarctica. More importantly, it’s home to the Penguin Post Office, the most southern of its kind in the world.
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Paddle, polar style
Core in check? Test it out on a standup paddleboard, gliding past icebergs while on the lookout for curious Gentoo penguins and Weddell seals. Between your fellow passengers and the wildlife, you’ll have quite the audience.
Click here to see what adventure activities await in polar regions.
FUN FACTS So you’re heading to the world’s most southern continent? Here are just some of the things that make Antarctica so unique.
Around 90 per cent of all the ice on Earth is found in Antarctica, with the continent’s ice sheet covering a staggering 14 million square
kilometres. If it were to melt, sea levels would rise by 60 metres. In addition to this massive amount of ice, Antarctica is home to more than 70 per cent of the world's fresh water.
Antarctica is not only the highest and windiest continent on Earth,
01 Savouring the icy, otherwordly landscape © Acacia Johnson
but also the coldest. The frostiest temperature in world history was
recorded here, coming in at -89.2°C. It’s also one of the driest places on the planet – there’s so little rainfall that it’s considered a desert.
Despite the chill factor, Antarctica is home to a number of volcanoes, two of them active, as well as lava lakes with liquid magma.
There are no permanent residents in Antarctica, but over the course of the year between 1,000 and 5,000 people live here, operating some 80 different research stations. Get deep and you’ll discover Lake Vostok, a freshwater lake buried
beneath 3.7 kilometres of solid ice. There are around 200 other similar liquid lakes over the continent. Given the harsh conditions, no trees or shrubs grow here.
There are, however, two types of flowering plants: Antarctic hair grass and pearlwort. The majority of the world's meteorites are discovered in Antarctica. This doesn’t mean more fall here than anywhere else – the black rocks just stand out more against the white of the ice and snow. Click here to read more fun facts about Antarctica.
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GOING GREEN A pioneer in sustainable tourism and conservation in Antarctica, Quark Expeditions has grand ambitions for preserving this fragile part of the world.
See how small actions make big differences.
ON THE GREAT WHITE CONTINENT
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hile record-breaking cold temperatures have been recorded in Antarctica, in recent years the continent has also seen record highs: 21 degrees Celsius in February 2020, in fact. The impact of climate change on the world’s most southern continent could be devastating for the entire planet, with ice and snow melt causing oceans around the world to rise, and warmer seas threatening global marine life. While many argue that more ships, and people, coming here is contributing to this very event, Quark Expeditions – like many polar scientists – has always 01 World Explorer © Guillaume Marion 02 Ice caps are vital to gentoo penguin populations © David Merron 03 Spotting the elusive leopard seal © Acacia Johnson
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Managing tourists
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The number of visitors to Antarctica is rising, with 56,000 people travelling here over the 2018/2019 season. There are strict rules in place to manage where they go, with tourism permitted for five months of the year and concentrated in two per cent of the Antarctic. While many people never step foot on land (bigger ships are prohibited from docking), smaller ships are also limited to a maximum of 100 people on the ice at any given time.
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How to be a responsible tourist • Keep your distance Antarctic animals are a curious bunch; while they may come up to you, try to keep a distance of five metres at all times. Touching and feeding the wildlife is prohibited.
• Turn off your flash You’ll take thousands of photos in Antarctica, but make sure your flash is off when you’re around animals.
• Lower your voice Yelling, squealing, screaming and talking at the top of your voice will frighten wildlife at best, and make them mad at worst.
• Leave contamination at home Antarctica is pristine, and to keep it this way, Quark issues special boots before you step on the ice. These are decontaminated after every excursion.
• Leave behind only footprints, take only photos
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believed that visiting Antarctica will turn travellers into passionate advocates against climate change. Travel has the power to inspire and educate, in so doing altering perceptions about the environment, and how we can preserve and improve it. That doesn’t mean the company is not dedicated to reducing its footprint across the continent, however. In addition to being a founding member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) – the body that oversees tourism across the continent – Quark has established a ‘Polar Promise’ to create a comprehensive framework for sustainability around this spectacular wilderness region. As part of this commitment, Quark launched the first-ever carbon-neutral
Don’t drop your rubbish on the ice, and don’t pick up souvenirs to take home.
• Watch your step There aren’t many plants in Antarctica, and those that are present can take years, decades even, to grow. Watch your step!
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voyage to Antarctica in 2012. Since then, the company has eliminated single-use plastics on ships, cut emissions from vessels by 28 per cent and, during the 2018/19 Antarctic season, established the SeaGreen recycling initiative, diverting 647 cubic metres of recyclable material away from landfill (Quark Expeditions was only responsible for 270 cubic metres of this total). Every year, more than US$500,000 is raised through in-kind donations, Quark funding, and funds from passenger auctions to support key polar environmental research,
community engagement and sustainable development projects. Some of the organisations currently benefiting from this Quark investment include the South Georgia Heritage Trust, Penguin Watch and Seabird Watch. The company is thinking even bigger for the future, aiming to reduce carbon emissions per passenger by 10 per cent and have a zero-waste plan on Quark Expeditions-owned vessels by 2025. By this time, the positive benefits of bringing people to the polar regions will far outweigh any impact of taking people there.
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Polar Promise at a Glance Quark Expeditions has impressive goals for Antarctic conservation. Here’s their Polar Promise, in numbers.
28% 05
04 Appreciating a sea-level view © Nicky Souness 05 Capturing an Adelie penguin © David Merron 06 An animal of the ice © David Merron
See how Quark Expeditions is working to protect polar regions.
The amount that emissions from Quark Expeditions vessels have decreased since 2010.
95%
The reduced volume of waste on board new Quark ships thanks to the introduction of Micro Auto Gasification Systems that thermally break down waste.
647
The number of cubic metres of recyclable material diverted from landfill during the 2018/19 season thanks to the SeaGreen recycling initiative.
US
$500,000
The annual figure Quark Expeditions aims to raise to fund vital polar research initiatives, community engagement and sustainable development projects.
10%
The figure, per passenger, that Quark aims to reduce its carbon emissions by come 2025.
0
The number of single use plastics on Quark Expeditions ships. Not a single one across any ship in the fleet.
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The future
of cruising
The newest ship in the Quark Expeditions’ fleet, Ultramarine, unites style and sustainability.
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Quark Expeditions’ president Andrew White describes Ultramarine as “more than just a ship – it’s an unrivalled operational base for polar adventure”. Indeed, the newest, most advanced addition to the brand’s fleet (sailing from 2021) comes with just about every bell and whistle imaginable, not only to make the journey comfortable for guests, but to ensure the future survival of this fragile landscape. There’s space on board for just 199 guests and 140 crew, in classy cabins that are all blond wood with marine accents. Public spaces are just as sleek, from the sauna with picture windows framing icebergs, to the Panorama Lounge, offering equally enviable views paired with fine wines and cocktails. There’s smart technology throughout, including enhanced connectivity, real-time translation services and large-screen displays in the lecture theatre.
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01 The sleek dining room on Ultramarine 02 Ultramarine cuts a striking form amid the ice 03 Cabins on Ultramarine unite blond wood with marine tones 03
Click here to read more about Ultramarine.
Fleet Force
These are the things you see – behind the scenes there’s another world of high-tech engineering at work to ensure the comfort of guests while exploring Antarctica. As expected, there are stabilizers to guarantee a smooth-as-possible crossing of the Drake Passage, as well as a host of features included to minimise the ship’s environmental impact (see ‘Fleet Force’ panel). And then there are the toys, designed to take any expedition to new heights. Like the pair of twinengine helicopters (Ultramarine is the only polar vessel with two landing pads), meaning you can reach breathtaking landscapes only accessible by air, faster than anyone else. And the water-level Zodiac hangar, built with 20 quick-deploy Zodiacs and two Ready Rooms, so you can spend less time waiting to explore and more time out in the great white wilderness.
The two newest technologicallyadvanced additions to the Quark Expeditions fleet, World Explorer and Ultramarine were designed with polar environments in mind. Both are equipped with a Micro Auto Gasification System that thermally breaks down waste, reducing its volume by 95 per cent. This means the ships can cruise for 40 days without discharging solid waste. The latter ship also has LED lighting, with the potential to use 50 per cent less energy than standard fluoro lighting, and will also use half the amount of fuel as older, chartered vessels of a similar size.
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S I G N AT U R E
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Cruise clothes You can spend a lot of time on the ship, and it may get warm indoors. Bring some lighter clothing items that you can wear in your cabin and to dinners – which are always a three-course affair.
Camera and binoculars Antarctica is immensely photogenic – you’ll want a great camera and zoom lens, to ensure you don’t miss a moment. Good-quality binoculars are also essential, to get you up close and personal with the wildlife.
Cruise edit THE
Above and beyond your daily essentials, there are a few items you’ll want to make sure you add to your suitcase before cruising off to Antarctica – and some you can leave behind.
Hat, scarf, gloves Make sure your beanie covers your ears, and that your scarf or neck gaiter can be pulled up to cover your mouth. Bring a couple of pairs of gloves: ideally liners and two pairs of waterproof gloves.
Swimsuit You’ll need this for when you take the polar plunge. You will do it, trust us!
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Comfy, flat and enclosed shoes are essential while on the ship, and must have a non-slip sole. Don’t bring sandals or heels.
Shoulder bag
On the ice you’re in so many layers of clothing a backpack won’t fit. Bring a sturdy water-resistant shoulder bag or drybag instead.
Waterproof pants Durable waterproof pants are essential for going ashore as you’ll likely encounter splashes of water during Zodiac operations or snow while walking ashore. They help to keep your under layers dry so you can explore without feeling the cold.
Polar Boutique If you jump on your ship and realise you’ve left an essential item of clothing behind, don’t fret; Quark’s onboard Polar Boutique is well stocked.
Leave it at home
Enclosed shoes
No need to bring heavy hiking boots on board – Quark loans all guests special Muck Boots for the duration of the expedition, which are not only warm but ultracomfy for hiking through the rocks and snow. You can also leave your winter jacket behind. At the start of your trip you’ll be gifted a signature yellow Quark Parka, which is yours to keep and pull out on your next polar journey. It’s fully waterproof, insulated, has a cosy hood and comes with a detachable inner jacket. If you have a favourite waterbottle, by all means bring it along. But you will receive a recycled plastic waterbottle at the start of the expedition, and you can refill yours at drinking stations around the ship.
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ONE OF FIVE $50 EFTPOS VOUCHERS! Simply tell us in 25 words or less about one Antarctica experience that will give you goosebumps? (Hint: turn to page 28) Click here for your chance to win
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Think you know everything about the world’s most southern continent? Take our 10-question quiz to see whether you’re an ice queen… or a hot mess.
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SOUTH GEORGIA & ANTARCTICA Set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains and host to the largest concentration of wildlife on Earth, South Georgia and Antarctica are two of the most remote and beautiful places on earth. Their sprawling landscapes will provide you with unparalleled opportunities to immerse yourself in a place that few travellers have ever set foot. Dive into the rich history of Antarctic exploration, and come face-to-face with thousands of curious King penguins, lounging elephant seals, and flocks of wandering albatross. Experience the magic of the polar regions first-hand with Quark Expeditions, the leader in polar adventures.
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Contact your preferred travel advisor or Quark Expeditions at:
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