Antarctic Ship Tours Sold Out

Antarctic Ship Tours

There’s been a huge response to the public tours of the Antarctic ships Aurora Australis and L’Astrolabe during the Australian Antarctic Festival (8-11 Sept.).  We are now entirely sold out, but there’s still a lot to see at Princes Wharf, so don’t miss out!  If you have been lucky enough to score a ticket to tour the ships, please remember these rules – they are very important!

• You must bring a valid ticket and present it at the Check-In Counter on Princes Wharf.

• You will be asked to produce Photo ID (for adults; children 8-17 must be accompanied by an adult).

• Tours are not suitable for children under the age of 8.

• You must collect your Boarding Pass at the Check-In Counter.

• Please arrive 15 minutes early – tours leave on time.  There are no refunds if you miss your tour.

• You must wear closed shoes and we recommend leggings or trousers for everyone.

Antarctic ship tours last approximately one hour, and you will get to visit all the main areas of the vessel.  Pre-booked, guided tours are the only way to visit the ships – there is no general admission on the day.  Strict security rules apply, similar to what you might expect at any Australian airport. You must have a valid ticket, printed at home, and present it with your photo ID to obtain your Boarding Pass. There are no refunds for no-shows and all tours are booked out.

Great Antarctic Expo in PW1

If you have missed out on the ship tours, there’s still a great deal to see at the Antarctic Expo in Princes Wharf No., open all day on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September, from 10am to 4pm.  We have Antarctic vehicles including the all-terrain Hagglunds tractors, an A350B3 helicopter and AAD Zodiac, along with fascinating exhibits from the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force, CSIRO, Elphinstone Engineering and many more.  Chimu Adventures and Antarctica Flights will show you how you might fulfil your dream of going to Antarctica and we are delighted to present the Ernest Shackleton Story, courtesy of the Australian National Maritime Museum.  It’s all free and you can also tour the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) for their Public Open Days on Saturday and Sunday.

Discover the magic of Antarctica at the Australian Antarctic Festival.  There’s lots more to see – go to our Festival Program to check all out.