Ice Ice Baby

Photo by Matt Mueller
Words by Adam Blakely

The Tropic of Antarctica

There was a time, during the Pleistocene Age, that much of North America, Europe and Asia lay buried beneath great sheets of glacial ice. Scoping out a giant frozen river or taking in megalithic cliffscapes was as simple as jumping a woolly mammoth up to Bali (where as well as enjoying the inhospitable sub-zero temperatures you could also get a banging beard plait and snowcone Nasi Goreng). Nowadays, the only way we can view the magnificence of this bygone era is by heading south, way down south, to the Antarctic circle - and plenty of us are taking the opportunity. Holidaying in Antarctica has become an increasingly popular alternative to those with a taste for something different. Scenic flights over the region have been hugely successful but more and more visitors are also opting to experience a more physical connection to what is ironically the driest piece of land on earth. Despite the absolute whiteness of the place, Antarctica delivers no shortage of splendor for the senses. From the fantastic pillars of mountainous icebergs to the comical shenanigans of the plentiful penguin populations, the serene sapphire waters of protected bays and the ear-splitting barks of an excited seal colony, all can be enjoyed through a number of ever-growing activities including cruises, treks, kayaking ventures and even scuba diving. Of course, like any holiday, all plans are at the mercy of the weather and a winter storm on the continent can send the mercury plummeting to a chilly -60 degrees. It makes sense then that the best time to visit is during the Southern Hemisphere summer where an average day might sit somewhere around the balmy 10 degree mark.