Antarctica

A Summary:

• Most Antarctica tours from Australia route through South America. You fly from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth to Santiago or Buenos Aires, then connect south to Ushuaia in Argentina or Punta Arenas in Chile to join your ship.
• The Antarctic season runs from November to March. Each month offers something different, from pristine ice and courting penguins early in the season to heavy whale activity and fledging chicks in late summer.
• You can sail the Drake Passage in roughly two days each way, or fly over it in about two hours on a fly-cruise departure from Punta Arenas. Several of our itineraries do one of each.
• A small number of voyages sail south directly from Hobart or southern New Zealand to the Ross Sea and East Antarctica. These run three to four weeks and reach the historic huts of Scott and Shackleton.
• Allow at least three weeks away for an Antarctic Peninsula voyage, and consider pairing it with Patagonia, Buenos Aires or the Atacama while you are at that end of the world.

Why Book Antarctica Tours from Australia with The Classic Safari Company?

Antarctica tours from Australia are expedition voyages rather than conventional cruises, and almost all of them begin with a long-haul flight to the southern tip of South America before you board a small, ice-strengthened ship. Getting the sequence right matters, and that is the part we handle.

Owned by no one and visited by few, Antarctica is the world’s coldest, windiest and wildest continent, and the last genuine travel frontier. Visiting the frozen south is by no means a usual trip, but with the right team organising the expedition it becomes an eye-opening, transformative experience that lingers with every explorer who makes the journey.

Magnificent icebergs, carved by the elements into natural sculptures, float serenely while seals bask on their icy shelves. Humpback whales with barnacled heads breach the glassy surface of the ocean and busybody penguins chatter in their thousands.

Abandoned shelters of polar explorers, rusting whaling outposts and scientific research stations are the only ghosts of human presence, and they are few and far between.

The Classic Safari Company has been arranging expedition travel for Australian travellers for more than three decades. We plan the whole journey: the long-haul flights, the buffer nights before embarkation, the right vessel for the experience you want, and the South American extensions that make the distance worth travelling.

How Do You Get to Antarctica From Australia?

There is no direct commercial route from Australia to the Antarctic Peninsula. Almost all Antarctic travel begins in one of two small cities at the bottom of South America, so a tour from Australia starts with a long-haul flight across the Pacific.

Which Route Do Most Australian Travellers Take?

The standard routing is Australia to Santiago or Buenos Aires, then a domestic connection further south. Qantas and LATAM fly from the east coast of Australia to Santiago, with onward services to Punta Arenas and Ushuaia. Travelling from Perth, a routing through the Middle East to Buenos Aires can be faster and sometimes cheaper. From Buenos Aires, the flight to Ushuaia takes about three and a half hours.

Expect 19 to 24 hours in the air before connections. We always build in at least one night in your gateway city before embarkation, because a missed connection cannot be recovered once the ship has sailed.

Should You Sail the Drake Passage or Fly Over It?

Both are available, and the choice shapes the whole trip. The Drake Passage separates Cape Horn from the South Shetland Islands, a stretch of roughly 1,000 kilometres that takes about 48 hours to cross by expedition ship in each direction.

Sailing it is part of the tradition. You approach the ice the way the early explorers did, with albatross and petrels trailing the ship and the sea state entirely at the mercy of the Southern Ocean. Conditions range from the glassy calm sailors call the Drake Lake to the considerably more memorable Drake Shake.

Flying over it takes about two hours. Fly-cruise voyages depart Punta Arenas and land on King George Island in the South Shetlands, where your ship is waiting. You save close to four days at sea, which means either a shorter trip or more time actually in Antarctica. Fly-cruise fares sit higher, and the flights are weather-dependent, so some flexibility in your schedule is essential.

Several of our itineraries fly one way and sail the other. For travellers who want the experience of the crossing without committing to it twice, this is the sensible compromise.

Can You Sail to Antarctica Directly from Australia?

Yes, although departures are limited and voyages are considerably longer. A handful of expedition ships sail south from Hobart, or from Bluff and Dunedin in southern New Zealand, to reach the Ross Sea and East Antarctica.

These voyages involve about seven days of sailing in each direction and typically run 25 to 30 days in total. They call at Macquarie Island and the New Zealand subantarctic islands en route, and in the Ross Sea they reach the preserved huts of Scott and Shackleton, the vast Ross Ice Shelf and the enormous Adélie penguin colony at Cape Adare.

This is the more serious undertaking of the two. Far fewer ships make the trip, departures sell out well in advance, and the sea time is substantial. For travellers drawn to polar exploration history specifically, there is nothing else like it.

How Much Time Should You Allow?

Plan on three weeks minimum for a Peninsula voyage from Ushuaia. A ten to twelve day voyage plus flights, connections and a buffer night at each end puts most travellers at 18 to 21 days door to door.

Since you are already at the bottom of South America, most of our clients extend the journey. Patagonia, the Argentine Lake District, Iguazú Falls, Mendoza and the Atacama are all within reach, and the cost of the long-haul airfare is far better spread across a longer trip. For a Ross Sea voyage, allow four to five weeks.

Which Antarctica Tours from Australia Should You Consider?

Our Antarctic itineraries range from twelve-day introductions to the Peninsula through to 23-day voyages taking in South Georgia, the Falklands~Malvinas and the Antarctic Circle. Every one of them can be tailored, and all sail aboard small ice-strengthened vessels carrying expedition teams of naturalists, historians and polar guides.

Antarctic Explorer: What Makes This the Best Introduction to the Peninsula?
Expeditionary Cruising, Antarctic Peninsula | 12 Days | Various Departures

Follow in the footsteps of the early Antarctic explorers while reducing your time on the high seas by flying at least one way across the Drake Passage. This voyage immerses you in the beauty of the Antarctic Peninsula, where vast glaciers tumble into the sea, penguins are dwarfed by soaring peaks, and humpback and minke whales feast on abundant krill. For first-time travellers who want maximum time on the continent and minimum time at sea, this is the natural starting point.

South Georgia & Antarctic Odyssey: Why Add the World’s Largest King Penguin Colonies?
Expeditionary Cruising, Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia & Falklands | 19 Days

This odyssey encompasses the best of the continental peninsula and South Georgia. Discover historic Stanley in the Falklands~Malvinas and stand in awe before the world’s largest king penguin colonies in South Georgia. In Antarctica, experience the serenity and grandeur of the most remote place on Earth, where penguins are moulting, whales fatten up before winter and playful seals frolic along the shoreline. Commencing in South America, the voyage also opens the door to bespoke cultural experiences along the way.

Spirit of Antarctica: Is the Drake Passage Crossing Part of the Appeal?
Expeditionary Cruising, Antarctic Peninsula

Embrace the spirit of expeditionary cruising on this classic polar exploration to the coveted white continent. Sail across the famed Drake Passage, admiring spectacular seabirds and approaching the ice as the explorers of old did: by sea. With the chance to Zodiac cruise through pack ice, set foot on the continent, choose from a range of adventure options and perhaps even camp under pastel polar skies, this is the quintessential Antarctic voyage for travellers who want the crossing as well as the destination.

Wild Antarctica: What Will You Find in the Weddell Sea?
Expeditionary Cruising, Antarctic Peninsula & Weddell Sea

Famed for its tremendous tabular icebergs, year-round sea ice, fascinating fossils and its pivotal role in Shackleton’s Endurance expedition, the Weddell Sea offers unsurpassed opportunities for exploration. This expedition explores the west Antarctic Peninsula and then attempts to venture east towards the icy perimeter of the Weddell Sea, often guarded by impenetrable pack ice. Flying across the Drake Passage keeps your time on the high seas to a minimum.

Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula: Why Is This the Most Complete Sub-Antarctic Journey?
Antarctic Peninsula & Circle, South Georgia & Falklands | 21 Days

This epic voyage takes you on an incomparable journey through the enigmatic sub-Antarctic islands and on to the Antarctic Peninsula. Similar to our South Georgia and Antarctic Odyssey, it offers additional time in the Falklands~Malvinas to discover the fascinating history of the islands and encounter the spectacular birdlife found there. Feel awed in the presence of South Georgia’s king penguin colonies, some of the largest on earth, then immerse yourself in the serene grandeur of the Antarctic Peninsula as you embrace the true spirit of exploration.

Across the Antarctic Circle: What Lies South of 66°33’?
Expeditionary Cruising, Antarctic Circle & Peninsula

Early Antarctic explorers returned from the deep south with tales of a magnificent, ice-covered land teeming with life. Venturing below the Antarctic Circle is about more than earning bragging rights. It is a rare and precious chance to enter a world more isolated and colder than anything further north, with great swathes of pack ice and surreal icebergs. Thread through narrow channels where ice-clad mountains, feeding whales and lively penguin colonies become lasting memories. Flying across the Drake Passage keeps your sea time down.

Antarctica Complete: Is This the Ultimate Antarctic Voyage?
Expeditionary Cruising, Antarctic Peninsula & Circle, South Georgia & Falklands | 23 Days

If you want to see it all, this is the trip. Be transported to enthralling subantarctic islands rich with human history and unique wildlife, then venture into the deep south of the Antarctic Peninsula, crossing the coveted Antarctic Circle. Cruise by Zodiac through vast ice-covered landscapes, visit lively penguin colonies, watch for whales and discover the rich history of this fascinating region. At 23 days, it is the most comprehensive Antarctic itinerary we offer.

Antarctica Fly Cruise: How Do You Skip the Drake Passage Entirely?
Set Departure | Arrive by plane, explore by boat

Skip the infamous Drake Passage and fly south to Antarctica to make the most of your time on the continent. Once aboard your ice-strengthened vessel you will explore the scenically unrivalled, hypnotically beautiful and remotest continent on Earth, in the company of naturalists, historians and scientists. For travellers with limited leave, or with genuine concerns about seasickness, the fly-cruise is the most efficient way to reach Antarctica.

The White Continent with National Geographic: What Does a Lindblad Voyage Offer?
Set Departure | A National Geographic voyage

A voyage through Antarctica is one of the most exhilarating adventures on Earth. Remote, unpopulated and spectacular, it is a wildlife paradise that lures adventurers into its vast wilderness of ice and snow, and a unique opportunity for the discerning traveller who appreciates a different kind of experience. Lindblad Expeditions brought the first citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966 and remains one of the most highly respected polar outfitters operating today, with National Geographic photographers and naturalists aboard.

Antarctica Climate Expedition: What Happens When Scientists and Travellers Sail Together?
With Dr Sylvia Earle, Hero of the Planet

Limited to 100 expedition guests from around the world, this by-invitation Climate Summit brought together conservationists, high-profile personalities and ocean luminaries to raise public and government awareness of the splendour and importance of the Antarctic. This particular itinerary has now travelled, but voyages of this kind are genuinely memorable and few travellers ever get the chance to join one.