The International Antarctic Centre in the Harewood suburb of Christchurch opened in 1992. It features several Antarctica experiences, including a polar-storm room chilled to 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit with a tent and a snowmobile. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
Visitors to New Zealand can experience a simulated trip to frigid Antarctica just outside the international airport at Christchurch, a busy tourist hub and one of five gateways to the southernmost continent.
The International Antarctic Centre in the Harewood suburb of Christchurch opened in 1992. It features several Antarctica experiences, including a polar-storm room chilled to 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit with a tent and a snowmobile.
Inside the room, visitors must don a coat and shoe covers provided by the center. Braver guests may enter the room during a simulated Antarctic storm, during which the room is darkened and chilled further by a machine to as low as minus 2 degrees.
The center also has an all-terrain amphibious vehicle that visitors may ride to experience a trip across the Antarctic ice, up and down hills, above crevasses and through water. It was a unique experience and a smoother ride than I expected.
Displays throughout the center explain the human impact on Antarctica, its wildlife and ecosystems and how the continent affects the rest of the planet.
Rescued penguins hang out at the International Antarctic Center in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
I learned that in 1955 the Navy established the U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica, as part of its Atlantic Fleet, the beginning of what is known today as Operation Deep Freeze. Today, the program is overseen by the U.S. Antarctic Program and National Science Foundation.
The Air National Guard 109th Airlift Wing from Scotia, N.Y., flies military support missions every year from late September to early March from the adjacent Christchurch International Airport.
Visitors may experience that flight aboard an LC-130 Hercules flight simulator.
The animal experiences with kororā, or Little Blue Penguins, an at-risk species native to New Zealand, and canine huskies were my favorite part of the experience.
Each day at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., the employees feed the penguins, which are kept in a big enclosure. A theater plays a documentary about the penguins.
A husky relaxes at the International Antarctic Center in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
Monday through Thursday, guests can learn more about the center’s huskies. During a presentation, a trainer describes how huskies helped move people and goods in Antarctica and lent their companionship. These furry friends had a long history at the South Pole.
But in 1994, the Environmental Protocol Treaty banned sled dogs from Antarctica because they pose a risk to the survival of native seals. The best part is that after the show, guests can get close and pet the friendly dogs.
The International Antarctic Centre in the Harewood suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, opened in 1992. It features several Antarctica experiences, including a polar-storm room chilled to 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit with a tent and a snowmobile. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
On the QT:
Directions: A 10-minute walk from Christchurch International Airport. International Antarctic Centre, 38 Orchard Road, Christchurch International Airport, Christchurch 8052, New Zealand.
Times: Open daily, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Costs: $37.54 for adults, $24.81 for children ages 5 to 15 and free for children 4 and younger.
Food: An onsite cafe is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Information: Online: iceberg.co.nz
