Antarctica’s heritage under the Trust’s care for current and future generations globally
The world’s greatest polar exploration stories
Young people to explore the physical world to educate and inspire them
Sustain and grow the Trust’s programmes, while caring for people and the planet
Antarctic Heritage Trust is launching its second edition Conservation Management Plans (CMPs) for the five historic huts in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica, following an official event to mark this milestone hosted by the Trust’s Patron in-chief and Governor-General of New Zealand, Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro.
The updated CMPs acknowledge the work of early hut caretakers and conservation personnel and reflect nearly four decades of conservation work led by the Trust, focused in the latter two decades through the Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project.
They set out the policy framework for the long-term conservation and management of the historic sites under the Trust’s care, their associated structures and features, and the surrounding historic cultural landscapes within Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. They also provide a basis for consistent decision-making as environmental conditions, visitation and nearby operational activity continue to evolve.
As the first stage of the launch, Executive Summaries for the huts of Scott and Shackleton are now available to read. The summaries provide an accessible introduction to the significance of each site, the conservation work undertaken to date, and the approach that will guide their long-term care.
In this edition, discover the latest stories, people and programmes helping us conserve, share and encourage the spirit of exploration.
Read about our newly published new Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, providing a clear direction for how we will build on our strengths, respond to a changing environment, and create lasting impact.
Our collaboration with our friends at UK Antarctic Heritage Trust continues, as they join us in New Zealand to bring our immersive Antarctic virtual reality experiences to audiences across the country.
Across our Inspiring Explorers™ programme go behind the scenes of our six episode podcast 77 Degrees South, find out more about our special anniversary Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ to the Ross Sea in 2027, and see how young people are developing their ‘Explorer Mindset’ through our Explorer Conference and our new Inspiring Explorers™ New Zealand Huts programme.
You’ll also find stories from one of our supporters about the return of a special 1960s map to Hillary’s TAE/IGY hut, reflections from our Artefact Programme Coordinator, and the latest from our Alumni and Trust team.
To celebrate our 40th anniversary in 2027 and the collaboration that has made the Trust’s Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project one of the world’s largest and longest running cold climate conservation programmes, we’re looking for a diverse group of Inspiring Explorers™ to join a once in a lifetime expedition to Antarctica’s Ross Sea region from 5 January to 3 February 2027 with expedition partner Heritage Expeditions.
Participants will step inside the iconic expedition bases of Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton cared for by the Trust, contribute to the protection of Antarctica’s internationally significant cultural heritage, and develop your ‘Explorer Mindset’.
Applications are open to those 18-30 who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, and UK, U.S. and Irish citizens residing in New Zealand.
In August and September, Antarctic Heritage Trust and the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) will come together to bring two immersive virtual reality experiences to public venues in Australia and throughout New Zealand.
Both organisations care for important cultural heritage sites in Antarctica, one of the most remote places on the planet, and have become leaders in sharing heritage sites via immersive digital technology to educate, inspire, and create equity of access to these hard-to-reach places. The two VR experiences to feature are Scott’s Discovery Hut, a dynamic and immersive experience allowing you to step inside the first hut built on Ross Island just as Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton did over a century ago, created by the Trust, and A Frozen Night, created by UKAHT. This experience takes participants to Base E on Stonington Island, a pivotal dog sledging outpost established in 1946.
Members of the public will have an opportunity to take a virtual visit to Antarctica during this tour at a range of locations.
In January 2027, we’re celebrating our 40th anniversary with an Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ to the Ross Sea region of Antarctica with Expedition Partner Heritage Expeditions.
A limited number of supporter berths are available to purchase aboard our Expedition Partner Heritage Expeditions. You’ll journey to the Ross Sea, visit the historic expedition bases of Scott and Shackleton that we care for on behalf of the world, and travel alongside our 2027 Inspiring Explorers™ team as they contribute to our conservation work and begin developing their ‘Explorer Mindsets’.
By booking your berth as an Antarctic Heritage Trust supporter, Heritage Expeditions will donate part of your fare back to the Trust, helping support our ongoing work in Antarctica.
The Trust is excited to share that its new Strategic Plan (2026–2030) has now been published, providing a clear direction for how we will build on our strengths, respond to a changing environment, and create lasting impact. It reflects our commitment to deliver outcomes through collaboration, innovation, and stewardship.
The new Strategic Plan positions the Trust to respond to current and future challenges including, logistics to reach the sites we care for in Antarctica, a changing climate and how this will impact the historic sites, and ongoing fundraising for multiple programmes.
Follow a team of eight diverse rangatahi (young people) through their journey to the Ross Sea, Antarctica and venture inside the historic huts of legendary Antarctic explorers Scott and Shackleton.
Their mission – to conserve and return a precious taonga (artefact), negotiating thick pack ice as they attempt to reach 77 degrees South, the location of Scott’s Discovery hut.
Following the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s 2025 Inspiring Explorers Expedition™, this series captures the team’s discoveries and emotions as they explore the icy continent. They learn what it takes to care for Antarctica’s extraordinary historic sites, and day by day a sense of responsibility begins to form for this fragile and beautiful place, and the legacy of exploration held there.
Listen to all six episodes of 77 Degrees South now on our website with bonus content or listen on most major podcast channels.
We’re excited to announce our new Scott’s Discovery Hut Minecraft World, giving students worldwide the chance to explore Ross Island, Antarctica through Minecraft Education from mid-November.
Students at Te Oraka Shirley Intermediate School in Christchurch were the first to try it, receiving a special preview in recognition of their work helping to build the first version of the hut inside Minecraft.
Developed in partnership with WDekkers Digital and twelve Shirley Intermediate students through the Greater Christchurch Schools Network Kāhui Ako Digital Project, the experience begins aboard Scott’s ship, the RRS Discovery, before students explore Discovery hut, meet early explorers, and complete tasks like building kennels for huskies and designing their own Antarctic hut.
Part of the Inspiring Explorers Education™ programme, this Minecraft World will be delivered free to year 7 and 8 classrooms across Aotearoa New Zealand, alongside the Scott’s Discovery Hut Virtual Reality Experience.
Antarctic Heritage Trust
7 Ron Guthrey Road, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand
Private Bag 4745, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Antarctic Heritage Trust
7 Ron Guthrey Road, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand
Private Bag 4745, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
