Expedition Blog - Destiny Martin, South Georgia 2023

Destiny Martin in South Georgia. © AHT/Destiny Martin

Destiny Martin was one of 22 young New Zealanders who travelled with the Trust to South Georgia in October 2023 for our ninth Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ to honour the centenary year of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s final expedition, the ‘Quest’.

In the heart of the southern embrace, I could feel the cold air enter my lungs and for the first time in a long time… I could finally breathe. Being surrounded by these majestic glaciers and watching the landscape unfold into this incredible piece of history undoubtedly opens your eyes to really see the bigger picture. The trip to South Georgia allowed me to connect to so many aspects of the world I had yet to discover. Whether that was connecting to the Atua, the moana, and the incredible wildlife around me, it also allowed me to deeply connect with myself, and others. To be within a team of like-minded people who also want to connect with the world is somewhat touching, and allowed me to fully dive into the experience South Georgia had to offer.

South Georgia was an experience I will never forget. When you wake up to rocking waves and the call of the wild; and you take a look outside to see the birds gliding through the air. Or hear the roar of the elephant seals, the ice towering over everything, and the clear blue skies. Of course it’s hard not to get excited.

Penguins grouped on the shore with large snow-covered mountains in the background.

Friendly penguins. © AHT/Destiny Martin

Destiny Martin at Salisbury Plain. © AHT/Destiny Martin

During the entire trip, all I wanted to see was a whale. I would spend hours at a time each day staring out into the water, so fixated on seeing one. During this time I would take in everything else, and read the books in the library, trying to name some of the seals and birds I saw. Eventually I gave up on whale watching. But on the return home, as if the universe had conspired with my wishes, I finally saw them. An entire pod of majestic whales. Someone from the hall had yelled out that there were whales, and you could hear the urgency in my footsteps as I raced up the stairs into the library. Peering through the large window, I finally witnessed it – the massive tail emerging from the water, creating a splash as it descended. I marvelled at the beauty of their spouts. Excitement radiated through me as I finally encountered these incredible creatures. It was undoubtedly one of the most cherished moments of my trip.

Another highlight was standing beside the graves of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his incredible right hand man Frank Wild. This is something very few are privileged to see. I think this moment was so surreal for me because it was something we all had been working towards for months. So to finally be there, oh it was breathtaking. When I stood in Grytviken, I imagined myself in the cold of their times. How the harsh weather spared no man, and how they overcame these challenges. This was a big moment for me, because in school, they tell you these stories of incredible people from all walks of life. And being a kid you just can’t believe that someone could do something so bold and so extraordinary. It seems almost too good to be true. But now, I know that these stories hold true, and I know the significant amount of influence these incredible people like Shackleton can have on our generation.

I love how the Antarctic Heritage Trust allows young people like me to not only discover the world, but to discover that little Kiwis like us can make the biggest difference.