Latest Inspiring Explorers™ Updates

Find out all the latest from our Inspiring Explorers Expeditions™

77 Degrees South Podcast – Listen Now

That real-life mission sits at the heart of 77 Degrees South, a new six-part podcast series from the Antarctic Heritage Trust, now available to listen.

July 7, 2026/by Georgia Airey

A supporter story by Beverly Shipka – My Antarctica Story

Trust Supporter Beverly shares her Antarctic story how she was first introduced to the Trust during a voyage to the Ross Sea Antarctica.

March 31, 2026/by Brittany Fox

Next Generation Charts the Heroic Era

The Drake Passage made its power known, revealing the resilience that defined the heroic era of Antarctic exploration.

March 31, 2026/by Brittany Fox

Summer 2025-26 Conservation Season

This season saw conservation teams safeguard the historic huts, uncover new artefacts and record cultural heritage.

March 4, 2026/by Brittany Fox

Special Visitors to Historic Huts

The Trust was delighted to host special guests this season in Antarctica visiting Scott’s, Shackleton’s and the TAE/IGY hut at Scott Base.

December 16, 2025/by Brittany Fox

Spirit of Antarctica Sets Sail

Partnership between Antarctic Heritage Trust and Spirit of Adventure Trust has given South Auckland students a unique journey of discovery.

December 16, 2025/by Georgia Airey

Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ 2026 Team Announced

Meet the team sailing to the Antarctic Peninsula in 2026

November 24, 2025/by Brittany Fox

Christchurch students help build Antarctic Minecraft game

Young people around the world can now discover Antarctica’s rich history of exploration in a whole new way, through the global gaming phenomenon, Minecraft.

November 4, 2025/by Brittany Fox

South Auckland students set sail with Spirit of Antarctica

A new partnership between Antarctic Heritage Trust and Spirit of Adventure Trust will see students sail aboard a three-masted tall ship.

September 11, 2025/by Brittany Fox

New Zealand Huts Pilot Programme a Success

The Trust in partnership with Backcountry Trust, successfully piloted a new initiative connecting young Kiwis with conservation work.

August 29, 2025/by Brittany Fox

Explorer Conference debuts in Christchurch

The Trust’s Explorer Conference held in Christchurch for the first time inspires students to ignite their Explorer Mindset.

August 29, 2025/by Brittany Fox

Trust Joins Antarctic Treaty Meeting

The Trust attended the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, connecting with global partners.

August 29, 2025/by Brittany Fox

Historic Antarctic Tent Gets Special Treatment

Specialist conservators are carefully preserving the Ross Sea Party tent, protecting its story for the future.

August 29, 2025/by Brittany Fox

Reflecting on 10 Years of the Inspiring Explorers™ Programme

The Trust celebrates 10 years of Inspiring Explorers™, connecting young people with Antarctic exploration and heritage programmes.

August 29, 2025/by Brittany Fox

Travel Across the Atlantic

Across the Atlantic is directed by Te Aroha Devon, one of 22 young explorers on the expedition with climber Sam West and data scientist Jenny Sahng, who are featured in the film. The expedition honoured the centenary of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s final expedition, the Quest, which journeyed to South Georgia and marked the end of the heroic-era of Antarctic exploration.

April 7, 2025/by Comms

Next Generation Step Inside Explorer Bases

This was the first time the Trust has taken young explorers to experience the legendary Antarctic explorers’ bases and understand the Trust’s conservation of them.

April 7, 2025/by Brittany Fox

Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ 2025

To mark the tenth anniversary of the Trust’s Inspiring Explorers™ programme we will be offering eight young people a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the early Antarctic explorers by stepping inside the historic explorer bases the Trust cares for in Antarctica.

May 30, 2024/by Mark Sanders

Encouraging the Next Generation of Antarctic Conservators

Since July 2023, the Trust has been working with Young Inspiring Explorers™ alumna Abby Wilson on her school’s ‘Adopt a Scientist’ research project. Abby chose to focus her studies on Antarctica’s heritage conservation and Dr Gabriela Roldan, Trust Education Manager who is also a Social Scientist, responded to the call and mentored Abby for four months.

December 14, 2023/by Mark Sanders

Icy Fun and Learning at Summit

In November, the Trust’s Young Inspiring Explorers™ Summit saw 25 students, aged 11-14, travel to Ōtautahi Christchurch from around New Zealand. Thanks to our donors, Royal Society Te Apārangi, and our major sponsor, the US Embassy and Consulate in New Zealand, this was our biggest Summit yet. This action-packed weekend was delivered in partnership with William Pike Challenge.

December 14, 2023/by Mark Sanders

Connections Create Life-changing Experience in South Georgia

Twenty-two young New Zealanders travelled with the Trust to South Georgia in October 2023 for our ninth Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ as part of the Shackleton Centenary Year Expedition.

December 14, 2023/by Mark Sanders

Young Kiwi explorers announced for largest ever Inspiring Explorers Expedition™

The Trust launched applications for its ninth Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ to South Georgia Island at a dinner at New Zealand’s Parliament Buildings, hosted by Hon Dr Duncan Webb, on 14 February 2023.

June 18, 2023/by Anna Clare

Young explorers step out of their comfort zone

June 6, 2023/by Anna Clare

Applications Launched for Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ South Georgia

The Trust launched applications for its ninth Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ to South Georgia Island at a dinner at New Zealand’s Parliament Buildings, hosted by Hon Dr Duncan Webb, on 14 February 2023.

May 1, 2023/by Comms

South Pole Reached

The Trust’s Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ team reached the South Pole on 6 January 2023 after towing sledges 920km from the edge of the Ronne Ice Shelf.

May 1, 2023/by Comms

Young Inspiring Explorers™ Summit – June 2022

The Trust’s Young Inspiring Explorers™ Summit in June 2022 saw a group of 20 students, aged 11-14, from around New Zealand spend an action-packed weekend in Christchurch with the Trust and Inspiring Explorer William Pike.

September 28, 2022/by Comms

Young change-makers channel the spirit of polar exploration

A team of six young New Zealanders have completed a gruelling 50km journey on skis through the Harris Mountains between Treble Cone and Coronet Peak.

September 5, 2022/by Comms

Announcing the Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ South Pole Team

The Inspiring Explorers ExpeditionTM team will leave in November 2022 and people can follow their journey online at nzaht.org.

August 1, 2022/by Comms

Calling all intrepid explorers, the South Pole is waiting!

Calling all intrepid explorers, the South Pole is waiting!

July 11, 2022/by Comms

Greenstone Production: “The Explorer Club”

The Trust has collaborated with Greenstone TV on a new children’s television series The Explorer Club. The series introduces iconic New Zealand explorers to kids through hands-on adventures of their own.

June 23, 2022/by Comms

Summit Reached In the Footsteps of Hillary

In February 2022, three young people from South Auckland, New Zealand summited their first mountain on the Trust’s Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ In the Footsteps of Hillary, and their exploits were filmed for a children’s television show.

May 31, 2022/by Comms

Paddling in Worsley’s Wake

In November, the Trust brought together twenty students from around Canterbury, New Zealand had the opportunity to follow in Frank Worsley’s footsteps.

December 19, 2021/by Comms

Resilient, skilled, adventurous: the search for young explorers to open New Zealand’s new mountain traverse

AHT is searching for five young New Zealanders to be part of the first official expedition to cross the country’s new world-class ski route.

May 3, 2021/by Anna Clare

University student helps make exploration of Antarctica possible – from anywhere in the world

Since Anzac's return from the Antarctic Peninsula he has spent a year creating an explorer journal.

April 9, 2021/by Anna Clare

Introducing the 2020 Inspiring Explorers’ Expeditions™ Team

It is with much excitement that we can now announce the team that will be heading to the Antarctic Peninsula next month on our 2020 Inspiring Explorers' Expedition with Olympic kayaker Mike Dawson!

February 12, 2020/by Comms

The Frozen Wild

In March 2019, Marco de Kretser travelled to the Antarctic Peninsula as a member of Antarctic Heritage…

December 12, 2019/by Comms

Summit inspires youth to learn more about the Antarctic

September 20, 2019/by Comms

Trip of a Lifetime for Two Auckland Students

As part of a new partnership with Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Antarctic Heritage Trust is taking two…

October 26, 2018/by Comms

Inspiring Explorers Complete Greenland Ice Cap Crossing

They’ve done it! The Inspiring Explorers have completed the epic crossing of the Greenland ice cap
They’ve…

June 5, 2018/by Comms

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