WE GOT CAUGHT IN A MINUS 18 DEG CELCIUS WINDSTORM!
08 MARCH 2023
Inside the snow and windstorm room
The Breeze Was Halted
We have travelled through so much of the South Island, yet Christchurch always seems to be a thoroughfare where we breeze through, with a quick stop off at the Margaret Mahy Playground in the city centre and make a bee line for our next destination. We were heading to Wanaka from Blenheim and we sorta did breeze through Christchurch AGAIN, but I reeeeally wanted to visit the International Antarctic Centre and we just made it happen this time so we went as soon as it opened so we could have plenty of time to enjoy the centre before heading south. I had heard how awesome it was, but I didn't realise it was awesome-awesome kinda awesome.
The Antarctic Centre is everything Antarctic, like seeing cute little rescued penguins in an underwater environment, experiencing a full-blown windstorm (it is FREEZING and SOOOO FUN!), an interactive 4D theatre, a Hagglund field trip and meeting two cute working huskies who spend a lot of time in the snow in winter - more about those further on in the blog.
The team are passionate about sharing the beauty and importance of the Antarctic with the world, with a motto of "See it. Love it. Save it." They are committed to making a positive impact and believe that spreading awareness about this frozen wonderland is the first step. The interactive exhibits offer a unique and exciting way to learn about life at Scott Base and the challenges of working on the ice (which we can imagine would be incredibly challenging!).
The Antarctic Centre is everything Antarctic, like seeing cute little rescued penguins in an underwater environment, experiencing a full-blown windstorm (it is FREEZING and SOOOO FUN!), an interactive 4D theatre, a Hagglund field trip and meeting two cute working huskies who spend a lot of time in the snow in winter - more about those further on in the blog.
The team are passionate about sharing the beauty and importance of the Antarctic with the world, with a motto of "See it. Love it. Save it." They are committed to making a positive impact and believe that spreading awareness about this frozen wonderland is the first step. The interactive exhibits offer a unique and exciting way to learn about life at Scott Base and the challenges of working on the ice (which we can imagine would be incredibly challenging!).
The hagglunds can be ridden on if you're over 120cms tall
NOT a real whale, just a video on the screen!
Sienna 'standing' on the north and south melted polar ice
Our Best Experience In New Zealand
The windstorm is HANDS DOWN the best experience we have had so far on our travels in New Zealand! The room is set around -8 deg Celsius until the storm hits and it drops another -10 deg till it reaches -18 deg Celsius BRRRR!
When we arrived at the windstorm room, the lovely staff showed us where the shoe booties and jackets were. I thought the booties were to stop you slipping in the snow, but a friend asked if it was so the snow didn't get dirty.... I think she is correct! There are adults and kids jackets available and are free to use, although we took our own and just layered up with another one so we were nice and toasty! We saw people walking in with shorts on... not sure how they got on in the freezing temps, espec in the windstorm! We purposely went into the centre with long pants too, so we didn't have to change while we were in there because we just had no idea how cold we would actually be.
Around 10-minutes before the windstorm started, we got to explore the snowy room with the lights on. This was a lot of fun and Arabella loved making snowballs and throwing them at us and even Lath had a go at juggling a few of the snowballs. We took a few photos on the snowmobiles and peeked inside the igloo (which is the perfect spot for hiding in when the storm is going on).
We went outside to thaw out a bit before the storm started and I was really starting to feel it in my fingers, so if you're like me and seem to get frost bite by touching ice, then you may want to take some gloves along with you.
Time for the windstorm!! We made an oopsie and completely forgot to tell Sienna that we were about to experience a windstorm and as we headed back in with big smiles in our faces, the lights dimmed and turned blue and then the wind started whipping up and we couldn't hear Sienna crying - poor wee thing! We finally realised and told her what was happening and that it would be over soon then she was fine about it.
The wind was really strong and my hair was flying all over the place and we LOVED IT (ok, maybe not Sienna). It was something so unique to experience and we have no idea how long it even lasted because we were having so much fun! We ended up doing it twice and the girls hid in the igloo the second time around, which added a lot of shelter. Most of the kids in the room seemed to head in at the same time. My hands were absolutely freezing and I really did think I was starting to get frost bite. I put them on Lath's cheeks to show him how cold they were but he said his face had gone numb so he couldn't feel anything!
This is one of the activities that we highly recommend you do when you visit the International Antarctic Centre. It's a lot of fun for the whole family and you have the option of heading into the snow when the storm isn't wreaking havoc so it's warmer (I said warmer, not warm) and you can get some great photos inside. Or just watch it from the other side of the window!
When we arrived at the windstorm room, the lovely staff showed us where the shoe booties and jackets were. I thought the booties were to stop you slipping in the snow, but a friend asked if it was so the snow didn't get dirty.... I think she is correct! There are adults and kids jackets available and are free to use, although we took our own and just layered up with another one so we were nice and toasty! We saw people walking in with shorts on... not sure how they got on in the freezing temps, espec in the windstorm! We purposely went into the centre with long pants too, so we didn't have to change while we were in there because we just had no idea how cold we would actually be.
Around 10-minutes before the windstorm started, we got to explore the snowy room with the lights on. This was a lot of fun and Arabella loved making snowballs and throwing them at us and even Lath had a go at juggling a few of the snowballs. We took a few photos on the snowmobiles and peeked inside the igloo (which is the perfect spot for hiding in when the storm is going on).
We went outside to thaw out a bit before the storm started and I was really starting to feel it in my fingers, so if you're like me and seem to get frost bite by touching ice, then you may want to take some gloves along with you.
Time for the windstorm!! We made an oopsie and completely forgot to tell Sienna that we were about to experience a windstorm and as we headed back in with big smiles in our faces, the lights dimmed and turned blue and then the wind started whipping up and we couldn't hear Sienna crying - poor wee thing! We finally realised and told her what was happening and that it would be over soon then she was fine about it.
The wind was really strong and my hair was flying all over the place and we LOVED IT (ok, maybe not Sienna). It was something so unique to experience and we have no idea how long it even lasted because we were having so much fun! We ended up doing it twice and the girls hid in the igloo the second time around, which added a lot of shelter. Most of the kids in the room seemed to head in at the same time. My hands were absolutely freezing and I really did think I was starting to get frost bite. I put them on Lath's cheeks to show him how cold they were but he said his face had gone numb so he couldn't feel anything!
This is one of the activities that we highly recommend you do when you visit the International Antarctic Centre. It's a lot of fun for the whole family and you have the option of heading into the snow when the storm isn't wreaking havoc so it's warmer (I said warmer, not warm) and you can get some great photos inside. Or just watch it from the other side of the window!
Peculiar Penguins And Huggable Huskies
Penguin Rescue is the first combined indoor and outdoor penguin viewing area in New Zealand and it takes pride in providing a suitable environment for its smallest team members.
It's no secret that humans, dogs, and other pests are seriously cramping the Little Blue Penguins' style out in the wild and they are classified as "at risk" in terms of conservation. Penguin Rescue only houses rescued penguins that are unable to defend themselves and expert veterinarians assess each bird's condition before welcoming them to the sanctuary.
Little Blue Penguins are primarily nocturnal, making it challenging to observe them in the wild. However, Penguin Rescue has made it possible for visitors to observe these cute creatures in their natural habitat. The sanctuary can accommodate up to 26 penguins, and visitors can choose to watch them from either the outdoor viewing area or the pool auditorium downstairs.
If you're lucky enough to be around during feeding time then you'll see most of them zipping around in the water with seriously bad table manners and it's just like watching a giant TV show on penguins, without David Attenborough. There are seats to sit on at the underwater section below and this is the best place to watch them from. We got there at 10:25 and it was already packed! We didn't stay too long to watch it as we figured that most of the visitors in the centre were watching the penguins getting fed, so if we took off before everyone else did then we'd be able to enjoy a less crowded place. The penguins are fed at 10:30am & 3pm each day but times can vary so just check with the front desk when you purchase your tickets.
Around the side of the enclosure are the penguin's bedrooms where you can take a peek inside and watch them sleeping. There are information boards all around the enclosure with lots of great info to read and you can even learn about the penguins in the enclosure and what their names are.
The other animals in the International Antarctic Centre are two adorable and very friendly huskies. Their trainer sat with them and told us their names and a little bit about them while the girls sat with them and stroked them. The huskies seemed really relaxed and I'm sure they were keen for winter to arrive so they could start pulling sleds again!
It's no secret that humans, dogs, and other pests are seriously cramping the Little Blue Penguins' style out in the wild and they are classified as "at risk" in terms of conservation. Penguin Rescue only houses rescued penguins that are unable to defend themselves and expert veterinarians assess each bird's condition before welcoming them to the sanctuary.
Little Blue Penguins are primarily nocturnal, making it challenging to observe them in the wild. However, Penguin Rescue has made it possible for visitors to observe these cute creatures in their natural habitat. The sanctuary can accommodate up to 26 penguins, and visitors can choose to watch them from either the outdoor viewing area or the pool auditorium downstairs.
If you're lucky enough to be around during feeding time then you'll see most of them zipping around in the water with seriously bad table manners and it's just like watching a giant TV show on penguins, without David Attenborough. There are seats to sit on at the underwater section below and this is the best place to watch them from. We got there at 10:25 and it was already packed! We didn't stay too long to watch it as we figured that most of the visitors in the centre were watching the penguins getting fed, so if we took off before everyone else did then we'd be able to enjoy a less crowded place. The penguins are fed at 10:30am & 3pm each day but times can vary so just check with the front desk when you purchase your tickets.
Around the side of the enclosure are the penguin's bedrooms where you can take a peek inside and watch them sleeping. There are information boards all around the enclosure with lots of great info to read and you can even learn about the penguins in the enclosure and what their names are.
The other animals in the International Antarctic Centre are two adorable and very friendly huskies. Their trainer sat with them and told us their names and a little bit about them while the girls sat with them and stroked them. The huskies seemed really relaxed and I'm sure they were keen for winter to arrive so they could start pulling sleds again!
Arabella & Sienna watching the penguins
What Is That Touching My Legs?!
We had never been to a 4D movie theatre before so we weren't sure what to expect when we got inside. We were handed veeeeery attractive 4D glasses by one of the staff at the door and the girls wondered why we needed them. When the movie started, we got them to take the glasses off then put them back on again to see if they could tell why they were needed. It was definitely worth having them on!
The movie was based in Antarctica and we were transported there by seeing icebergs coming out of the screen and curious seals and penguins coming over to us and what looked like them almost touching us! We were jolted in our seats and had mist, wind and water jets sprayed at us during certain parts of the movie and those of us with long legs (sorry Sienna) got tickled by something under our seat! The best part had to be when a seagull went for a poop and it 'landed' on our arm. That got the audience oohing and aahing.
The exhibits in the Antarctic Centre are full of awe-inspiring details, offering a unique and captivating look at Antarctica and there is much to interactive with and learn about at the centre which makes it seriously enjoyable for the whole family! In the Antarctic Gallery is a small room full of duplo, shape sorters, cushions and a TV so the little ones can entertain themselves while the big kids (adults) read all of the stories and facts around the place in peace. But there really is so much to press, touch, lift and look at to keep the littlies entertained.
The exhibits also tell the stories of the intrepid explorers who braved the harsh conditions of the continent. In addition to exploring the continent's history, visitors can also learn about modern day Antarctica including treaty arrangements, conservation efforts and what life is like for those living and working there. If you're over 120cm then you can even take a ride on the Hagglund vehicle which is what the workers in Antarctica use to travel on! There are incredible visuals, inspiring stories and informative displays and we left with a newfound appreciation for the untouched wilderness and history of Antarctica.
The last stop for us was the gift shop and the girls wanted to buy eeeeverything but living out of a van means you can't buy too much stuff! So they bought a huskie keychain each and they were happy as Larry. We found some really funny stuff in the gift shop, like freeze dried ice cream and husky puppy farts lollies - the girls thought they were hilarious! We had to drag them away from the gift shop so we could get on the road down to our next stop in Mt Cook where it rained heavily and stormed the whole time we stayed!!
The movie was based in Antarctica and we were transported there by seeing icebergs coming out of the screen and curious seals and penguins coming over to us and what looked like them almost touching us! We were jolted in our seats and had mist, wind and water jets sprayed at us during certain parts of the movie and those of us with long legs (sorry Sienna) got tickled by something under our seat! The best part had to be when a seagull went for a poop and it 'landed' on our arm. That got the audience oohing and aahing.
The exhibits in the Antarctic Centre are full of awe-inspiring details, offering a unique and captivating look at Antarctica and there is much to interactive with and learn about at the centre which makes it seriously enjoyable for the whole family! In the Antarctic Gallery is a small room full of duplo, shape sorters, cushions and a TV so the little ones can entertain themselves while the big kids (adults) read all of the stories and facts around the place in peace. But there really is so much to press, touch, lift and look at to keep the littlies entertained.
The exhibits also tell the stories of the intrepid explorers who braved the harsh conditions of the continent. In addition to exploring the continent's history, visitors can also learn about modern day Antarctica including treaty arrangements, conservation efforts and what life is like for those living and working there. If you're over 120cm then you can even take a ride on the Hagglund vehicle which is what the workers in Antarctica use to travel on! There are incredible visuals, inspiring stories and informative displays and we left with a newfound appreciation for the untouched wilderness and history of Antarctica.
The last stop for us was the gift shop and the girls wanted to buy eeeeverything but living out of a van means you can't buy too much stuff! So they bought a huskie keychain each and they were happy as Larry. We found some really funny stuff in the gift shop, like freeze dried ice cream and husky puppy farts lollies - the girls thought they were hilarious! We had to drag them away from the gift shop so we could get on the road down to our next stop in Mt Cook where it rained heavily and stormed the whole time we stayed!!
Inside the 4D theatre
Looking at the movie through the 3D glasses
Know Before You Go
- The Antarctic storm runs every hour
- Wear long pants and a warm jumper for the storm. Jackets are provided and are in adult and kids sizes
- Taking gloves and a beanie to wear wouldn't hurt!
- The penguins are fed at 10:30am & 3pm, however feeding times can vary so be sure to check when you purchase your tickets
- The best place to view the penguins is down the bottom of the enclosure in the underwater area. It fills up pretty quick by feeding time
- Prepare to get a little wet in the 4D theatre but don't worry, it's only a small amount on your arm or top!
- If you've got back or neck issues, the theatre chairs do jolt so if you're super sensitive you may want to give it a miss
- The centre is open Monday - Sunday 9am - 4:30pm
- There is food available at the centre's cafe which consists of pies and slices
- For more info and updated hours & prices click here or phone the International Antarctic Centre on 0508 736 4846
- The staff are able to store your luggage while you spend time at the centre which is perfect if you're waiting for a flight at Christchurch Airport as it's just a 5-minute walk away!
- Allow 2 -3 hours to experience it all
- The Hagglund experience takes 15-minutes and you need to be taller than 120cms (Sienna was too short at nearly 5 years old)
Mappy McMap Face
Getting There
The International Antarctic Centre is at 38 Orchard Rock, just 15-minutes from Christchurch City centre and is just a 5-minute walk from Christchurch Airport.
Conclusion
The International Antarctic Centre provides a truly unique experience where you can get up close and personal with super cute and tiny rescued penguins, get your legs tickled and water thrown at you in the 4D centre, where you can brave the -18 degree Celcius windstorm and feel what it's like to face the harsh conditions of Antarctica and ride offroad in a genuine Hagglund!
It's truly one of the best experiences we have had in New Zealand and we highly recommend you visit while in Christchurch.
It's truly one of the best experiences we have had in New Zealand and we highly recommend you visit while in Christchurch.
Gallery of the International Antarctic Centre
Check out the rest of the awesomeness that didn't make it to the main blog but deserves to be shown.
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