Veronika Wild

Getting up close and personal with the "Investigator," the CSIRO's new research vessel- all ten storeys of it View from the bridge Another year has gone by and Hobart is once again celebrating its role as a Gateway City to Antarctica. True - it’s not the only one   -   Ushuaia   and Punto Arenas in Chile, Cape Town in South Africa and Christchurch in New Zealand also serve as supply bases and points of contact for visitors, but Hobart has held this role since the 1830’s, when whalers and sealers caught sight of the frozen continent while looking for new territory to exploit.  Scientific equipment, large cranes and submersibles take up a good deal of space   ... but there's still room for comfortable cabins   ...and a well stocked kitchen. So, how many litres of icecream do you think Australia's expeditioners go through each year?  a) 190 litres?    b) 1980 litres?   c) 19,800 litres?  ...

It seems that Antarctica is the flavour of the month, or at least it will be in September when Hobart’s Australian Antarctic Festival will run from September 8 -11. There is the Antarctic Dinner of course which I’ve already mentioned and Polar Walks, but there will also be several open days, exhibitions and Expos, a special performance by the Derwent Symphony Orchestra in the Town Hall, an Antarctic Photo Competition and the opportunity to do a tour of the two Antarctic vessels , the Aurora Australis and the French L’Astrolabe.  School children are painting penguins to display along the waterfront and the State Cinema is putting on an Antarctic Film Festival which includes drinks, guest speakers, special readings and screenings and an after party. There will also be school tours and special activities for children, not to mention the huskies. Not sure if I will make it back to Tasmania by then, but if you   want to go to the dinner or tour the icebreakers...