Antarctica awaits: applications for Inspiring Explorers expedition now open

Young Kiwis are being offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore Antarctica.

Applications are open for Antarctic Heritage Trust’s (AHT)  Inspiring Explorers Expedition, set to mark 40 years of the trust and its outreach. 

The expedition, described by AHT as a “once in a lifetime expedition to Antarctica’s Ross Sea region”, will give recipients the opportunity to explore areas of historic Antarctic significance, including the huts of Antarctic explorers Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott. 

Open to young people aged 18-30, the nearly month-long expedition will see participants take off from New Zealand by boat, sailing south to the Ross Sea before returning to NZ. 

Trust associate general manager of communications and engagement Anna Clare said the expedition will allow for a deeply rich experience for the young people chosen. 

“Through the expedition, we want to give young people the opportunity to contribute to the protection of Antarctica’s internationally significant cultural heritage while developing their ‘explorer mindset’ qualities of curiosity, resilience, leadership, innovation and teamwork.”

While in Antarctica, participants will help with scientific and conservation activities, including GNSS surveying, in order to understand how climate change is impacting AHT sites in order to guide the trust’s conservation efforts.

There will also be outreach opportunities during the expedition, as well as after, including creating a video guide for future hut visitors.

“Participants will return from Antarctica as ambassadors and the next kaitiaki (caretakers) for Antarctica’s cultural heritage, sharing their experiences with their communities and continuing their connection with the trust through our growing inspiring explorers' alumni network.”

Internationally acclaimed speaker on resilience and Inspiring Explorer 2025 participant Jake Bailey said his experience was life changing.

“The chance to step inside the history that has been conserved connects you to those stories in a way that nothing else compares to, and the sense of isolation really gives you a sense of how it must have felt for those men over a hundred years ago.” 

Applications can be found on the Inspiring Explorers' website and close on October 5. 
The expedition will take off to Antarctica on January 5, and return on February 3 2027.