Antarctic Center Christchurch

After our Active New Zealand Trip, it was time for us to hit the road… do a bit of traveling ourselves and see what we had missed (or things we just wanted to go back and see) – and completely blow all our money.  Since our trip finished in Christchurch, we stayed there a couple days.  We went to the Antarctic Center which was very interesting.  It’s kinda like a museum – it’s all about life on Antarctica and the people and countries that have stations there and what they do.  But they also had some blue penguins there that they feed and take care of.  I’m pretty sure all of them were handicapped in some fashion (blind, broken feet, even hydrophobic) but they were so cute.  Mommy Judy and Bridget… this is the perfect place for you to work!  I know those penguins would be treated well if you looked after them!

Then they had a room where they imitated an arctic storm.  They had actual snow in the room (Yes, they kept it that cold!) and you got to gear up in some heavy duty jackets that they provided.  Then every 30 minutes a “storm” would start.  Well, at least they had strong fans start blowing on us.  It was pretty cool (literally) but really neat!  They also had a snow mobile that is used in Antarctica and a cool ice slide.

Next, we found some sample clothes that you could try on.  So of course, we bundled up and tried on everything that people stationed in Antarctica would wear.  We look kinda silly because they are all WAY too big, but at least we got the idea (and they were really warm!)

And here is another snow mobile that they use.

And the coolest part was we got to take a ride in the Hagglund.  This is an actual vehicle that is used in the snow and ice.  It’s a pretty crazy machine and can handle and do almost anything.  (I guess it has to to be in a completely barren land with hills and ice.)  We went up and down some hand made dirt hills that were pretty high and then we even floated in a huge pond.  This is one serious military machine! Go here for more about the Hagglund.

By Colin and Andre’a Feldhaus