The Australian Antarctic Festival 2026 Program

Discover the wonders of the Subantarctic Islands

Embark on a photographic voyage through the Southern Ocean with Lara Colrain, Chief Executive Officer of the Mawson’s Huts Foundation.

Travelling aboard Aurora Expeditions’ purpose-built expedition vessel Douglas Mawson, Lara visited the remote subantarctic islands of Macquarie, Enderby and Campbell, encountering penguins, albatrosses, elephant seals, towering icebergs and some of the world’s most spectacular wild landscapes. Through photography and personal reflections, discover what it’s like to journey to these extraordinary islands, experience the wildlife up close, and even take the icy polar plunge at the South Magnetic Pole.

Following the presentation, guests are invited to an exclusive private viewing of Through the Antarctic Lens

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

Explore Hadley’s Connections to the Heroic Age of Exploration

Step inside Hadley’s Orient Hotel and uncover its fascinating connections to the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration.

Experience Mawson’s Lunch, a self-guided audio journey that brings to life the story of Sir Douglas Mawson and his expedition members, and visit the Amundsen Room – a creative reimagining of the room where famed Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen stayed following his successful South Pole expedition in 1912.

Together, these experiences offer a glimpse into the remarkable stories, achievements and legacies of two of Antarctica’s most celebrated explorers, all within one of Hobart’s most historic hotels.

Available throughout the festival. Explore at your own pace.

Discover Antarctic-inspired flavours across Hobart

Experience Hobart’s hospitality like never before as participating cafés, bars and festival venues create exclusive Antarctic-inspired food and drinks for the 2026 Australian Antarctic Festival.

From signature cocktails and specialty coffee to sweet treats and unique festival fare, the Aurora Flavours Trail invites visitors to discover exclusive flavours while exploring Hobart’s waterfront throughout the Festival.

Participating venues include:
• Art Bar (Hadley’s Orient Hotel)
• Baaa Bar (The Old Woolstore)
• The Den
• LARK Cellar Door
• Gotham at The Still
• Hobart Coffee Roasters
• Boutique Espresso
• Van Diemen Ice Creamery

Participating events include: (Refer to the related events below)
• Antarctic Twilight Market
• Antarctic Spirits (Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum)
• Mawson Family Day featuring Albert Brewery, Tlalli and STASberry (Mawson Place)

Look for the Aurora Flavours Trail map (to be published soon) and explore Hobart one delicious stop at a time.

Available throughout the Festival. See the Learn More link for a map of the participating venues.

Cocktails, Clues and Antarctic Intrigue

Settle into the Art Bar at Hadley’s with a tasty cocktail. As you sip, test your detective skills with our complimentary card game featuring Sir Douglas Mawson and Captain Roald Amundsen: Murder at Hadley’s Orient Hotel – Travellers Convene.

Add it to your evening drinks at no extra cost – just make a booking, so we know you’re coming to crack the case.

Kick off the festival with an evening of storytelling, trivia and discovery

Mawson After Dark brings together Antarctic enthusiasts, history lovers, festival guests and the curious for a relaxed and entertaining evening inspired by the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration. Test your knowledge through Antarctic-themed trivia, uncover fascinating stories from Douglas Mawson’s expeditions, and celebrate the people, places and adventures that have shaped Australia’s enduring connection to the south.

To mark the occasion, Festival Partner LARK Distilling Co. and Hadley’s Orient Hotel will unveil the official Australian Antarctic Festival Cocktail. Crafted with LARK gin and inspired by Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, this signature cocktail offers visitors a unique taste of Tasmania’s Antarctic gateway city and will be available throughout the Festival.

Whether you’re attending the Festival for the first time or returning for another year, Mawson After Dark is the perfect way to kick off the celebrations with trivia, storytelling, friendly competition and great company.

SOLD OUT. Thank you for your incredible support. All ticket proceeds support the conservation work of the Mawson’s Huts Foundation.

Honouring Country at the Festival Opening

Sinsa Mansell is a proud Trawoolaway woman from Larapuna, in the north-east of Lutruwita/Tasmania.

Sinsa will deliver the Statement of Country at the official opening of the 2026 Australian Antarctic Festival, an invitation-only event, on Thursday 20 August.

About Sinsa Mansell

Sinsa is Senior Producer at Performing Lines TAS, a multidisciplinary artist, cultural leader, and co-founder of ‘pakana kanaplila’, Tasmania’s Traditional and Contemporary Aboriginal dance troupe.

For more than two decades, Sinsa has been at the forefront of reclaiming and revitalising Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural practices through performance, storytelling, and community leadership. Her work bridges ancient cultural knowledge with contemporary practice, creating powerful experiences that honour Country, strengthen cultural identity, and invite deeper understanding between First Nations and the broader community.

As a choreographer, producer, performer, and cultural advisor, Sinsa has led acclaimed works including ‘BACK’ and ‘tuylupa (a spark of fire)’, while championing opportunities for the next generation of Palawa artists and storytellers. Through every aspect of her work, she continues to ensure that Tasmania’s oldest living traditions remain strong, visible, and alive.

Frank Hurley and a Century of Antarctic Photography

Photography has played a vital role in revealing Antarctica to the world. This exhibition showcases historic photographs of Douglas Mawson’s British and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition by renowned polar photographer Frank Hurley, alongside cameras recently donated by the Australian Antarctic Division. Together, they tell the story of documenting life and work in the world’s most remote continent.

FEATURED PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Frank Hurley. Circa 1930. Members of the British, Australian, and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE) resting on Proclamation Island.

Islands to Ice: The Great Southern Ocean and Antarctica

The journey to Antarctica begins here. Voyage south across wild oceans, venture through windswept island worlds and dive into stories behind the icy expanse of the great southern wilderness in a reimagined ’Islands to Ice exhibition.

Islands to Ice brings the astonishing wonders of the Southern Ocean and Antarctic region to the shores of Tasmania. From the animals that inhabit these special environments to the hidden stories of the people who work and play on the frozen continent, explore this unique and captivating world right here in Hobart.

Exhibition Highlights:

• Nine-metre sperm whale skull on display for the first time.
• Interactive elements including refashioned ‘Ice Map’.
• Sky Country Theatre: An immersive audio-visual experience for contemporary Pakana story telling around ancient skyscapes and Sky Country stories.
• Objects, specimens and research exploring the science, history and future of the icy continent.

Located on Level 2 in the Argyle Galleries.

FEATURE IMAGE CREDIT: ©Benjamin Wallis (King penguin); ©Russell Hopcroft (Cranchid squid larva and Krill – Euphausia superba)

75 Years of Australian Glaciology

This inaugural event will reunite generations of expeditioners and scientists to celebrate, share stories and history, and discuss all things ice and snow.

Livestream details will be available soon.

FEATURE PHOTO CREDITS:
© Damien Beloin/Australian Antarctic Division.
The Million Year Ice Core (MYIC) traverse team on their 1168 km journey from Dome C North to Casey research station, with 186 metres of ice cores. The freshly drilled cores contain a record of the past 13,000 years of Earth’s climate history. Travelling at a top speed of just 13 km/hr, the convoy of six tractors and two snow groomers takes up to 18 days to reach Casey and is led by a 10-person team of expeditioners, 2026.

© Joel Pedro/Australian Antarctic Division.
Pulling an inner barrel full of ice core out of the drill and onto the rolling bench for transfer to the core processing line. The Australian Antarctic Program’s Million Year Ice Core project aims to collect a continuous record of 1-2 million years of Earth’s climate history by drilling for ice up to 3 km deep at Dome C North, December 2025.

© Jo Chandler/Australian Antarctic Division.
Australian Antarctic Division ice core chemist Mark Curran catalogues ice cores for beryllium-7 measurements at Law Dome, 2008

© Joel Pedro/Australian Antarctic Division.
Australian ice core drilling camp at Law Dome after a week-long blizzard, December 2008.

© Australian Antarctic Division.
Expeditioner stacking ice cores in racking in pit, 1972.

Walk in the footsteps of Mawson’s Antarctic pioneers

Step inside the remarkable replica of Douglas Mawson’s original expedition huts and journey back to the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration.

Built to faithfully recreate the huts that still stand at Cape Denison in East Antarctica, this immersive experience transports visitors to one of the most remote, coldest and windiest places on Earth. It was here that the men of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911–1914) lived, worked and carried out groundbreaking scientific research that helped shape our understanding of Antarctica and the world around us.

Explore the living quarters, scientific equipment and personal stories of the expeditioners who endured blizzards, isolation and unimaginable hardship in the pursuit of discovery. Through authentic artefacts, engaging interpretation and atmospheric surroundings, experience what life was really like at the edge of the unknown.

OPENING HOURS

THUR 20th – FRI 21st: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (The museum is closed for Educational Tours on Thursday and Friday morning)

SAT 22nd: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

SUN 23rd: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Between Sea and Ice: Southern Ocean Watercolours

Along the verandah walls of the Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum, visitors are invited to journey through the Southern Ocean via a series of specially commissioned watercolours by Tasmanian artist David Hopkins.

Created for the Australian Antarctic Festival, the exhibition traces the enduring connection between Tasmania, the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. Together, these works tell a story of exploration, connection, resilience, and wonder at the gateway to the Deep South.

OPENING HOURS

THUR 20th – FRI 21st: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (The museum is closed for Educational Tours on Thursday and Friday morning)

SAT 22nd: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

SUN 23rd: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

An intimate evening of whisky, history and discovery

Begin the evening at Lark Distillery with a curated Lark whisky tasting, presented in collaboration with Lark Distillery. The tasting will take place on the second floor, which is accessible by stairs only.

Guests will then make the short walk to the Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum for an after-hours guided storytelling experience exploring the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911–1914), daily life in Antarctica and the human stories of survival and discovery. A shared, locally sourced charcuterie board will be served at the museum.

The event is intentionally small-scale, with a maximum of 16 guests per session, to maintain an intimate and immersive environment. The Thursday session will also feature a special talk by Bill Lark, founder of Lark Distillery.

Dispatches from the Far South

Island of Ideas: Public Talk Series (UTAS)

Speaker: Dr Edward Doddridge.
ARC DECRA in Physical Oceanography, Australian Antarctic Program Partnership
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania.

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean lie at the heart of our global climate system. This icy region connects the atmosphere and the ocean abyss. The Antarctic Ice Sheet stores records of our past and how it responds to the present will shape our future.

The Far South is changing rapidly. We have already seen warming oceans and vast decreases in sea ice coverage. The future state of our climate depends on what happens next.

This year’s Philip Law Lecture will be delivered by Dr Edward Doddridge, a prize-winning jam maker and Physical Oceanographer at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies in Tasmania.

Edward uses supercomputers, mathematical theory, and observations to explore the ocean and sea ice around Antarctica. He studied Maths and Physics as an undergraduate at the University of Tasmania and obtained his doctorate from the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. He subsequently worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before returning to Tasmania.

FEATURED IMAGES & CREDITS: Dr Edward Doddridge; Emperor Penguin jumping! © Christopher.Michel, Flikr.

Protecting Antarctic Heritage for Future Generations

Bringing together heritage management professionals from the Australian Antarctic Division, the Mawson’s Huts Foundation, the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust and the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust, the Antarctic Heritage & Conservation Summit explores the challenges and opportunities of preserving Antarctica’s historic places for future generations.

Through a series of presentations, representatives will examine current conservation projects, emerging research, international collaboration and the management of some of the world’s most remote and fragile heritage sites across Antarctica and the subantarctic region.

From the iconic huts of the Heroic Age to the ongoing stewardship of polar heritage in a changing environment, the summit provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from those working to protect Antarctica’s cultural legacy.

Whether you are a heritage professional, Antarctic enthusiast, researcher, student or simply curious about the frozen continent, this is a unique opportunity to gain insight into the conservation challenges and successes shaping the future of Antarctic heritage.

A must-attend event for anyone passionate about cultural heritage, conservation and polar history.

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL.

An Antarctic Twilight Market in the heart of the Festival precinct

As the sun sets over Hobart’s waterfront, wander through more than 40 stalls offering Antarctic-inspired food, signature cocktails, sweet treats, artisan goods, penguin-themed crafts, books, face painting and family-friendly activities.

Discover unique local makers, enjoy delicious flavours and soak up the vibrant festival atmosphere.

Get ready for a seriously cool weekend of movies

Presented in collaboration with Rewind Cinema, this special Festival program brings together icy adventures, Antarctic thrillers and much-loved family films at Back Studio Soho.

Experience the isolation and suspense of Antarctica with John Carpenter’s cult classic The Thing, or head beneath the ice for the action-packed Alien vs. Predator. For something lighter, enjoy the inspiring story of the Jamaican bobsled team in Cool Runnings, or follow the musical adventures of Antarctica’s favourite penguins in Happy Feet.

With horror, action, comedy and family-friendly screenings, this film program has something for movie lovers of all ages.

Three Women, One Extraordinary Antarctic Journey

In one of the harshest places on Earth, three women from different generations chase a hidden and ephemeral world beneath the Antarctic sea ice. Dr Natalie Robinson leads an expedition to McMurdo Sound, joined by PhD student and microbiologist Jacqui Stuart on her first trip south. Mentoring them from afar is veteran sea ice physicist Professor Pat Langhorne.

Battling brutal weather and isolation, the team discovers extraordinary tiny creatures within the delicate structures of the ice. Weaving personal stories with groundbreaking science, this is an intimate and deeply human portrait of life set against the immense scale of Antarctica, told with grit, wit, and surprising warmth.

Join us for this inspiring and visually stunning film exploring exploration, mentorship, scientific discovery and the wonders of the frozen south.

Witness the Beauty and Fragility of the Frozen South

Experience a powerful collection of black and white Antarctic photographs by acclaimed Australian photographer David Neilson. Drawn from six journeys to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic, the exhibition captures the continent’s extraordinary landscapes, wildlife and fragile beauty through a unique artistic lens.

Through striking imagery and personal experience, Neilson explores the impacts of a changing climate on the frozen south, inviting visitors to reflect on what may be lost if current trends continue.

A thought-provoking exhibition that combines art, storytelling and environmental awareness from one of the world’s last great wildernesses.

FEATURED PHOTO CREDIT: © David Neilson. Detail of ‘Emperor penguins and chick’.

All aboard the Polar Express!

Step aboard Rotary’s iconic Tommy Choo Choo train as it transforms into the Polar Express for an Antarctic adventure.

Perfect for young explorers, this unique experience combines imagination, storytelling and Antarctic fun in one unforgettable ride.

A must-do experience for children and families during the Australian Antarctic Festival.

Exploring Antarctica through young eyes

Discover this special international exhibition, where students from the Antarctic gateway cities have created postcards featuring drawings and stories about life in their communities, offering a unique glimpse into the cultures, landscapes and experiences of those who live on the doorstep of the frozen continent.

Explore the display and see how young people around the world are connected through Antarctica. You can even create your own postcard to keep or add to the display!

A Celebration of Creativity and Community

Waddle up to view colonies of colourful penguins created by schools across Tasmania, the mainland and beyond. Each uniquely decorated penguin tells a story, showcasing creativity, conservation and connections to Antarctica.

Visitors can also join the fun by painting their own wooden penguin to take home as a special festival keepsake.

A delightful experience for all ages, the Penguin Rookeries celebrate community spirit and our shared love of the frozen south.

Journey Through the Antarctic Gateway Cities

Grab your Antarctic Passport and explore the festival precinct to collect stamps from all five international Antarctic gateway cities. Along the way, discover how these cities support Antarctic science, conservation and exploration.
Can you collect them all?

Grab a special stamp for your map at the following venues:

• Princes Wharf No. 1 – Antarctic Expo
• Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum – Replica Museum & Mawson’s Family Day
• Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery – Islands to Ice
• Waterside Pavilion* – Penguin Rookeries, Mawson’s Family Day, Antarctic Youth Connections

See the Related Events below for further details.

PLEASE NOTE: The Waterside Pavilion closes at 3:00 pm

Your Gateway to Antarctic Discovery

Step into the world of Antarctica at the Antarctic Expo, the festival’s central hub of discovery and exploration. Meet scientists, researchers, government agencies, tourism operators, educators and conservation organisations, and learn about the many ways people live, work and study in the far south.

With interactive displays, hands-on activities and fascinating exhibits, the Expo offers something for all ages.

Exhibitors and activity details coming soon.

Join Aurora Expeditions at the Antarctic Expo

Aurora Expeditions is an award-winning Australian-owned expedition company pioneering experiential travel for more than 33 years. As a Certified B Corporation™, Aurora is deeply committed to environmentally respectful travel and taking meaningful action to help protect the planet.

Founded on the guiding principles of adventure and endless exploration, Aurora creates intimate, friendly small-ship experiences that take travellers to some of the world’s most remote and extraordinary destinations.

Aurora Expeditions’ three purpose-built small ships, Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson, are designed for global discovery. The newest addition to the fleet, Douglas Mawson, launched in late 2025 and now offers Antarctic adventures departing from Australia and New Zealand.

Pop into PW1 over the Festival weekend to meet the Aurora Expeditions team and find out more about coming aboard for an incredible Antarctic adventure.

FEATURE PHOTO CREDIT: © Bella Falk, Passport & Pixels

Explore Antarctica through art, science and storytelling.

ICE PACT is an exhibition featuring works spanning Antarctic wildlife, landscapes, exploration, science, ecology and human impact. Created by former Antarctic expeditioner Jorg Metz with artists Ray Pearce and Dierdre Outhred, the exhibition also explores the Antarctic Treaty System and the Southern Ocean.

Families can also enjoy special children’s storytelling sessions featuring The Things You Can Do With Blue Whale Poo, connecting young audiences with the fascinating world of Antarctic whales and ocean science. Storytelling sessions run from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Antarctic Aviation

Helicopter Resources are industry leaders in Antarctic operations. With over 48 years, 35,000 hours, utilizing seven helicopter types in the Antarctic alone, Helicopter Resources’ level of helicopter operational experience is extensive.

Helicopter Resources specialise in all aspects of Antarctic aviation including ship-based science, resupply voyages and station or remote field camp logistics and scientific support.

Operations have been undertaken in support of various nations Antarctic Programs including Australia, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, China and Pakistan.

Helicopter Resources’ extensive operational knowledge and experience ensures they have the capability to reliably support long-duration, unsupported Antarctic missions.

Helicopter Resources Pty Ltd is an ISO 9001:2015 quality assured and BARS registered company.

One of their helicopters will be on display at the Australian Antarctic Festival.

Check it out in the Antarctic Expo, Princes Wharf No 1 – and enter our competition to win a scenic helicopter flight.

Win a Scenic Helicopter Flight

PRIZE

One lucky person will win a single 15-minute to 20-minute flight for up to five people (to be used between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday to Friday). Valid for 12 months, the prize must be redeemed by 23 August 2027.

HOW TO ENTER

You must be 18 years or older to enter. See our TERMS AND CONDITIONS for entry details.

Submit a competition entry form on site in PW1 between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd of August 2024. You will find the forms and the box for your entry next to the Helicopter Resources display. Good luck!

Celebrate Australia and Chile’s shared Antarctic connections and roles as gateways to the frozen continent, with animations by Eggpicnic.

Visit Antarctica without leaving Hobart

Step inside Antarctica through two immersive virtual reality experiences, created by the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust (NZAHT) and the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT).

Explore ‘Discovery Hut’, where you’ll step inside Captain Scott’s historic expedition base on Ross Island, or experience ‘A Frozen Night’, which follows a dog-sledging expedition from a British Antarctic research base on Stonington Island.

Suitable for ages 11 and over, each immersive experience runs for approximately 30 minutes, and sessions alternate between ‘Discovery Hut’ and ‘A Frozen Night’. Bookings are essential.

Insights from the Frontiers of Antarctic Research

Hear from leading researchers and subject matter experts as they share the latest discoveries, insights and stories from the deep south.

Covering a diverse range of Antarctic topics, these engaging presentations offer a unique opportunity to learn from those working at the forefront of science, conservation, exploration and policy.

Whether you’re a lifelong polar enthusiast or simply curious about Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, there’s something for everyone.

Registration is essential for both in-person and online attendance.

The Australian Antarctic Festival is proud to offer this opportunity for people to learn much more about Hobart’s significant role in current national and international polar research, as well as its many historical associations with the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean.

Antarctic Historian and Guide, John Williamson, will lead groups on an educative, informative, and enlightening walk around the Hobart waterfront, tracing the 19th century sealing and whaling industries, early voyages of exploration to the south – including those by Sir Douglas Mawson – scientific expeditions, and places of contemporary Antarctic tourism and education. The walk, taking a little over one hour at a relaxed pace, will begin at the Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum and conclude in St David’s Park.

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL.

Sail into the stories of Antarctica’s greatest explorers.

All aboard for an unforgettable Antarctic adventure on Tassie’s iconic tall ship, the Lady Nelson.

Step aboard for a 90-minute harbour sail across the breathtaking Derwent River and journey into the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration. Help the crew hoist the sails, take the helm, or relax and enjoy the views of one of the world’s most picturesque harbours.

As you sail along Hobart’s historic waterfront, Festival storytellers will bring to life the remarkable stories of Sir Douglas Mawson and Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose courage, endurance and leadership helped define one of the greatest eras of polar exploration.

With a maximum of just 28 passengers on each sailing, this intimate Festival experience offers a unique opportunity for adults and families to discover Antarctic history from a completely different perspective aboard one of Hobart’s most iconic vessels.

Look out for the Lady Nelson glowing blue throughout the Festival!

Important information

• This experience is weather-dependent. Sailing times may be changed or cancelled if conditions are considered unsuitable or unsafe.
• Ticket holders will be contacted regarding any changes. If a sailing is cancelled, ticket holders will be offered a transfer or a full refund.
• Please arrive early to allow time for boarding. Late arrivals may not be able to join the sailing.

Paint Your Own Penguin!

Looking for a unique Saturday afternoon during the Australian Antarctic Festival?

Join us at Frida’s Sip ‘n Paint and be guided step by step as you create your very own Antarctic penguin masterpiece – no artistic experience required!

Bring a friend, enjoy a BYO drink and a delicious grazing platter (optional purchase), and relax in a fun, social atmosphere inspired by the wildlife and beauty of the frozen continent.

All painting materials are provided, and you’ll take home your completed penguin artwork at the end of the session.

Celebrating Antarctic heritage.

As part of the Australian Antarctic Festival 2026, join the Mawson’s Huts Foundation for an unforgettable after-dark celebration of Antarctic heritage.

Begin the evening with an exclusive champagne reception and private viewing of the Hadley’s Art Prize before enjoying a three-course dinner with drinks and a keynote presentation by acclaimed broadcaster and Antarctic advocate Andrew Denton.

Connect with fellow Antarctic supporters, researchers, and explorers while helping preserve Mawson’s historic huts through live and silent auctions, a lucky door prize, and exclusive experiences, including the chance to bid on a voyage to Antarctica with Terra Nova Expeditions.

Every ticket purchased and every auction bid directly support the Mawson’s Huts Foundation efforts.

Dress code: Smart casual evening wear  |  Dietary Requirements must be provided before 18 August 2026.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Andrew Denton

Andrew Denton is an award-winning writer, performer and producer. His TV programs include The Money or the Gun, Enough Rope, Election Chaser, CNNNN, Hungry Beast, and The Gruen Transfer. The Andrew Denton Breakfast Show on radio Triple M was a ratings winner between 1997–2001, and included the legendary Musical Challenge. He also pioneered documentaries on difficult subjects done in a different way, including The Year of the Patronising Bastard, about disability, and Angels & Demons, about mental illness.

A passionate advocate for Antarctica, Andrew has travelled to the continent multiple times and has visited the historic huts at Cape Denison, gaining a firsthand appreciation for the extraordinary achievements and hardships of Sir Douglas Mawson and the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. He has also supported the work of the Mawson’s Huts Foundation and the preservation of this unique Antarctic heritage.

Workshops, talks, activities and Antarctic gateway city experiences.

Visit Antarctic Youth Connections for a fun, hands-on program of workshops, activities and conversations exploring Antarctic wildlife, gateway cities, language and youth connections.

Explore Antarctica Through Hands-On Activities

Throughout the day you can drop-in to:

• Meet the Antarctic Youth Coalition Hobart team and discover how young people are connecting with Antarctica
• Create your own Penguin Cubios, brought to you all the way from Chile
• Collect the exclusive Punta Arenas passport stamp for your Antarctic Cities Passport Adventure!

Join one of our workshops:

Fun for young people and curious adults, the program, led by the Antarctic Youth Coalition Hobart, includes five engaging workshops. Relax on a beanbag while learning about Antarctica and the gateway cities that support research, exploration and international cooperation.

• ¡Hola! Learn Spanish with the AYC
• Meet AYC Punta Arenas
• Penguins of Antarctica
• Discover Christchurch
• Seals of Antarctica

Workshop schedule coming soon.

Meet sled dogs, explore Antarctica and enjoy a day of family fun

Come down to the Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum lawns on Sunday for a fun Antarctic-themed family day.

Enjoy a range of activities and experiences throughout the Mawson’s Family Day, including:

• Free entry to the Mawson’s Huts Museum.
• Meet working sled dogs and chat with the team from Sled Dog Adventures Tasmania about the history of sled dogs in Antarctica.
• Antarctic stories, science, and exploration – brought to life for families with sessions run by the Mawson’s Huts Foundation Mobile Antarctic Classroom.
• Hands-on activities with the Antarctic Youth Coalition.
• Wool spinning demonstrations by Marion Wheatland from Spinning Pets Yarn using husky wool.
• Food and drinks available for purchase.
• Face painting, crafts, penguin painting and more.

Presentations

Islands to Ice | Level 2 in the Argyle Galleries

Join us for a fun and engaging afternoon of Antarctic stories, presented in collaboration with the Tassie Student Science Communicators Network.

Hear engaging short talks exploring Antarctic science and wildlife, including stories about whales, seabirds and algal blooms in the Southern Ocean.

Designed for curious minds of all ages, this intimate event brings Antarctic research to life through entertaining stories and fresh perspectives.

TMAG Patron advice: This event will be held in an intimate venue with limited general seating only

Antarctica’s influence on Tasmania’s finest whisky

Join LARK Master Blender Chris Thomson for a guided tasting exploring the connection between Antarctica, Tasmania’s environment and the distinctive character of LARK whisky.

Discover how the Southern Ocean, Antarctic weather systems, pure rainfall and Tasmania’s temperate climate influence the water, maturation and flavour behind each dram.

Guests will enjoy three unique LARK Single Malt Whiskies while learning what makes Tasmanian whisky so distinctive.

Whisky tasting includes:

• Devil’s Storm No. 183
  A bold and complex single malt showcasing delicate Tasmanian peat smoke highlights the influence of Tasmania’s whisky super climate.
• Wilderness Series: Coral Veil
  Inspired by the mysterious beauty of Tasmania’s underwater wilderness, this rare single cask release captures the elemental character of the island’s surrounding seas and the hidden depths that thrive beneath its waters.
• Wilderness Series: Antarctic Edge
  The final release of the Wilderness Sea Chapter, Antarctic Edge is a tribute to the frozen frontier beyond Tasmania. Matured in an ex-Bourbon cask, it delivers notes of ocean breeze, lemon curd, salted caramel, toasted brioche and vanilla cream, reflecting the purity, clarity and quiet intensity of Antarctica’s influence on our island home.

One of Australia’s greatest untold expeditions

Deep in the wild Southern Ocean, halfway between Australia and South Africa, rises Big Ben – the towering, glacier-clad volcano of Heard Island, one of Australia’s most remote territories.

The Great White Whale tells the extraordinary story of the first attempts to climb this formidable peak during the 1960s. Battling some of the roughest seas on Earth, extreme weather and seemingly impossible odds, a small team of Australians returned time and again in pursuit of a dream, joined by legendary explorer Bill Tilman on their final attempt.

Featuring remarkable archival footage, firsthand accounts, and a stirring musical score, this award-winning documentary brings to life one of Australia’s most daring and little-known adventures.

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL.