Need a unique school holiday programme in Christchurch? Why not send them to Antarctica?!
Adventure, fun, excitement and enlightenment – it’s all waiting for them here!
Enroll your children in one of our Antarctic Academy Programmes and we’ll entertain them and educate them about all things Antarctica.
They’ll discover our little blue penguins, ride the Hägglund, find out how to survive in Antarctica, go exploring around the centre, play games and much, much more!
We have a range of Antarctic Centre holiday programmes guaranteed to excite, inspire and educate. Learn more about each programme below and book your experience online.
What You Need to Know:
- What to Bring: Each child must bring their own morning tea, lunch, drink bottle, sunhat, warm jacket and covered shoes. Sunscreen is recommended for outdoor play.
- Lunch: A $10 lunch pack is available to pre-order. Consists of a wrap or sandwich, popcorn, fruit bowl, mini muffin or slice and special penguin biscuits.
*Some dietary restrictions are unable to be catered to.
OUR PROGRAMMES
Book for a day and experience Antarctic life and learn about a specific element of life on the ice.
Book for the week and travel far and wide (metaphorically) across the icy continent!
There are a variety of fun daily themes. Each day/theme comes with its own fun and interactive activities. Learn more about each daily theme below.
*Please note: a minimum number of bookings are required for this programme to operate.
- Ages: suitable for children aged 6 – 12 yrs
- Time: runs from 9am – 3:30pm
- Available: Monday 4 – Friday 8 Oct & Monday 11 – Friday 15 Oct 2021
- Cost: $69 per child
- Discounts: Multi-day (5+ days) discount available. Please email [email protected] for more information on how to receive the multi-day discount.
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Put on some genuine Antarctic clothing and pitch a polar tent to protect from the elements.
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Discover what countries are where and design your own Antarctic base.
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Could you survive in Antarctica? Take the challenge and find out!
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There is more than just penguins in Antarctica! Discover all the wondrous Antarctic species.
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Find out what it takes to be a Hägglund driver.
DAILY THEMES
Technology has been a key enabler for Antarctic exploration since the days of Sir Edmund Hillary to the present.
Explore the development and use of technology in Antarctica, from husky sleds to the snow-master tractor, to the Hägglund, to the future of space exploration.
Experience the extremes of Antarctica in the snow and ice room and learn how Antarctic bases are designed to withstand extreme conditions and apply recycling technology.
*Please note: a minimum number of bookings are required for this programme to operate.
- Ages: suitable for children aged 9 – 13 yrs
- Time: runs from 9am – 3:30pm
- Available: Monday 11 – Friday 15 Oct 2021
- Cost: $79 per child
- Discounts: Multi-day (5+ days) discount available. Please email [email protected] for more information on how to receive the multi-day discount.
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Learn about some of the challenges of space travel as you get suited up in flight suits ready for a day of activities including designing a parachute for a Mars landing, checking out the food NASA Astronauts eat and buckling up for your own adventure aboard our Hägglund.
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Landings on Mars is our next big space adventure so join our group of Aerospace experts and design and construct your own Nano rover capable of landing on Mars, participate in the bee bot challenge and learn more about what it takes to explore space.
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Let’s go to the moon! Flight suits are essential in this environment so on this adventure children will be kitted out in their flight suits and then immerse themselves in designing their ’home’ on the moon. Learn about the lunar environment, what do they need to get there and survive and then design your own lunar station.
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Antarctica provides an amazing dark sky (in winter) to see into space. Being part of this programme children will learn more about Telescopes, use Science Alive Telescopes to detect an object and build their own 3D model telescope to take home.
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NZ is leading advancements in rocket launches into space. Be part of this exciting future; start learning basics of rocket design and build and even complete a test launch of your own rocket.
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Mars exploration is a new Frontier. Why did Mars become such a cold and extreme environment? Learn about the Geology and geography of Mars and working as a team plan and design your mission to Mars base which is not only for your survival but also sustainable!
TOPICS
It’s time to experience the super-cool world of the husky, spending time with a Husky Handler and his intelligent and beautiful dog.
Led by our Education Team, children will first learn what it takes to own a husky and how to safely approach dogs. They’ll discover how huskies can survive in sub-zero temperatures. Then they’ll get to experience such an environment first-hand with their new canine friends, courtesy of an Antarctic storm in our snow and ice room.
*Please note: a minimum number of bookings are required for this programme to operate.
- Ages: suitable for children aged 8 – 13 yrs
- Time: runs from 9am – 3:30pm
- Available: Monday 4 – Friday 8 Oct & Monday 11 – Friday 15 Oct 2021
- Cost: $79 per child
- Discounts: Multi-day (5+ days) discount available. Please email [email protected] for more information on how to receive the multi-day discount.
Become a penguin keeper for a day! An immersive journey into the world of the smallest penguin in the world. There’s nothing quite like a day spent learning from our specialist keepers.
In this ‘deep dive’ into aquatic avian life, children join our penguin keepers at the penguin encounter facility and assist them in their daily routine looking after our wonderful little blue penguins. Experience includes exclusive backstage access to the Vet Room, Plant Room and Penguin Feeding Pulpit. The type of behind-the-scenes encounter lifelong memories are made of!
*Please note: a minimum number of bookings are required for this programme to operate.
- Ages: suitable for children aged 10 – 13 yrs
- Time: runs from 9am – 3:30pm
- Available: Monday 4 – Friday 8 Oct & Monday 11 – Friday 15 Oct 2021
- Cost: $79 per child
- Discounts: Multi-day (5+ days) discount available. Please email [email protected] for more information on how to receive the multi-day discount.