Ross Dependency- McMurdo Station and Australian Antarctic Territory

Antarctica-Ross Dependency-Scott Base  Getting into the Ross Sea and arriving here is far from a done deal.Without any doubt the hardest part of Antarctica to get to if youare coming by ship.  It is a very slow process getting through the packed Ice. This was a five week trip. Landing in the New Zealand part of Antarctica. We had a New Zealand ranger with us where we landed. A group of about 80 on this trip. What you get to see on the landings are the famous wooden huts that are preserved from the days of the early Expeditions in the early 1900s. They still have food, Drink newspapers. The New Zealand government do a great job minding these very special historic buildings. Arriving in Scott Base,again was not easy . One of the helicopters had been grounded so we only had one go get from ship to shore. So it was a risk. But thankfully all went well. 

The first tourist ship to get here in 2 years. The previous ship which went 4 weeks prior to this had to turn back. So I was privileged to get here. Some passengers on the ship, this was there 3rd time and was the only time they had made it this far. When you visit Scott Base the New Zealand crew are so friendly and you can see all around. There is a small shop, with a Post box. You can buy stamps and souvenirs here. There has not been a Post office here for many many years. So I knew the mail would be sent back to Christchurch for processing. On the left is a Rubber stamp mark I put on myself as it was right beside the Post box. I sent this on 15 February 2008 and it got postmarked in Christchurch on 18 February 2008. So that was very quick. The runway is shared with the American Base. 

Antarctica-McMurdo Station   This is the American Base at McMurdo. You could walk between the two bases the New Zealand and the American base. But got a lift from a New Zealander . The base here is chalk and cheese compared to the New Zealand base. Every mod con you could think off . A much bigger base here . We had a tour of the base which is very interesting ,many parts were off limits. We were the first tourists in 2 years. 

I had not brought American stamps with me as my main focus on this trip was to get to Scott Base . Unfortunately as this was coming towards the end of the season in February the shop had run out of Stamps. And also the last American plane to take mail back had left. So my postcard was to sit here until the next season and the stamps arrived. I had to get someone to look after my card. You can see even though it was posted on February 15, it ended up being postmarked on October 9, when the next mailing went out. 

Antarctica-McMurdo Station   This is The Chapel of the Snows serving the needs of the community at Mc Murdo Station. So we visited here and there is even a fire truck here. Like a small town. Very impressive. 

I have left this information intact here. Again I had to leave this card and wait for it to get posted. I had no idea I would get anything written on the card. 

Antarctica-Australian Antarctic Territory-Macquarie Island   A fantastic Island to visit. This is really sub Antarctica. Here you learn about the moving land plates that makes this place unique. Lots of wildlife. This was on the way back towards Tasmania. This Island is also  a World Heritage Site. Here you can see a photo of the Settlement on Macquarie Island. There is no permanent population here. But people all year around . 

I again had left the full back of the postcard for you to see. Reason is the extra makes on the back. One showing Seals and the other Bird life. There is a Post office here which is inside the Cafe and shop. The stamps sold are all Australian Antarctic Territory . 

Antarctica

Antarctica-Argentine Antarctica-Decepcion Station   My first stop in Antarctica. A fantastic sight Well worth all of the Russian Icebreaker rolling in the night. Just pure white everywhere. No photos could do this place justice.

Posted on the Decepcion Base on Deception Island. 

Antarctica-Gabriel de Castilla Station Quite a lot of penguins around . 

This Postcard was handstamped at the Base. There is no Post Office here , so not really official , but I thought I would show it . 

Antarctica-Chilean Antarctica-Gabriel Gonzalez Videla Station   This is a very accurate view of what you will see in this part of Antarctica. 

There is no Post office at this base. So this is just a base stamp . Not official so will want to send a card from a Chilean Base with a Post Office. 

Antarctica-Palmer Station   This is a view from Palmer Station  a United States base. Not often visited as they limit the number of ships that can arrive per year. Had great burgers here ,the cook was from Alaska. 

I just used the base stamp here. So this card was not posted either. The United States does not  claim any part of Antarctica , but they also do not recognise any other claim . 

Antarctica-British Antarctic Territory-Port Lockroy   This building is not too far away from Palmer station the US base. But one needs a ship to get between the two. Loads of Gentoo penguins here. 

Arrived here about 10.30pm at night. Still  bright . The Post office here was mad busy. The ship I was on only had 100 on board but they were still dealing with the mail from other visitors earlier on. A great Post office to visit.