What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Very cool

  juliajI3850WM,Apr 16, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  The hagglan ride was very scary for 7 year old. My child loved the storm house and the 4d movie and all the wonderful interactive things e.g holding his hand in very cold Antarctic water. We loved it thanks very enjoyable day

• Loved it

  952esmel,Apr 14, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Loved it, we had fun riding the hagglund, experiencing the wind chill of the antartic climate, the 4D movie and much much more. Lots to learn

• Cool

  Carolynn B,Apr 12, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  4.00

  It was exactly as advertised. Everybody was super helpful and kind. It wasnt as flashy as american museums or science centers but it was cool. I think its perfect for younger audience as the exhibits are fairly short and manageable. The icestorm they give you jackets/shoe covers you dont need more than that.

  

• Antarctica tour

  manjunair83,Apr 10, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  It was a good experience and since it was right next to the airport it was a good short Antarctica tour before leaving Christchurch.

• Diverse & informative, but a bit pricey

  Syed M,Apr 9, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  Despite only having an hour, I was able to make good use of my time at the International Antarctic Centre. Although the staff recommend at least 2 hours, they were able to suggest the most important exhibits to check out in my limited time. The Antarctic Storm simulator was "refreshingly" chilly. I liked seeing & learning about the huskies. And, I found the 4D cinema enjoyable & a little funny. There's a lot of information covering all aspects of the Antarctic from geography to ecology to the way of life. The main disappointment was not being able to appreciate the penguins. It seems they were all asleep, so at best we could peek at them in their burrows. If I had more time I would have ridden on a Hägglund and maybe considered a guided tour. Because of the price, I don't think it's worth for me to go back again, so I'd suggest making the most of your visit.

• Great experience, educational and fun!

  mrsmupps,Apr 8, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  We had a general admission ticket. We really enjoyed the penguins, the interactive film, the haglund rides and the snow storm room. Such a cool place something for everyone

• Worth a look

  Kara B,Apr 8, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  4.00

  Couldn't do the ride due to back injury, partner and son loved it though. Storm room was great fun. Husky talk went on for a bit too long and lacked coordination with people getting to the front to meet the dogs. Not so much the fault of the company, more that no structure was in place and this relies on people doing the right thing.... which isn't a strong suit of many. Some pushing in front of a young lady in a wheelchair.

• Spring for the two hour guided tour and hope you get Leighton as your tour guide!

  nancyolah,Apr 6, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  I am so glad we opted for the $99 NZD guided tour instead of just buying a general admission ticket. We had the most knowledgeable tour guide, who added immeasurably to the experience. Leighton is a Kiwi doing this as a “retirement job” after managing logistics for the US for 25 years. He is the veteran for 14 trips to Antarctica, ranging from 10 days to 4 months, so Leighton has a wealth of experience and knowledge. We loved the ability to experience what a minus 8 C temperature feels like with a minus 18 C mph wind for five minutes. We enjoyed the films and exhibits, which were greatly enhanced by Leighton’s commentary. We thoroughly enjoyed the Hagglund ride experience, as well as learning about the beautiful huskies from their owner, because those dogs are truly the unsung heroes of Antarctic exploration. But the biggest thrill for me was seeing the little blue penguins that have been rescued. We saw them in the wild in Oamaru, and now to be able to see them up close (and take photos) was absolutely amazing. The center is very close to the airport, so it would be an excellent 2-3 hour visit rather than sitting in the CHC airport!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Blue Penguins

  Roy H,Apr 5, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  I loved seeing the blue penguins. We came just for that, but there is more. Arctic blizzard simulator was impressive as well.

  

  

• Antarctic Centre a must visit

  540barbaraw,Apr 3, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We visited on Good Friday when everything else was closed but the visit exceeded expectations. The experiences of the visual displays , simulators of arctic storms of -18 , riding in the snow mobile through a simulated snow scape , rescued penguins , 4 D movie and meeting huskies with their trainer were all fantastic for 3 adults snd 4 children. The children were aged 4-10 yo. But all age groups were catered for. The staff were attentive , delightful and helpful. Highly recommend

  
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