Family & friends

Do you have a family member or friend in Antarctica? How do you contact them? What is it like for them down south? How do you explain their situation to children?

An important contact for you is the Expeditioner Liaison & Training Coordinator (ELTC). She liaises between families and expeditioners once they are in Antarctica. You can contact her on free call 1800 030 680, or by contact form with your request.

If you would like to meet with others in a similar situation, you might be interested in the Antarctic Family and Friends Association. This group offers support and encouragement to all its members, and meets regularly for casual lunches to enjoy a good chat.

If you have children, we can recommend books which will help to explain what daddy or mummy or auntie or uncle are doing.

Shipping news

• Aurora Australis
• Transport schedules
• Voyage tracks
• Plot your own voyage route
• Distances between Australia and stations

Current information about the stations

• Casey
  • Weather at Casey
  • Live webcam at Casey
  • What's happening this week at Casey?
• Davis
  • Weather at Davis
  • Live webcam at Davis
  • What's happening this week at Davis?
• Macquarie Island
  • Weather at Macquarie Island
  • Live webcam at Macquarie Island
  • What's happening this week at Macquarie Island?
• Mawson
  • Weather at Mawson
  • Live webcam at Mawson
  • What's happening this week at Mawson?

Communicating with family members or friends while they are down south

• Communicating with Antarctica [605 KB]
• Mail & Cargo Advice 2009-10 [45 KB]

Useful information for those left behind

• Liaison and support (including Antarctic Family & Friends Association)
• Antarctic Separation Booklet [2.8 MB]
• Employee Assistance Program (General information)
  • EAP Brochure [304 KB]
• Books for young children

Interesting sites

• Take a virtual tour of Antarctica
• General information on Antarctica
• Facts about Antarctica
• Popular Antarctic maps