'Trip of a lifetime' to the Antarctic

Checking their route to the Antarctic at the University of Otago department of marine science are (from left) Darren Buist, Prof Gary Wilson and Barry McLellan. Photo by Gregor Richardson.

Freezing cold, ice and sleet, terrible working conditions and being bossed around by a bunch of boffins.

It sounds like the holiday from hell, but two Dunedin men have paid around $20,000 for the privilege.

Senior Constable Darren Buist, of Mosgiel police, and Brighton agricultural contractor Barry McLellan leave this month on a scientific expedition to the Antarctic on the Spirit of Enderby polar exploration vessel.

University of Otago department of marine science head Prof Gary Wilson said the expedition would examine issues such as climate change, protecting biodiversity, over-fishing, tourism and mineral exploration.

"There will be a whole range of scientific activities going on in the boat. The trip is a mixture of people who wanted to do things and people who wanted to see things being done," he said.

"My interest is in climate and ocean change through time, so we'll be getting sediment cores from the sea floor. We'll sample a whole transect, from Macquarie Island down to the Ross Sea - that's assuming the pack ice lets us and we get all the way in."

It will be Prof Wilson's 20th trip to the Antarctic. However, it is the adventure of a lifetime for the two Dunedin tourists who are going along for the ride.

"Antarctica has been a dream of mine for a long time," Sen Const Buist said.

"It's the only place in the world that I really want to see."

The pair each paid around $20,000 to join the month-long expedition, which Mr McLellan said would be "the trip of a lifetime".

"It will be an amazing trip. It's something I've always wanted to do. We'll be helping out the scientists and, basically, acting as their gofers."

The trip was organised by Wellington entrepreneur Gareth Morgan, to raise awareness of the Antarctic and the subantarctic islands and the threats the area faces.

The voyage was open to anyone, but all aboard had to make a contribution to the project, Mr Morgan said.

"The ship's complement has ended up as I'd hoped: a wide cross-section of New Zealanders. I'm looking forward to 30 days rolling around in the ocean."

Spirit of Enderby leaves Bluff on February 10 and returns to Lyttelton on March 9.

nigel.benson@odt.co.nz