Things to Do in Antarctica in June
June weather, activities, events & insider tips
June Weather in Antarctica
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is June Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + June sits in the shoulder between the last cruise ships departing and the winter-over crews settling in, so research stations are unusually accessible and scientists have time to talk
- + The sea ice edge is still close enough to reach by zodiac but broken enough for wildlife - penguins feed actively before the harsh dark, whales linger at the ice edge, and seals haul out on still-solid floes
- + Mid-winter twilight gives you four-hour 'golden hours' that photographers dream of. The sun skims the horizon at noon, painting every berg peach and lilac without the midnight-sun glare
- + Flight schedules are thin but not yet cargo-only, so seats open up on the last south-bound Hercs and you can fly into McMurdo or Union Glacier for the price of a business-class ticket instead of chartering a Gulfstream
- + Aurora australis season is just beginning. The sky is dark enough by 5 p.m. and solar activity tends to spike around the equinox, so you've got a real shot at overhead curtains of green on half your nights
- − Temperatures drop fast - what feels like a crisp 0°F (-18°C) morning can plunge to -30°F (-34°C) if a katabatic wind sweeps off the plateau, and June storms have grounded planes for a week straight
- − Daylight is scarce: four and a half hours at 77°S, less if you push toward the pole; you'll be doing everything - zodiac cruises, base tours, even camp chores - in twilight or headlamp
- − The tourist fleet is gone. If you're not on a flagged logistics flight or a specialty polar operator you're essentially hitchhiking with science programs, and that means paperwork months in advance and no souvenir shop
Best Activities in June
Top things to do during your visit
June's fractured but still-extensive sea ice lets small boats weave between cathedral-sized bergs grounded near Cape Royds. You'll hear the ice boom like a bass drum when it cracks, and the low sun throws every pressure ridge into sharp relief - good for photography without the summer glare.
Shackleton's Nimrod hut and Scott's Discovery hut sit just 20 km (12 mi) apart on the McMurdo Sound sea ice. June's thin snow layer exposes century-old sled tracks and pony hoof prints. Twilight makes the interiors glow like lantern-lit museums frozen in 1903.
Head onto the Polar Plateau by ski-plane, then bed down in pyramid tents 50 km (31 mi) from base lights. June's darkness kicks in by late afternoon. When the magnetic field twitches you'll watch green arcs reflected in the sastrugi like neon on marble.
Before the emperors head to open water, researchers at Cape Crozier need head-counts and chick-band checks. You'll waddle alongside them in insulated overalls, clipboard frozen to your glove, while adults trumpet like badly-oiled trumpets.
June Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Every station north of 60°S celebrates the solstice with a blow-out dinner: freshies (saved apples), glühwein, and a live radio hook-up between Scott Base, McMurdo, and the South Pole. Visitors invited by winter-over crews can join the toast - tradition dates back to Shackleton's 1907 party.
Winter-overs screen 5-minute shorts they shot on the ice. Categories range from 'Epic Fails' to 'Best Use of Cardboard.' Audience is half scientists, half bearded cargo loaders, all hungry for entertainment. If you've flown in on a cargo hop you're automatically jury.
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