Antarctica

Tasmania is the powerhouse driving Australia’s activities in Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic islands, and the Southern Ocean, with a number of natural advantages as an Antarctic gateway and has the greatest concentration of Antarctic and Southern Ocean scientists and institutions of the world’s five Antarctic gateway cities. It is the preferred location for Australia’s assets relating to the Antarctic, including Australia's icebreaker, research and supply vessel Nuyina. More than 950 Tasmanians are employed in Antarctic and Southern Ocean science, research, and support activities.

The capital city, Hobart, provides natural access to the Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island and the vast east Antarctic region with a deep-water port that is 2 575km from the Antarctic mainland and 3 429km from Australia’s Casey Station, and summer flights link Hobart Airport to Antarctica.

Hobart is an international centre of Antarctic and Southern Ocean expertise, home to the vast majority of Australia’s Antarctic and Southern Ocean scientists. It also hosts a number of international Antarctic secretariats and project offices. Hobart is the headquarters of Australia’s Antarctic program and of the expeditionary vessel of the French Polar Institute Paul-Émile Victor. L’Astrolabe also uses Hobart port as its summer base. Antarctic activity is supported by the research, government and business alliance, the Tasmanian Polar Network and by Antarctic Tasmania, which is a Tasmanian Government agency dedicated to supporting the Antarctic sector. The sector is well organised and works collaboratively on internationally important science. An exciting Antarctic and Science Precinct concept is currently being considered for a development at Macquarie Point, Hobart. This could provide scientists and visitors with further exciting opportunities to collaborate on, and better understand, Antarctic and Southern Ocean research.

The Tasmanian Government has several cooperative agreements with international Antarctic programs using Hobart as a gateway for their activities and is working to increase such arrangements with other nations operating in East Antarctica. Additionally, a thriving coalition of more than 70 local businesses, research organisations and government agencies - the Tasmanian Polar Network - which collaborates to support and promote the sector and provide specialised products and services for Antarctic nations. No other gateway hosts an organisation like the Tasmanian Polar Network, with its diversity of membership and range of capabilities.

Tasmania offers:

• the amenities of a modern capital city, with excellent sea and air transport infrastructure
• world-class expertise in Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and marine education, research and support services
• over 60 businesses experienced in supplying the needs of Antarctic expeditions
• regular flights operating during the summer months between Hobart International Airport and Casey station in East Antarctica with the recently extended runway capable of accommodating a full payload for C17s travelling to Antarctica
• a port that offers shipping operators a complete range of 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week port services and full provedoring, stevedoring, cold storage, quarantine and maintenance facilities.