CONCRETE PLAYGROUND: The Antarctica Experience

It's no easy task getting to Earth's southern-most continent; if you don't have the approval of arriving by plane, Antarctica can take around seven days of sailing to reach in rough seas and extreme conditions — and you'll likely drop a bomb of cash doing so. Good news then that Auckland Museum is playing host to a new virtual reality adventure allowing visitors to experience the life of expeditioners and scientists as they research the mysterious continent.

After playing to sell-out audiences across Australia, The Antarctica Experience comes to Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum from Saturday, 21 December. The virtual reality visitor experience comes complete with VR headsets and a 22-minute 360-degree Antarctic film.

Visitors will be transported to a world of ice and snow — exploring Antarctica from a helicopter cockpit, landing on a glacier and cruising through icy waters to meet a penguin colony and their new chicks. Also on the agenda: you'll visit Davis Station and learn about daily life in the harsh conditions, marvel at the spectacular Southern Lights, and follow scientists studying and conserving the frozen continent.

The Antarctica Experience is the work of Western Australia filmmaker Briege Whitehead who partnered with BAFTA award-winning director Phil Harper, known for his work on David Attenborough's Great Barrier Reef VR Dive, and the Western Australian Museum.

The virtual reality adventure, screening at Auckland Museum, gives visitors a chance to experience the stunning beauty and diversity of the remote continent and see first-hand the work that goes into understanding climate change, managing ecosystems, researching sustainability and conserving wildlife.

Published on January 7, 2020 by Stephen Heard on concreteplayground.com