RSV Nuyina may be in the middle of the Southern Ocean but biosecurity dog Curly still needs a walk 🐶

RSV Nuyina heads down Hobart's River Derwent on its last resupply voyage of the season - Macquarie Island.

Curly the biosecurity dog, inspecting the Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo vessels (LARCs) for rodents, before they're shipped south to help resupply Macquarie Island.

🐳Antarctic blue whales are the largest animals on Earth, but they’re incredibly hard to find.

Now, scientists have used passive acoustic devices to listen for their distinctive calls and build a picture of blue whale distribution around Antarctica.
antarctica.gov.au/news/2024/list…

Fibreglass collection dog Stay was a much-loved feature at Australia’s Antarctic stations before she disappeared a few ago. Guide Dogs Tasmania has kindly supplied a replacement - she’ll head to Macquarie Island on RSV Nuyina next week.
📷Jesse Blackadder, Pete Harmsen

Australia's Antarctic stations rely heavily on hydroponic vegetables over the dark winter months. These tomatoes at Davis research station are thriving!
📷Martin Kucera

Are we missing anyone??

These Adélie penguins were spotted on the sea ice in front of Davis research station!

📷 Jared McGhie

Lest We Forget

At our Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations, our communities are commemorating Anzac Day.

📷Jared McGhie

Tomorrow is World Penguin Day! 🐧

There are 18 species of penguins, five of which live in Antarctica and another four on sub-Antarctic islands, but nearly all penguins live in the southern hemisphere.

Find our more about these amazing birds here 👉 antarctica.gov.au/about-antarcti…

Have you seen a solar pillar before?

The phenomenon is created by the reflection of light from tiny ice crystals suspended or falling through a very cold atmosphere.

This one was seen from Davis research station recently.

📷 Jared McGhie

It’s hard work being an elephant seal.

Southern elephant seals can dive for up to 2 kilometres and hold their breath under water for up to 2 hours!

Find out more about these amazing creatures here 👉antarctica.gov.au/about-antarcti…

📷 Nanching Lee

As the sun sets on another week in Antarctica, catch up on what’s happening at all four of our Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations.☀️

These weekly stories are from everyday Australians doing work in the most extraordinary environment.
antarctica.gov.au/news/stations/
📷T Harris

Now that’s just showing off!

There has been a lot of solar activity resulting in some amazing light shows down south, including this one from Davis research station.

Want to know more about auroras? Check out our Awesome Aurora feature 👉antarctica.gov.au/news/explore-a…

📹 Jared McGhie

👀Check out this ship’s-hull view of the seafloor.

🚢On a recent voyage to Mawson research station, 719 sq km of seafloor features, including shipping hazards, were precisely mapped for the first time using RSV Nuyina’s acoustic instruments.

Learn more👉 antarctica.gov.au/news/2024/mode…

Leopard seals are ferocious hunters, living on penguins and seal pups. They're solitary creatures and live for up to 26 years on pack ice around the Antarctic continent. This one was photographed near Mawson research station.
📷James Rae

We see some pretty incredible pictures from expeditioners down south, but these are just breathtaking.

Chef Justin from Mawson station captured these images during a period of particularly high solar activity on 25 March.

See the full gallery here👉antarctica.gov.au/news/stations/…

Wilkins – now starting its winter hibernation. ❄️

In total, 98 flights took off from Wilkins Aerodrome this summer. This included 16 A319 flights and seven C17 Globemaster flights back to Australia, moving over 900 people in four months. ✈️

📷 Dean Ahern

Thousands of krill collected from the Southern Ocean and kept on RSV Nuyina in these containerised aquaria will now be studied at the Australian Antarctic Division's krill lab. Krill are a key food source for whales and penguins.

Welcome home expeditioners from RSV Nuyina!

99 expeditioners from Mawson, Casey and Davis stations arrived home this week, celebrating with an official ceremony in Hobart. There were three people onboard who spent 517 days away from home after wintering at Davis station!

📷 AAD

Small watercraft are crucial to station resupply voyages because they take cargo and people from RSV Nuyina to shore and help monitor fuel transfers. This group is doing some Competent Crew training near Hobart before heading to Macquarie Island.
📷Cris Ambrozie