The Australian Antarctic Festival is produced by the Mawson’s Huts Foundation. With partnering organisations such as the Australian Antarctic Division, CSIRO and the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, the festival presents a unique opportunity for members of the public to inspect Australia’s latest Antarctic and marine research.

The 2024 festival features a program of fascinating, entertaining and educational events. The festival has a broad appeal ranging from academia, exhibitions and displays, a family fun day, a ‘road show’ for regional areas and entertainment . Regular features returning by popular demand include the Antarctic Expo, the informative Law Lecture, the “Penguin Project” and the popular Mawson’s Huts Foundation Gala Dinner.

The Antarctic Expo in Princes Wharf No 1 is a display of contemporary equipment used on the frozen continent, as well as a collection of artefacts and equipment from Australia’s history of exploration in Antarctica. There are movies, art installations and an exhibition entitled “Through our Eyes” which focuses on the roles and achievements of women in the Antarctic.

The festival runs over four days with the first two days usually dedicated to school group tours with members of the public using the weekend to take in the spectacular and informative opportunities offered.