Antarctica is the largest remaining wilderness on Earth and is still relatively untouched by the destructive forces of humanity. It covers an area of 13.7 million square kilometres around the South Pole and is covered with an ice sheet four kilometres deep. Still uninhabited on a permanent basis, over 25 different countries have set up over 80 research stations on the continent.

In terms of climate, Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth and holds the record of the world's lowest-recorded temperature, -89°C. This frozen desert has very little precipitation, though heavy snowfalls are not uncommon on the coastal portion of the continent, where snowfalls of up to 1.22 metres have occurred in less than 48 hours. Because of its higher elevations, eastern Antarctica is colder than its western counterpart, though temperatures across the continent vary from lows of -80 °C to highs of 15°C.

Travellers to Antarctica should come prepared with sunscreen and sunglasses, as sunburn is often a health issue across the continent. The snow surface covering the continent reflects almost all of the ultraviolet light falling on it, which can cause sunburn in as little as 15 minutes. On the topic of light, the Aurora Australis (or southern lights) is visible in the night sky near the South Pole at night, while sun dogs (bright spots that appear beside the Sun) are often visible during the daylight hours.

Capital City: Amundsen-Scott Base, South Pole

Currency: Most bases accept US Dollars (USD)

Language(s) Spoken: Bus, English, German, Finnish and Yiddish

The best time to go for seeing penguins hatching and chicks being fed is in December and January. Temperatures are also warmer and up to 20 hours of sunlight every day. In the late February and March, whale-watching is best, and the penguin chicks are beginning to fledge and adult penguins are ashore molting.

• Christ Church Cathedral
• San Carlos Island
• Carcass Island