90° South: Sir Edmund Hillary & the NZ Antarctic Expedition

MOTAT’s latest exhibition opens on Monday 20th July to mark the birthday of one of New Zealand’s greatest explorers – Sir Edmund Hillary.

The ‘90° South - Sir Edmund Hillary and the NZ Antarctic Expedition 1956-8’ tells the story behind the extraordinary Trans-Antarctic Expedition, where Sir Ed led the New Zealand Ross Sea Party team to complete the first vehicular over land crossing of the Antarctic via the South Pole.

90° South’ features two exhibits, ‘Hellbent for the Pole’ and ‘Striking a Chord’.

In the first exhibit, ‘Hellbent for the Pole’, budding explorers can take a look behind Sir Ed’s determination and his meticulous ability to plan. The exhibit includes photographs and historical documents recording the journey that Sir Ed took when leading the New Zealand division.

Visitors can also learn about the fifteen huskies that were bred at Auckland Zoo especially for the expedition.

While the second exhibit, ‘Striking a Chord’, looks at Sir Ed’s past achievements and his place as a national hero.

The exhibition also features one of MOTAT’s most treasured artefacts – Sir Ed’s modified Massey Ferguson tractor, one of only three used by Sir Ed and his team to journey to the South Pole.

You can enjoy 90° South – Sir Edmund Hillary and the NZ Antarctic Expedition 1956-8 as part of your entry fee to MOTAT. You can also enjoy the rest of the museum, free tram rides and entry to the Tactile Dome and Voyager1 for one great price.

Image: Sir Edmund Hillary on the Massey Ferguson tractor - courtesy of Antarctica NZ.

Event listed by MCH Admin

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