Scott Base’s oldest building, a hut built by a Sir Edmund Hillary-led team, has opened its doors to the public – virtually.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, launched Antarctic Heritage Trust’s unique virtual reality experience of Sir Edmund Hillary’s Antarctic hut at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate in South Auckland.
Developed in partnership with Auckland University of Technology over two years, the virtual reality experience allows users to explore Sir Edmund Hillary’s hut in Antarctica. The experience provides insight into how the 23 men of Sir Ed’s team lived and worked in the world’s most extreme environment more than 60 years ago.
Hillary’s hut was Scott Base’s first building and was built by a team led by Sir Ed to support the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition and the International Geophysical Year. The Trust conserved the building in time for Scott Base’s 60th anniversary in 2017.
Users can tour the five rooms of the building, viewing hundreds of artefacts from the early years of New Zealand’s Antarctic programme and learn more about New Zealand’s first presence in Antarctica.
The Trust’s General Manager Operations and Communications Francesca Eathorne who oversaw the project development, hopes thousands of New Zealanders will take up the opportunity to explore the hut virtually.
Users will be able to experience the VR through selected exhibitors; a version of the full experience is available for free via Antarctic Heritage Trust’s app and the gaming platform Steam.
How to view the VR
- To view the virtual experience at home on your mobile device visit the app store and
download the Antarctic Heritage Trust VR app for free (best viewed with a cardboard
headset). - To experience the fully immersive and interactive version, download it for free from Steam
and watch it on your HTC Vive headset. - Visit Antarctic Heritage Trust’s website to see who is hosting the fully immersive and
interactive version around New Zealand.
SOURCE: Quark Expeditions
