introduction

Heard Island is a bleak and mountainous island with an area of 368 kilometres squared.

Its mountains are covered in glaciers and dominated by Mawson Peak, a 2,745-metre high complex volcano which forms part of the Big Ben massif.

Mawson Peak knowned as the highest Australian mountain, and one of only 2 active volcanoes in Australian territory, the other being McDonald Island.

travel

Getting to the Heard islands is pretty difficult and requires much preparation and planning as there are specific requirements.

To gain access you will need to join a specialist scientific expedition on board a ship and you'll need special permission from the Australian Antarctic Division due to its status as a nature reserve. There are no inhabitants on the island and living conditions will be very rough indeed.

where to stay

Find youself a nice cave to get shelter from the sub zero freezing temperatures of the Southern Ocean storms battering the islands and pitch your tent inside it.

If you're lighting a fire - and are successful at doing so in this wet and frozen climate - make sure the cave has adequate ventilation, good luck with drying your wetsuit and preventing it from freezing solid.

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