Island Girl Discovery

17/01/2026

So that Antarctica story by ABC I told you about, is now supposedly airing on Thursday 22 January 2026 7.30pm.

I'll still be on an island doing turtle research, so let me know if it was any good! Better yet, can someone please record it so I can watch it later (can you still record things on tv these days??)

From 6,000 applications each year, only about 300 make the cut to travel down to Antarctica and experience a workplace like no other. So, what's it like working at Casey Station?

Read the story by Antartic reporter Jano Gibson: https://ab.co/4jFxi55

15/01/2026

During my last couple of weeks at Casey Station, ABC came down to record what living on station is like. If you'd like a glimpse into my life on the ice, tune into channel ABC - 7.30 Report tonight! And please tell me all about the segment - I can't watch it as I'm currently on an island doing volunteer turtle research!

08/01/2026

Crossing the Nullarbor in 3 days - 31 Dec 2025 to 2 Jan 2026 - starting in Esperance WA and finishing in Smoky Bay SA.

Memorable moments:
• 90 mile straight
• spending New Years Day in 2 states & 3 time zones (AWST, ACWST, ACST)
• camping on the Great Australian Bight
• exploring Nullarbor caves
• breaking a shockie somewhere, but not really knowing when or where, on the Nullarbor! Lucky to make it to SA without incident! Shout out to the Bridgestone team (Hayley, Anthony & Maria) in Port Lincoln for helping us out so quickly & being so kind to us! 💙

Null = no; Arbor = tree. But there are trees! 🌳

31/12/2025

After my almost 13 month ice deployment, now spending the end of 2025 recharging with some much needed Vitamin Sea & Sun exposure!

Currently making my way from Perth WA, across the Nullarbor, into SA, VIC, NSW to QLD. If anyone is around for a catch up, send me a msg & I'll try to rendezvous with you along the way! Always looking for people to adventure with. Got camp gear, snorkel gear, dive gear, kite gear, climbing gear & boogie boards - what do you prefer?

The goal is to have memories, not dreams 💙

19/12/2025

388 days living & working on the ice continent! 7 days short of 13 months.... what a journey it has been. I've never been good at things coming to an end - especially when the feels have been so intense - many ups & downs but the good times have definitely outweighed the tough times.

The last month or 2 was particularly hard. Realising that each thing I enjoyed doing or seeing could potentially be the last time, never gets any easier. And things I finally got to see for the first time, may be the only time ever in my life! I always fall in love with the natural beauty of the stunning locations I find myself immersed in around the globe. This place has been particularly mind blowing for me to witness things I've only ever seen on tv or read about - day old seal pups still with umbilical cord attached, a leopard seal attempting to catch a penguin meal on an ice floe and watching sea ice come & go daily. I'll never forget the scenery I saw or how -35°C and walking in 60 knot winds felt.

And then there's the people. I know it's always the people that make or break an experience. And my first Antarctic season with the 78th ANARE was no exception. Most of my crew were some of the most selfless people I have ever had the privilege of getting to know. I've done a lot of work in remote areas, in small communities - and never have I worked & lived with so many quality people before. I know my following seasons will never be this good again. I sincerely hope we can all stay as connected as the day we flew home together. These last 388 days won't be forgotten by me easily - it's left quite an impression in my soul 🇦🇶❄️🚜🛩🐧🦭💙

26/11/2025

Stoked to leave this little legacy behind - hoping to inspire more people from the tropical islands to come down & experience this place! Who would have thought this island girl would thrive in a land of snow & ice! 🇦🇶🫶🏼💙

*First time using a router - I think I did alright!

09/11/2025

09/11/2025

Day 365 - I have officially lived & worked 12 months on the Antarctic continent!

Today I released my 268th weather balloon...the beach cleaner upper-er in me is a little sad, but the scientist in me is stoked to have been contributing to science, helping to collect global climate data and value add to more accurate forecast models!

It hasn't been all rainbows & butterflies, but it's definitely been the experience of a lifetime, and even after the darkest days (metaphorically & actually) I will always look back on this time with great fondness. I must acknowledge all the people who have supported me to get to my 1 year anniversary - my new friends on station who have become my Fam away from home, and my Fam & friends at home who support me from afar. I've lost a few since being here - which hit home hard to not be able to see you one more time - but you have all been reminders to live every day to the fullest, and take nothing for granted.

If anyone is seriously considering applying to come down for a stint down south, DM me and I'll give you the honest down low. This is not an experience for everyone, but if you're up for the challenge & in a position in life to be away for up to 12 months, I'll help you get here as much as I can! The adventures we have been allowed to have down here have been unreal, and the connections I've made, I will treasure for life.

02/11/2025

Two weeks ago the weddell seals started to pup not far from station! It's been amazing to be able to sit and observe seal pup behaviour in real life, rather than just watching a documentary on tv! Spent a whole day on the sea ice watching how the pups interact with their mummas - so endearing how physical and loving they are towards each other, even at a couple of days old! The cuteness factor is off the charts with those little faces and THOSE eyse! Melt!

26/10/2025

The Adelie penguins are starting to return to land to start nesting. It's amazing how over the course of one week, the numbers have increased so dramatically. Interesting fact: a group of penguins on land is a waddle; a raft in the water; a colony/rookery at a breeding site. I enjoyed watching them slide on their bellies, steal rocks from each other to make their nests and jump 2 metres into the air to go from ocean up an ice cliff. Adelies have very interactive and have the most curious little personalities - love seeing them back close to station again. Fingers crossed we don't see any evidence of H5N1 avian influenza in any of our bird or seal populations around here!

04/10/2025

I should have promoted this more from the start of my Antarctic deployment - but better late than never! All the Australian Stations do a weekly update, written by an Expeditioner currently on station, which is published every Friday. We have creative freedom to write about whatever we want - sometimes it's the highlights of the week; sometimes it's that person's perspective of their home away from home. Whatever the topic, it's a great insight into life on the ice, possibly answer some of your questions, and introduces you to some of the weird & wonderful characters I live with!
https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/stations/casey/2025/

My article was published back on the 9th May. Some of my favourites include 27th June - highlighting our Midwinter celebrations; 5th Sept - perspective from our token Kiwi; and 24th April - written by one of our returning Expos who first came down 22 years ago!

Posted here are pics of the highlights for me this week 💙

26/09/2025

End of winter is upon us in Antarctica! Being an Island Girl, I thought I would struggle with the reduction in sunlight in the midst of winter (only 3-4 hours!), but I actually did better than most! I revelled in the extended hours of darkness to have more aurora spotting opportunities and enjoy some sleep ins (which I never do in the real world)! I have loved observing the changes over winter: the wildlife moving away; sea ice forming & blowing out with blizzards; having big powder snow dumps one day then 100 knot winds blow it all away the next to show the bare rocks of summer; the change of the sun's trajectory; and air temps dropped to as low as -35 degrees C. I have mastered the art of layering, and know my limits when it comes to what minus air temp and wind chills I can comfortably handle and go for a ski in 😊 Now, with spring upon us, first light is happening around 5am and sunset glows last past 7pm. Other Expeditioners are finally braving the cold with me to get out & about to explore this incredible landscape we have called home for over 10 months now! I still love it here every day, and I'm really going to miss seeing ice bergs on the horizon; watching perfect snowflakes fall silently around me; pushing through thigh high snow dumps; and walking against 60 knot blizzard winds! As home time creeps closer & closer, the more nostalgic I become & I just want time to slow down so I can keep taking in the natural beauty around me & enjoying all the experiences Antarctica has to offer me