Girls On Tour-Women Only Travel

03/04/2025

Every little bit helps.

Supporting Drought and Flood affected Farmers

03/04/2025

Nice one Port Lockroy 🤣🤣🤣

We've had to take the difficult decision to close Port Lockroy after the site has been overrun by gentoo penguins.

Our penguin colony usually numbers around 1,000 but following a bumper breeding season, there are now thousands of penguins occupying Goudier Island making it impossible to send a team there.

Gentoos usually lay two eggs but this year, as many as 28 were counted per breeding pair by our penguin monitor, Maggie Coll.

“It was remarkable. Every morning, we looked outside and saw that more and more eggs had been laid. We were finding chicks everywhere – even on the roof! How did they even get up there? In the end, the smell of guano became completely overpowering and we had to hit the red button and request an emergency evacuation.”

To help us reopen Port Lockroy in the future, please consider adopting a penguin: https://shop.ukaht.org/collections/adopt-a-penguin

01/04/2025

TESTIMONIAL:
Girls On Tour Wild Antarctica and a Taste of Argentina 2025
Wow! This trip with Judy Polkinghorne’s Girls On Tour was a perfect balance between the highlights of Argentina and its history, culture and natural features, and a once in a lifetime adventure to breathtaking Antarctica on the MV Greg Mortimer; an Aurora Expeditions ship.
Our accommodations both land-based as well as on the Aurora ship were of a high quality and level of comfort. This trip was well thought out and planned to cater for those with a sense of adventure and a curiosity about the white continent to our south with its unique wildlife and features, and the country where one can visit the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia.
I have travelled with Judy and Girls On Tour eight times now and this trip rates just as highly as all previous trips but the memories from this trip are both magical and unique; having had the opportunity to kayak amongst ice, to set foot on the icy continent, to plunge into its icy waters, and to witness the power of the Iguazu Falls.
I recommend travel with Judy and her company Girls On Tour to all women who enjoy travel and the company of like-minded women from all across Australia.
Sylvia E. Tasmania

Thanks Sylvia for your support and very humbling testimonial. 💕✈️ always a joy to travel with you.

23/03/2025

GOT ANTARCTICA AND ARGENTINA 2025 - SATURDAY 22 MARCH - HOMEWARD BOUND
And that’s a wrap!!!
What a wonderful adventure we’ve had over the past 19 days.

Starting and finishing in Buenos Aires, we’ve sailed over high seas, past icebergs, through sea ice and walked on sea ice and zipped around the pristine ocean before taking a wild ride through world famous waterfalls of Iguazu.

We’ve seen the black, white, brown and grey palette of the animals of Antarctica and the bright colorful birds of tropical Iguazu.

We rode a train to the End of the World in Tierra del Fuego and then again through the jungle of Iguazu National Park.

We’ve tasted (and created) the wonderful food and wine that this diverse country offers and enjoyed the culture and music that is the fabric of the people.

In the expert hands of Sofia and Dario in Buenos Aires, we learned about the history, villains and heroes of Argentina.

In Antarctica we were surrounded by the passionate expedition staff onboard Aurora’s Greg Mortimer and learned much about the history, geography, geology, politics, tourism, marine biology, explorations, explorers and the unique animals of the Great White Continent.

For many if not all, this was a true ‘bucket list’ destination and for some the seventh continent. The brave even went swimming and/or kayaking!!!

Our first landing at Hall Point at twilight, under snowfall after only a few minutes notice by our amazing Expedition Leader Daniel, is forever etched into our memory and indeed our hearts and stands out as one of the many highlights.

Antarctica gets you, if you’ve been, you’ll know what I mean.

Thanks to Ben from iExpedition and Lynne from Suncity Travel for collaborating with me to make this possible.
We’ve had 10 flights, one ship, many zodiac rides, one speedboat, two trains, multiple buses, transfers, hotels and entrances and activities to make this trip amazing and I appreciate the planning and monitoring that makes it possible and successful.

None of this is possible without the amazing women who step out of their comfort zone and into mud boots and just do it!!!

THANK YOU to each of you for embracing the adventure and loving this breathtaking, unique and precious part of our world that is Antarctica as much as I do 🇦🇶.

22/03/2025

GOT ANTARCTICA AND ARGENTINA 2025 - FRIDAY 21 MARCH - BUENOS AIRES - SOUTHERN DISTRICTS
An early start today for our last day of touring and today we visited the southern and older districts of Buenos Aires.
Our first stop was Plaza de Mayo (May Square) which is the main square in the city. Plaza de Mayo has been the scene of the most momentous events in Argentine history, as well as the largest popular demonstrations in the country.
Here we learned more about the government and the ’Pink House’. Dominating the Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada - or pink house - is the seat of the Argentine national government and houses the president's office.
The scene of much of the city's history, it was from the balconies of the Casa Rosada that Juan and “Evita” Perón addressed the masses during the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Next we visited the Metropolitan Cathedral in the square with its beautiful mosaic floors and mausoleum of Argentina’s most famous hero, San Martin. We were lucky enough to catch the changing of the guards at the church.
This cathedral was filled with children today as they come here to learn about the history of their country. It is also famous for being the place where the current Pope was Archbishop before becoming Pope.
We left the city centre and headed to the colourful La Boca district via the soccer district. There seems to be two religions here, Catholic and Football.
Some free time to explore La Boca and inject a little money into the economy before a brief stop at San Telmo indoor market.
Our final activity for this amazing trip was the ‘Foundations of Argentina Cooking class’ at Criolla Cooking and Wine which was so much fun and the food was delicious. Between us we made chipás, empanadas, Yagua dipping sauce, a vinaigrette and for dessert, Flan. We enjoyed Argentinian wines and chef cooked us tenderloin in the Argentinian way, yummm. A great way to finish our final day of touring.

22/03/2025

These guys from the northern region of Argentina were just having a ball.

22/03/2025

Such a classy dance.

22/03/2025

This is a traditional Gaucho dance using boleadoras, ropes with a ball on the end, which is very fast and energetic.

21/03/2025

GOT ANTARCTICA AND ARGENTINA 2025 - THURSDAY 20 MARCH - BUENOS AIRES - NORTHERN DISTRICTS
This morning we met Sofia once again and set off to explore the northern districts of Buenos Aires. Our first stop was the Evita Perón Museum. I have been to Buenos Aires several times before but have not previously visited this museum and I wonder why it was not included on our itinerary on other tours.
This was a very informative and extremely interesting museum tour with a very interesting, passionate and well informed local guide who shared stories about Evita’s life before and after meeting and marrying Juan Perón. It was wonderful to learn about the real person and not the one portrayed by Hollywood and to see personal effects and information about her early childhood and life before she became famous. The amazing work she did for the people was cut short by cervical cancer which took her life at the age of only 33. The grief expressed by her countrymen in the original footage of her funeral was palpable.
Our next stop was Paseo El Rosedal, a beautiful rose garden in the affluent district of Palermo. There are lots of wonderful green spaces in Palermo. We stopped briefly at the monument of Evita which actually bears her full name,
María Eva Duarte de Perón and which depicts her in the last stages of her life and is one that stirs emotions.
The monument sits on the site where the house she shared with her husband was built before it was destroyed after the fall of Juan Perón.
From here we travelled to Recoletta Cemetery to visit the mausoleum of the Duarte Family where Evita rests and also others and learn their tragic stories.
Recoletta is also a very affluent district.
Some free time after lunch before a very late night out in San Telmo at La Ventana Tango Show. The meal was excellent and very generous and the entertainment covered not only tango but also music and dance from regions all over Argentina. 🇦🇷

20/03/2025

GOT ANTARCTICA AND ARGENTINA 2025 - WEDNESDAY 19 MARCH - IGUAZU FALLS TO BUENOS AIRES
Not much to report today. A leisurely start to the day before our transfer to the airport to fly to our last city of the trip, Buenos Aires. Our hotel is centrally located on the famous July 9 Avenue. The avenue is a major thoroughfare in the city centre and it’s name honours Argentina's Independence Day, July 9, 1816.
There was a political protest taking place at Parliament House not far from our hotel with lots of protesters making their way to and from the protest so we were advised it would be best to stay inside the hotel for tonight. As we had dinner in the restaurant we could see the events unfolding both on the TV and outside our door.
Tomorrow we set out to explore the city with our local guide, Sofia.

19/03/2025

GOT ANTARCTICA AND ARGENTINA 2025 - TUESDAY 18 MARCH - IGUAZU FALLS
Another early start today but this time to beat the heat. We arrived into Iguazu late last night and settled into our very comfortable rooms after a huge day of flights.
We set off for the National Park around 7.30am to get there in time for the early train. Iguazu means ‘Big or large Water’ and covers 70,000 hectares. It has been listed as a Natural World Heritage since 1984 and one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World since 2011.
The rainforest jungle is 30m above sea level and is home to many unique creatures including the Tapir, Toucan, Jaguar, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots and caymans which are similar to an alligator.
The falls cover both the Brazil and the Argentina side of the river and together, they make up the largest waterfall system in the world. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu.
We took the train first of all to the Devil’s Throat stop and did the 2km circuit and then took the train back to the Upper Trail where we did another circuit stopping at vantage points along the way for views of the falls across to the Brazil side.
The sheer power of the water is incredible.
We saw toucans flying overhead but along the way Kathleen spotted one in a tree quite a bit away and I was able to get a photo of it so we were stoked.
After the falls walk we headed to the boat station and did the drive through the jungle and down the 300 steps to the boat for an amazing jet boat ride through San Martin Falls and another one. TOO MUCH FUN!!!
We all got drenched but loved it. Some free time for lunch before heading back to the hotel for a free afternoon to enjoy the pool and the surrounds after a busy few days. We walked more than 8kms today so we’ll sleep well tonight.

18/03/2025

A great day on the jetboat at Iguazu Falls. We got soaked but all had the biggest smiles!!!

18/03/2025

Zodiac cruise with historian Avi in about -5degC while snowing. So good!!