CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand -- Writing of his experience while exploring Antarctica as a member of the ill-fated Scott expedition, Apsley Cherry-Garrard recalled, "Such extremity of suffering cannot be measured. Madness or death may bring relief. But this I know: We on this journey were already beginning to think of death as a friend. As we groped our way back at night, sleepless, icy and dog-tired in the dark and the wind and the drift, death in a crevasse seemed almost a friendly gift."
Those with less tolerance for privation and hardship can still get a taste of Antarctica, with a visit to the International Antarctic Center in Christchurch. Located adjacent to the airport, the 8-year-old visitor center has evolved into one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, drawing an average of 200,000 visitors a year.
Christchurch has long been a gateway for polar exploration; the Scott and Shackleton expeditions embarked on their journeys from the South Island city and the headquarters of the United States Polar Research Program, as well as the Italian and New Zealand Antarctic research programs are located there.