Port Lockroy History Post Office And Resident Penguins - Nexta Expeditions
Port Lockroy: History, Post Office, and Resident Penguins

Port Lockroy: History, Post Office, and Resident Penguins

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the stunning coastlines, fjords, and other natural wonders of Antarctica, overlooking the man-made attractions nestled in between.

One prime example of these is Port Lockroy.

Most commonly associated with the former British base established there in 1944, Port Lockroy is a picturesque bay on Goudier Island, near the Antarctic Peninsula.

Among the many attractions in Port Lockroy, the area’s whaling remnants, post office museum, and local penguin colony are particularly cherished by Antarctic travelers.

blog-image

Port Lockroy whaling and war history

Port Lockroy is one of the most frequented sites in Antarctica, though its historical roots are far from tourism.

French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot discovered Port Lockroy during his 1903―1905 expedition, naming the area after the politician who helped finance his voyages.

blog-image

During the peak of the whaling industry, factory ships anchored in Port Lockroy while whalers ventured farther out to sea. The rusted mooring chains and long links of bleached whale bones near Port Lockroy are evidence of this history.

Between 1911 and 1931, the harbor of Port Lockroy was primarily used for whaling.

Not long afterward, during World War II, British Forces constructed several secret military bases in Antarctica to deter enemy forces. Port Lockroy’s Base A was one of these.

blog-image

Base A became a scientific research station after the war, continuously manned until 1962.

Abandoned after that time, Port Lockroy fell into disrepair until 1996, after which it was restored to its original state.

The United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust funded these renovations, working diligently to make Port Lockroy look as it did in the 50s and 60s.

Port Lockroy is a historic site and monument under the Antarctic Treaty.

blog-image

The post office museum of Port Lockroy

Port Lockroy is renowned for having the southernmost post office in the world, which in 1996 was renovated to also serve as a museum.

Among the most popular destinations for Antarctic tourists, the Port Lockroy post office is a common stop along the expedition cruise circuit.

It also features a souvenir shop that funds maintenance for Port Lockroy and other Antarctic monuments.

blog-image

The post office staff, consisting of only four people, process around 70,000 pieces of mail sent from Port Lockroy during the roughly five months of the Antarctic tourism season.

This mail is sent by the nearly 18,000 visitors to Port Lockroy each year.

Additionally, the trust that manages the post office gathers data for the British Antarctic Survey, helping determine visitor impact on the local penguin population.

blog-image

Port Lockroy’s penguin inhabitants

Speaking of penguins, Port Lockroy is teeming with them.

In fact, half the island on which Port Lockroy is located is reserved for visiting tourists, while the other half is reserved entirely for the gentoos living there.

More than 1,500 gentoo penguins inhabit the area around Port Lockroy, breeding and feeding and providing the local workers with a delightful distraction.

blog-image

During the Antarctic summer season, Port Lockroy’s penguins are already raising their young, as the first chicks hatch by late December and grow to half their parents’ size within a few months.

Gentoo penguins are typically born in sets of two, with parents taking turns nesting and foraging for food out at sea.

Embark on your own Antarctic cruise, and if it includes a stop at Port Lockroy, you won’t be able to avoid seeing these lively penguins (and many other seabirds) for yourself.

blog-image

Best Deals

Related Trips

Antarctica - Beyond the Polar Circle - Wilkins Ice Shelf - Aurora Australis - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Beyond the Polar Circle - Wilkins Ice Shelf - Aurora Australis

calendar21 Mar 2025 - 05 Apr 2025
clock16 Days / 15 Nights
From $ 10.500 per person
Antarctica - Polar Circle - Whale watching - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Polar Circle - Whale watching

calendar23 Mar 2025 - 03 Apr 2025
clock12 Days / 11 Nights
From $ 7.700 per person
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica - Photographic Special - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Puerto Madryn

Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica - Photographic Special

calendar22 Oct 2025 - 11 Nov 2025
clock21 Days / 20 Nights
From $ 14.250 per person
Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters

calendar11 Nov 2025 - 21 Nov 2025
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 12.900 per person
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage

calendar17 Nov 2025 - 27 Nov 2025
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 7.750 per person
Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters

calendar21 Nov 2025 - 01 Dec 2025
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 12.900 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar27 Nov 2025 - 16 Dec 2025
clock20 Days / 19 Nights
From $ 14.800 per person
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

calendar27 Nov 2025 - 09 Dec 2025
clock13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.700 per person
Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters

calendar01 Dec 2025 - 11 Dec 2025
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 12.900 per person
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

calendar09 Dec 2025 - 21 Dec 2025
clock13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.700 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar11 Dec 2025 - 29 Dec 2025
clock19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 14.500 per person
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

calendar16 Dec 2025 - 28 Dec 2025
clock13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.700 per person

Blog
go-leftgo-right

Explore Antarctica Without Leaving Your Couch - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Explore Antarctica Without Leaving Your Couch

There are numerous ways to embark on an Antarctica expedition from the comfort of your home. Explore these fantastic resources to experience the White Continent without leaving your couch.
A Day of Whale Watching in Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

A Day of Whale Watching in Antarctica

This morning we awoke early to enjoy the first light in Wilhelmina Bay, with the snow and cloud blanketing the surrounding mountains. As dawn broke, we could see the blows of humpback whales scattered throughout the bay. Some of the whales were closer to the ship and we spotted their small dorsal fins and occasionally their white patterned tails. It was a terrific start to our first full day in Antarctica.
Franz Josef Land Sites, Species, and Experiences - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Franz Josef Land Sites, Species, and Experiences

The archipelago of Franz Josef Land is to Russia what Svalbard is to Norway: Both island groups offer excellent Arctic scenery, adventurous outdoor activities, and a good chance of seeing iconic species like polar bears and walruses - alongside a wide range of marine mammals and seabirds.
Of Treacherous Rocks & Audacious Fin Whales - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Of Treacherous Rocks & Audacious Fin Whales

Soon large blows filled our view; small groups of fin whales sped by heading north all the while feeding on concentrations of krill & small fish. Group after group was seen, with many simply feeding in the general area and not heading anywhere in particular. Soon it became evident that we were not simply seeing a few random groups of fins, but a very large concentration spread out over a large area of sea just north and around the islands north of the South Shetlands. Dozens upon dozens of fin whales were feeding, diving around the ship and on the horizon in massive numbers; we must have seen well over fifty fin whales in the general area of Elephant Island, something many of the guides had never seen before.
The first race to the South Pole in 50 years - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The first race to the South Pole in 50 years

Before the South Pole could be reached, the question was what exactly lay at the southern ends of Earth. The concept of Terra Australis Incognita, an unknown continent, was first introduced by Aristotle, who reasoned that a southern landmass must exist to ‘balance’ the known lands in the northern hemisphere.
The History of Antarctica in Maps - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The History of Antarctica in Maps

Long before human eyes ever beheld Antarctica, the ancients were convinced that it existed – or at least something like it.
Taking a polar expedition cruise delivers no shortage of show-stopping highlights, but one of the most exhilarating is lifting off from the ship in a helicopter and taking flight over the incomparable Antarctic wilderness. - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Taking a polar expedition cruise delivers no shortage of show-stopping highlights, but one of the most exhilarating is lifting off from the ship in a helicopter and taking flight over the incomparable Antarctic wilderness.

Embarking on a polar expedition cruise offers a plethora of breathtaking experiences, but one of the most thrilling is taking off from the ship in a helicopter and soaring over the stunning Antarctic wilderness.
First to the North Pole: Five Failed but Brave Expeditions - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

First to the North Pole: Five Failed but Brave Expeditions

Being first to reach the North Pole was seen by several nations as economically invaluable due to the open polar sea said to encircle it, but for the explorers themselves it was also a gloriously adventurous grab for immortality.
10 Traits of Post-Ice-Age Greenland - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

10 Traits of Post-Ice-Age Greenland

Grasses, sedges, and other species of heath were the first arrivals, and are still commonly found in Greenland. Scientists have been able to work out how plants colonised Greenland by examining ancient pollen samples found in deposits at the bottom of lakes: Dwarf birch came to western Greenland around 9,000 years ago, and around 4,500 years ago – roughly the same time humans were first boating onto Greenland shores – green alders were taking up residence there.
The First Buildings in Antarctica: Borchgrevink’s Historic Huts - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The First Buildings in Antarctica: Borchgrevink’s Historic Huts

Borchgrevink’s huts at Cape Adare hold a significant place in Antarctic history, being the first structures ever built on the continent.
Freshwater ecosystems in the Arctic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Freshwater ecosystems in the Arctic

The Arctic, surprisingly, hosts a rich and varied array of freshwater ecosystems, including lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, deltas, and wetlands. Some of the world's largest rivers and deltas, such as the Lena, Ob, and Yenisei, are found in this region.
The Classic Polar Cruise: Antarctic Peninsula Facts, Pics, and More - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Classic Polar Cruise: Antarctic Peninsula Facts, Pics, and More

When it comes to experiencing the vast wonders of Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula stands out as an unparalleled destination.
Polar bear encounter in Spitsbergen - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Polar bear encounter in Spitsbergen

I watch the sea ice from the bridge of a ship in one of the fjords of Spitsbergen, an archipelago north of Norway. I observe a perfectly adapted animal moving on the ice, the results of hundreds of thousands of years of ecological fine-tuning. Snowshoe-sized paws distribute weight, fur handles the cold and sunlight to perfection, and an incredible sense of smell samples this monochromatic realm.
Northeast Greenland National Park - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Northeast Greenland National Park

Northeast Greenland National Park is the world’s largest national park and the ninth largest protected area on Earth. It should come as little surprise, then, that it’s also bigger than most countries, covering an impressive 972,000 square km (375,300 square miles).
Bouvet Island: The Most Remote Island in the World - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Bouvet Island: The Most Remote Island in the World

On January 1, 1739, French Commander Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier made an extraordinary discovery: a volcanic island so remote that it lies 2,600 km (1,600 miles) from the nearest inhabited land.
All things ice in the Antarctic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

All things ice in the Antarctic

The first documented sighting of an iceberg in Antarctica occurred on February 1, 1700, when Edmond Halley was on an expedition to measure the Earth's magnetic field. He noted in his diary that he encountered "great Islands of Ice, of Soe Incredible a hight and Magnitude that I scare dare to write my thoughts on it."
Camping in Antarctica: a True Expedition Experience - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Camping in Antarctica: a True Expedition Experience

We often think of camping as a summer activity, filled with warm nights, campfire dinners, and serene mountain lakes. However, there's a whole other world of camping to explore.
Shackleton’s Push to the South Pole - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Shackleton’s Push to the South Pole

On the evening of February 11, 1907, Irish-born polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, already among the more famous polar explorers in the world, announced his intention to embark on a momentous Antarctic expedition.
Hondius Photography and Video Workshops - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Hondius Photography and Video Workshops

There’s no shortage of great things to say about a Hondius expedition cruise, but among the best are the free video and photography workshops offered during some of this ship’s voyages. These informative, interactive, highly useful supplements allow you to not only capture your memories in the best way possible but also make your friends back home maddeningly jealous.
12 Tips to Help Keep Birds Safe During an Antarctic Cruise - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

12 Tips to Help Keep Birds Safe During an Antarctic Cruise

One of the most incredible experiences on an Antarctic cruise is observing the numerous penguins in their natural environment. Naturally, passengers often worry about the potential of disturbing the penguins and other Antarctic birds, which could disrupt their breeding and nesting patterns.