By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Summer in Australia is all about long, sun-soaked afternoons, backyard barbeques and raising a glass to the good life. This season, Tread Softly is inviting Aussies to take that festive cheer to the next level – way beyond our shores – with an eco-conscious adventure that’s equal parts celebration and exploration.
The sustainability-led wine brand, famed for its naturally lighter wines, is on the cusp of planting its three-millionth tree in the Tread Softly Forest. To mark this milestone, the team has launched Antarctica Awaits, a once-in-a-lifetime giveaway for one lucky winner and their guest to explore the world’s last great wilderness aboard a National Geographic expedition cruise.
Think of it as a holiday that combines your love of wine with your inner explorer, all wrapped in an icy, untouched kingdom of adventure.
The journey begins in Ushuaia, Argentina, where winners will settle into four-star accommodation before boarding the National Geographic Explorer. From there, the real magic unfolds. Guests will traverse the legendary Drake Passage, kayak among icebergs, hike glaciers and watch wildlife parades that include gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins, humpback whales and orcas. Each day blends action with awe, offering a front-row seat to the kind of spectacle that only Antarctica can deliver.
Tread Softly is not just about bold experiences; it’s about responsible adventures. Every element of the giveaway has been designed with sustainability in mind. Net-zero flights, eco-activities and the brand’s ongoing mission to restore native ecosystems mean this expedition is as gentle on the planet as it is thrilling for the soul.
"It has been a pleasure to partner with Tread Softly and highlight its inspiring work through the Antarctica Awaits experience,” says Wendy Rend, Brand Partnership Lead at Australian Geographic. "It’s always uplifting to see a brand’s values carried through so clearly in what they do.”
Australians and New Zealanders can enter by purchasing a bottle of Tread Softly wine from Dan Murphy’s, BWS or independent retailers nationwide, then scanning the QR code on the pack or visiting www.treadtoantarctica.com.
The promotion is live until January 31, 2026, with travel planned for November next year. The prize is epic: return flights, eight days aboard the Explorer in a twin cabin valued at more than $18,000 per person, $500 spending money, Tread Softly wine and merchandise to keep you warm, plus four-star stays in both Ushuaia and Puerto Natales, Chile.
Since 2019, Tread Softly has planted one Australian native tree for every six bottles sold, nurturing the Tread Softly Forest within Western Australia’s Yarra Yarra biodiversity corridor. This milestone is not just a celebration of environmental impact but a nod to the brand’s ethos: that life’s greatest adventures can coexist with conscious stewardship of the planet. Every bottle poured, every toast made, contributes to a legacy that will last far beyond Summer sunsets.
The timing could not be more perfect. As Australians revel in festive feasts, Tread Softly offers a reminder that the joy of the season can also be a force for good. While friends gather over a crisp, naturally lighter Sauvignon Blanc or a sun-kissed Rosé by the beach, there is an added thrill: one sip under the warmth of the sun could be your passport to the ultimate cool adventure.
Imagine clinking glasses with a friend under the Australian sun, then months later kayaking through a serene Antarctic channel, icebergs glinting like chandeliers, penguins waddling in ceremonial precision.
From vineyard to voyage, Tread Softly proves you can celebrate, explore and protect at the same time. Wherever you tread this Summer, remember that adventure in Antarctica awaits and it could be calling your name.
