WIN A TRIP FOR TWO TO SEE POLAR BEARS AND EXPERIENCE THE ARCTIC WITH AURORA EXPEDITIONS

Aurora Expeditions Provides $20,000 Trip of a Lifetime with ‘European Arctic Adventure’ Prize

Visitors to Sydney Ice Bear at Customs House Square from Friday 3 June to Friday 10 June will experience first-hand the impact of the human footprint on our natural world. The life-sized ice sculpture of a polar bear will melt over the first three to four days after its installation, as members of the public touch the sculpture, revealing its skeleton – an apt metaphor for the plight of this endangered species.

A lucky Sydney Ice Bear supporter will win the trip of a lifetime to the European Arctic to explore the realm of the polar bear for themselves. Expedition cruise company Aurora Expeditions has provided the prize, the Spitsbergen Odyssey, a cruise for two valued at more than $20,000 including airfares, airport transfers, ship accommodation and shore excursions in July 2012. The cruise explores the coast of Spitsbergen, encountering deep fjords, abandoned whaling settlements, pack ice and wildlife such as seals, walrus, whales and polar bears during the voyage.

“We’re pleased to support Sydney Ice Bear, in raising awareness of the need to preserve and protect our natural environment. Nowhere is the need for action on climate change more evident than in the Arctic. Every year the Arctic temperature increases at almost twice the rate of anywhere else, causing sea ice cover to decline, affecting the habitat of polar bears and other animals, and the Inuit people who rely on them,” Lisa Bolton, CEO , Aurora Expeditions said.

The public will have the opportunity to enter the Aurora Expeditions competition from Monday 23 May to Friday 17 June online at www.facebook.com/sydneyicebear or at the Sydney Ice Bear stand, Customs House Square from 3-10 June. For more details about Aurora Expeditions’ voyages to wild and remote areas of the world visit www.auroraexpeditions.com.au

“We like to think of our passengers as lifelong ambassadors for the preservation and protection of these sacred places. Sydney Ice Bear gives everyone the opportunity to experience that level of awareness,” Ms Bolton said.

The second prize winner will receive a Luxury Weekend at Sydney Harbour Marriott with 2 nights in a deluxe Opera view room and full buffet breakfast valued at $1630 while the third prize winner will receive a family pass to Sea World to visit the only polar bears in Australia, including a special “Behind the Scenes Tour” of Polar Bear Shores with one of Sea World’s passionate and knowledgeable Polar bear carers. Two runners up will also win family passes to Sea World to get up close with the polar bears.

The public will be encouraged to touch and be photographed with Sydney Ice Bear, the creation of British sculptor, Mark Coreth, and also attend the free World Environment Day celebration on Sunday 5 June to hear music and speakers urging the need for positive action now on climate change.

Supported by the Purves Environmental Fund, Sydney Ice Bear will raise much-needed funds for the three partner environmental organisations, WWF-Australia, 1 million women and Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC). Each of the three groups will have information booths in Customs House Square, providing information about personal action on climate change. To donate visit sydneyicebear.gofundraise.com.au

Sydney Ice Bear is sponsored by the City of Sydney, The Sydney Morning Herald, Aurora Expeditions, Cafe Sydney and Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel. Supporters include Sea World, Climate Friendly, greentomatorcars, International Conservation Services and Momentum2. Sydney Ice Bear thanks Vivid Sydney for its cooperation.