There are seven continents on our planet (most people agree to this number and we do too as this is what we learnt in school). The largest is Asia (which is both the biggest in size and population), followed closely by Africa. The African continent has the youngest population, and is spread over 54 countries, the highest number of countries of all the continents (Europe has 50 and Asia 48).

the seven continents – Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America

The smallest and oldest continent is Australia, it’s also the flattest and lowest. Then there is North America, South America, Europe and Antarctica. The Antarctica continent is the coldest, as well as the driest, and windiest. It also has the highest average elevation and is the least populated one.

Throughout our lives we have lived in several countries (UK, Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Kenya, Tanzania and the UAE), which means we have lived in 4 out of the 7 continents. That’s because the entire Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, is considered part of the Asia continent. Which means we have lived in Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia.

Both of us have also traveled in North America (we have been there together as well, in Cuba, but as that was in the era before digital cameras we have added pictures of other trips to North America above), as well as South America, so our total of continents visited was 6. That was until we booked a trip to Antarctica late in 2024. It was a last-minute decision so we didn’t have much time to plan or prepare. But just before we fare-welled 2024, we boarded the Seaventure, a fantastic, purpose-built expedition ship.

2025 – Jon and Jude in South America (Argentina), just before the trip to Antarctica

The planned destinations on our voyage were the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and finally Antarctica, before returning to Ushuia in Argentina.  So, after 11 days of sailing, we entered Antarctic waters on 9 January 2025. We were of course going to try to land on the Antarctic Peninsula, as that would mean we really had set foot on all 7 continents, but due to the unpredictable weather in the region we didn’t know if we were going to be able to really touch down on land.

On 12 January we disembarked with the zodiacs and landed at Hannah Point on Livingstone Island. It is an Antarctic island, so technically we had set foot on the Antarctic continent (we all agreed if you only visited Tasmania for example, you would still consider it landing on the Australia continent). However, secretly we were all of course hoping we would also be able to walk around on the actual Peninsula, which is part of mainland Antarctica.

In the morning of 13 January 2025 we were exploring Wilhelmina Bay with the zodiacs, and whilst we did get out of the zodiac we were in, we only landed and walked around on a floating ice-shelf. Again, we were out there, but we were still hoping to set foot on the ‘real’ Antarctica…

we do set foot (or bum) on ice in Wilhelmina Bay, definitely in Antarctica, but still not quite connected to the mainland as this is a small floating ice shelf…

The plan for later that day was to disembark at Portal Point, which is located on the actual Antarctic Peninsula. We were hoping it would go ahead as that, we all agreed, would be landing on the ‘real’ Antarctica. The weather looked excellent, as long as the wind didn’t pick up too much we should be fine – fingers crossed. And luckily for us the weather cooperated for this outing. After a short zodiac ride we hopped onto our seventh continent.

Jon sets foot on his seventh continent

How exciting! Luckily for us the sisters Jamie and Karen were a little more prepared than us. They had printed a flag with the seventh continent on it, and they generously allowed us (and many others for whom it was also their seventh continent) to take a photo with this cool flag.

Jon and Jude reach their seventh continent!

For the next few hours we walked around, enjoyed the scenery, and took many more photos (of course). Lukas made the most of the occasion and asked his girlfriend Anne to marry him, and she said yes! We now had another reason to celebrate.

Anne showing her ring after Lukas proposed

Having visited all 7 continents of the world was one of many highlights of a fantastic trip (we’ll write another story about this epic adventure soon!), one we will always remember.

How many have you visited? And if you have also been to all seven, which one was your last? We’d be very keen to hear! Judging by the number of people on our ship who used the flag to commemorate their seventh continent we think Antarctica is often the last one people visit.