Kaelan Lockhart is about to embark on a journey that few would ever consider, let alone attempt.
Starting this month, the 27-year-old high achiever from Warana will become the first Australian to ski the length of Norway in winter. The gruelling trek (Norge pa langs) spans between 2700km and 3000km (roughly the same distance from Adelaide to Perth).
With a sled in tow, he’ll face more than 50km of elevation gain, roughly 15 times the height of Mount Everest from base camp. And while the physical challenge is monumental, Kaelan’s mission goes far beyond the journey itself.
This expedition will serve as a platform to raise funds for Cottage by the Sea: a charity dedicated to giving underprivileged children the chance to experience the healing power of nature.
Apart from his impressive academic achievements, which include a dual degree in engineering and physics, Kaelan’s path to this incredible adventure has been shaped by his deep love for the outdoors and his unshakable belief in pushing the boundaries.
As a former national and international champion in stand-up paddleboarding and a contestant on Australian Survivor 2025, which premieres on Monday, Kaelan is no stranger to testing his limits.
But this journey, which will take him through the Norwegian Arctic, is set to be the ultimate test – physically, mentally and emotionally.
“I’ve always loved adventure,” Kaelan says.
“Growing up on the Sunny Coast, the ocean was my playground.
“I spent years as a nipper with Kawana and Dicky Beach surf lifesaving clubs and later worked as a lifeguard. But it was during a trip cross-country skiing with friends that something clicked. I knew I had to push myself further.”
Kaelan’s desire to connect with the polar environment isn’t just rooted in adventure. His PhD research at Queensland University of Technology is focused on using drones to map vegetation in Antarctica, contributing to monitoring the effects of climate change in one of the most fragile ecosystems on the planet.
“My inspiration came from my mentor Dr Adrian McCallum, an engineering lead at the University of the Sunshine Coast, who has recently returned from skiing across Greenland to gather ice-depth data,” Kaelan says.
Kaelan’s research involves using drones equipped with specialised cameras that measure wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum, enabling them to better map vegetation in the icy wilderness.
His work aims to improve the efficiency of mapping, contributing to the establishment of more protected zones in Antarctica.
“If we can identify areas with significant vegetation, we can help ensure that they are kept off-limits to human activity, preserving these fragile ecosystems,” he says.
“In the past, mapping in Antarctica used satellites to spot vegetation, but moss and particularly lichen are hard to detect with low-resolution aerial imagery.
“That’s why we’ve developed drones that can automatically sense if the terrain below is a plant, making the mapping process more accurate and efficient.”
Kaelan’s commitment to minimising his environmental impact is a central aspect of his research and his journey
“Reducing our footprint while doing important work is not just the responsible thing to do, but it aligns with the holistic approach I believe in for both science and adventure,” he says.
“We can’t preach about climate change while contributing to the problem.
“That’s one reason we are using drones rather than helicopters.”
Raised in an environment where nature was always an integral part of his life, Kaelan feels a profound sense of responsibility to help others experience the same.
“I was fortunate to grow up in a privileged environment, surrounded by the ocean and adventure,” Kaelan says.
“But I’ve always known that not every child has access to that. When I heard about Cottage by the Sea and the work they do to give underprivileged kids the chance to connect with nature, it hit me hard.
“I wanted to find a way to give back, to help provide opportunities for kids who might not have access to the kind of adventures that shaped my own life.”
So, his journey through Norway is not just a personal challenge but a way to raise awareness and funds for a cause close to his heart.
“When I was a kid, I had the chance to go hiking, canoeing and biking from the Bunya Mountains to Moreton Bay (Bunya to the Bay program), and during that trip, we met some kids from tough backgrounds,” Kaelan says.
“That experience stayed with me. Nature is such a powerful force. It has the ability to change lives. And if this trek can help even one kid have the same transformative experience I did, then it will all be worth it.”
Before he sets off on this colossal ski trek, Kaelan has already endured one of the toughest challenges of his life: Australian Survivor 2025. As a contestant on the hit reality TV show, he was pushed to the brink physically and mentally, and the experience left a lasting impression on him.
“Survivor has definitely helped me train for this,” Kaelan says.
“It’s not an exaggeration how tough it is. You are constantly starving. All you eat is rice, beans and coconut. I lost a significant amount of weight.
“But the cool thing is, your tastebuds reset and you start to taste so much flavour in such plain foods.”
Kaelan’s time on Australian Survivor, which was filmed in Samoa, wasn’t just about the competition: it was a mental exercise that prepared him for the isolating conditions he’ll face in Norway.
“The biggest challenge was how cold it was,” Kaelan says.
“You’d think a tropical island would be warm, but we had to sleep on the beach at night and it was freezing. A lot of nights it was raining. The cold and sleep deprivation were insane.
“It took a lot of time to recover after the show. You only stop when you’re sleeping and eating and that was hard.”
That same mindset is what Kaelan is bringing to his trek across Norway.
“What I learned from Survivor is that the hardest part is staying mentally engaged. It’s about finding joy in the process, even when it’s tough,” he says.
“One of the biggest lessons I have learnt is that pain is temporary.
“Even when things are hard, if you smile, you can pretty much make anything enjoyable.”
As he gears up for this ultimate challenge, Kaelan has had to plan a high-calorie diet to keep his energy up.
“Calories per kilo is key. On the trail, I’ll be eating 150g of coconut oil a day, along with coconut flakes, peanuts, almonds, sorghum, dry beetroot, apples and dried carrots,” he says.
The high-fat, 6000 calories-per-day diet may not be the healthiest, but it’s certainly the most efficient.
“Fat is the most efficient food in terms of weight to kilojoules. So, it covers off all my macro-nutrients – 50 per cent fat, 30 per cent carbs and 20 per cent protein – and also the vitamins and minerals I need,” Kaelan says.
His ski trek through Norway is set to take about 100 days, and he will largely be navigating the terrain on his own.
“Even though it might feel like I’m in the wilderness, there are towns along the way where I can stock up on food,” Kaelan explains.
“It’s not going to be an entirely dangerous journey. There’s a support system in place and I’ll be using a GPS to track my progress and share updates along the way.”
Still, the solitude of the trip will be profound. As Kaelan describes it, skiing for hours through pristine, snow-covered forests and over frozen landscapes will offer him a unique mental space – a kind of meditative zone.
“When I’m skiing for six or seven hours a day, I enter this beautiful zone where everything seems more vibrant,” he says.
“The world looks so much more beautiful when you’re in that mindset and I just want to keep going.”
Kaelan’s excitement is palpable as he prepares for the journey of a lifetime.
While he’s confident in his physical conditioning, he knows that this adventure will test him in ways he can’t yet anticipate.
“I know I’m mentally ready,” he says.
“I can’t wait, but there’s no way to prepare for everything. That’s the exciting part. I’m doing this for a reason, and every step I take will be part of something bigger.”
For Kaelan, the inspiration to take on such an epic journey and combine his love for adventure with his scientific and charitable goals can be traced back to a woman who has always believed in him: his grandmother.
“My Nan, who turned 100 last year, is my biggest supporter. She’s a huge driving force behind me,” he says.
Kaelan’s trek through Norway is more than just an extraordinary physical feat. It’s a powerful reminder that adventure, science and charity can go hand in hand, with each one strengthening the others.
Through his journey, this inspiring local is not only testing his own limits but also inspiring others to push beyond their own boundaries – all while making the world a better place for future generations.
To support Kaelan’s mission, visit his fundraising page. If you would like to follow his journey he will be posting a link on his Instagram account.
