Nicola Kerr never imagined she would be cooking on board a vessel in some of the world's hardest-to-reach destinations.
The 26 year old is one of two cooks - the other being her partner, Brad Deane, whom she met while studying at Otago Polytechnic - on the former Russian science research vessel, The Spirit of Enderby.
Since joining New Zealand-based travel company Heritage Expeditions in February 2009, she has travelled from the frozen continent of the Antarctic to the Russian far east.
Some highlights of Miss Kerr's various trips include seeing polar bears and walruses in their natural environment, spotting icebergs off the subantarctic islands, visiting Scott Base, and taking part in a "polar plunge" in sub-zero temperatures.
Miss Kerr had "no idea" that her culinary skills would take her around the world.
"It has given me the opportunity to travel to some amazing places."
With the guests changing on each trip and sharing a cabin, life on the vessel had the feel of "living in a hostel".
Miss Kerr said she had suffered only one bout of seasickness during the hundreds of days she had already been at sea.
Her role meant she was in charge not only of cooking for passengers and guides but also of buying all the ingredients and planning the menus.
Planning in advance for journeys presented its own challenges as "you just can't pop to the shop and get two litres of milk".
Her next voyage will leave from Dunedin on Thursday to mark the Scott memorial trip to the Antarctic.