An exhibition coming to the Australian National Maritime Museum shows how scientists and explorers have been racing to reach Earth's South Magnetic Pole... and still haven't quite got there.

They've got exceedingly close recently, with Australians leading the way to a point within a couple of km of the goal. Problem is, the pole keeps moving... sometimes leaping more than 200 km a day. The exhibition Quest for the South Magnetic Pole traces one of the longest and most curious pursuits in exploration history.