HIGHLIGHTS
- Skirt rowdy beaches crowded with harems of New Zealand
(Hooker’s) sea lions to reach rātā forests where rare
yellow-eyed penguins can be found.
- Revel in the richness of the unique Ross Sea ecosystem,
part of the Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area and a Sylvia Earle
Mission Blue “Hope Spot”.
- Navigate through gleaming pack ice alive with Weddell and
leopard seals, Adélie and emperor penguins and whales
feeding in fathomless leads.
- Reflect on the remarkable achievements of the Heroic Age
explorers as we attempt to visit some of their beautifully preserved
historic huts (conditions permitting).
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jan 16, 2026 | Feb 09, 2026 | 35,879 |
37,895 |
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jan 16, 2026 | Feb 09, 2026 | 35,879 |
37,895 |
ITINERARY
Day
1 Arrive Dunedin
Arrive
in Dunedin, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora
Expeditions and transferred with your fellow expeditioners to your
assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Dunedin, we ask you to
make your way to your hotel. This afternoon, visit the Aurora
Expeditions hospitality desk in the lobby to collect your luggage tags.
Please clearly label the tags with your name and ship cabin number. Our
team will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any
questions and provide you with information on where to dine or purchase
last minute items.
That
evening, enjoy light refreshments as you meet your fellow expeditioners
at a Welcome Reception and Pre-Embarkation Briefing. Afterwards, enjoy
your evening in New Zealand’s southernmost city. You may like
to indulge in a meal at one of Dunedin’s fine restaurants, or
perhaps enjoy a leisurely stroll along the picturesque Otago harbour.
Assigned
accommodation: To be advised
Day 2 Embarkation
This
morning, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Please ensure your cabin
luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and
cabin number. By 11.00 am, take your cabin luggage to hotel reception,
prior to, or at check-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred
directly to the port for clearance, to be placed in your cabin ahead of
your arrival on board. Please keep any valuables or personal items with
you throughout the day.
Your
morning is at leisure to explore Dunedin.
Settle
into your cabin, where each detail was designed with your comfort in
mind. This luxurious vessel is yours to explore! As we throw the lines
and set sail, join your expedition team on deck before tucking into a
delicious dinner, and toast to the voyage ahead.
Day 3 At Sea
On
an expedition such as this, the journey is as significant as the
destination. Sea days are a wonderful opportunity to relax, meet your
fellow travellers and learn about the history, environment and local
wildlife in this fascinating corner of the globe.
As
you acclimatise to life on board, your expedition team is available to
answer any questions you may have and offer pro-tips on photography and
birdwatching. With decades of collective experience in the region, they
love to share their expertise and enthusiasm with fellow travellers.
Join them in the lecture room for entertaining talks and presentations
to enrich your understanding of the wildlife, landscapes and historic
sites we hope to encounter.
You
may like to pamper yourself with a sauna, a visit to the Wellness
Centre, or work out at the onboard gym. While away the hours spotting
seabirds on deck, curl up with a book in our well-equipped polar
library, or chat with your fellow expeditioners at the bar.
Days
4-6 New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands
First
visited by M?ori navigators centuries ago, these islands are of great
significance to Ng?i Tahu, the indigenous peoples of New
Zealand’s South Island. Their natural beauty and astonishing
biodiversity have now been recognised globally, but few have had the
privilege to visit these far-flung shores, which are now yours to
explore.
Days
7-10 At Sea
As
Campbell Island slips over the horizon, keep watch for Campbell,
Salvins and white-capped albatross, which may follow the ship to bid us
farewell as we continue south.
Close
observers may notice a subtle change in the character of the sea as we
cross the Antarctic Convergence. Beyond this belt where the waters of
the north and south mix, the sea surface temperature drops by about
4°C (39°F), signalling our entry into the Antarctic.
This transition zone is known for its nutrient-rich waters, so keep
watch for porpoising penguins, flocks of fluttering Antarctic petrels,
or perhaps the more solitary snow petrel. You’re not far from
the Antarctic Circle, so your first iceberg can’t be far away!
Sea
days are a great opportunity for some R & R as you digest your
subantarctic experiences and prepare for the next phase of your voyage.
Relax and unwind your way, perhaps meeting newfound friends at the bar,
treating yourself to a sauna, or editing some images in the comfort of
your cabin. And join your expedition team in the lecture room for
presentations on the charismatic wildlife and extraordinary adventures
that took place along the epic Antarctic coastline you are about to
experience.
Days 11-17 Victoria Land Coast and the Ross Sea
It’s
almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in this storied,
ice-bound sector of Antarctica. Stepping outside and taking a deep
breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience
to cherish forever.
The
Ross Sea region is a globally significant wildlife sanctuary. Its
nutrient-rich waters support an astonishing array of uniquely adapted
Antarctic species, including Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels and
South Pacific Weddell seals. It is also home to Antarctica’s
largest Adélie penguin colony, and many of the largest
emperor penguin colonies. The unique biodiversity of the Ross Sea has
been protected within the world’s largest marine protected
area since 2016.
The
human heritage of the Ross Sea coast is equally impressive. Since James
Clark Ross discovered the region in 1841, countless expeditions have
built base camps on scattered ice-free slivers of land, using them as
staging posts for bold forays across the polar plateau. Many of them
departed in a hurry, leaving artefacts, scientific equipment and
sometimes entire huts behind. Today these sites are preserved as
open-air museums and protected under the Antarctic Treaty System.
Embrace
the spirit of exploration as your expedition team designs your voyage
from day to day, bringing decades of experience to selecting the ideal
sites based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife
opportunities.
Days 18-20 At Sea
We
leave the grandeur of the ice to the seals and penguins and head
northwards, but our voyage is far from over. In the days ahead there is
plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life
that calls it home. You won’t want to miss presentations from
your onboard specialists about the wonderful wildlife and rich human
history of Macquarie Island.
These
days at sea also offer time and space to reflect on the emotions and
special moments you’ve lived over the past few weeks. You may
like to take a moment of quiet contemplation or reminisce with your
fellow travellers over a cuppa (or other beverage of choice!)
As
you approach Macquarie Island keep watch for graceful grey-headed,
black-browed and light-mantled albatross, which may venture from their
nests to welcome their human visitors.
Days
21-22 Macquarie Island
“Penguins
were in thousands on the uprising cliffs, and from rookeries near and
far came an incessant din . . . seabirds of many varieties gave warning
of our near approach to their nests” Douglas Mawson, 1911.
As
they sailed towards Antarctica, Mawson and his men encountered
‘an exquisite scene’. Macquarie Island (known
affectionately as Macca) rises steeply from the Southern Ocean in a
series of emerald summits: a beautifully fierce, elemental landscape
teeming with life.
Keep
your binoculars handy because this subantarctic refuge is home to 3.5
million breeding seabirds, including no less than four species of
penguin! Alongside boisterous colonies of tuxedoed kings, charming
gentoos, robust rockhoppers and endemic royal penguins,
you’ll find three types of fur seals and a large proportion
of the world’s elephant seals. Layer up and head out on deck
to experience the sound, sight (and smell!) as you approach one of the
largest concentrations of life in the Southern Ocean.
Remember
to keep an eye out for Macca’s kelp forests—these
remarkable underwater ecosystems are quite mesmerising as their fronds
sway back and forth on the water’s surface.
In
addition to being a globally recognised and protected wildlife refuge,
Macquarie Island played an important role in Antarctic history. It was
here, in 1911, that five men disembarked Mawson’s Aurora and
established a radio relay station which would transmit the first
communication from Antarctica to the outside world.
Days
23-24 At Sea
As
your journey draws to a close, take some time to reflect on the
experiences of the past few weeks. Perhaps take some time to organise
your photos, jot some more notes in your journal or simply relax and
soak up the ambiance on board as you farewell your travel mates . . .
until next time!
We
hope you become ambassadors for the great Southern Ocean, advocating
for its conservation and preservation, and share your experiences with
your loved ones, so they might visit and become ambassadors themselves.
Day
25 Disembark Dunedin
After
breakfast, farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we
all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of
the immense power of nature.
Note:
At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights
departing prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there
are delays.
Douglas Mawson (Luxury Expedition, 154-guests)
The Douglas Mawson features a host of amenities to help you connect with like-minded travellers and elevate your time onboard our floating base camp for adventure. After a long day of exploring, head to the back deck to swim in the heated outdoor swimming pool, find a sun bed to read on, or soak in one of two Jacuzzis. Work up a sweat in the gym before unwinding in the sauna, resolve to learn something new in the Citizen Science Centre, then enjoy a delicious meal with new and old friends in one of two restaurants. Or, with multiple observation areas throughout the ship, simply relax in comfort while you keep watch for wildlife or incredible landscapes unfold before you.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
- One night’s hotel accommodation including
breakfast, in Dunedin on Day 1.
- Onboard accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin
service.
- All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage.
- Beer, house wine and soft drinks with dinner.
- Captain’s Farewell reception including
four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic
beverages.
- All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.
- Educational lectures and guiding services provided by
Expedition Team.
- Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and
medical clinic (initial consultation).
- One 3-in-1 waterproof, polar expedition jacket.
- Complimentary use of Muck Boots during the
voyage.
- Comprehensive pre-departure information.
- Port surcharges, permits and landing fees.
- Wi-Fi*.
- Please note we travel to remote regions and therefore the
connection can be unreliable.
Excluded
from this voyage :
- International or domestic flights – unless
specified in the itinerary.
- Transfers – unless specified in the
itinerary.
- Airport arrival or departure taxes.
- Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and
charges.
- Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges.
- Hotel accommodation and meals – unless specified
in the itinerary.
- Optional excursions and optional activity
surcharges.
- All
items of a personal nature, including but not limited to alcoholic
beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), gratuities,
laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses or phone
charges.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
Add-on
Activities
Included
Activities
- Bird watching
- Lectures on wildlife, our environment, history and
destinations
- Near shore cruises
- Photography
- Polar plunge
- Trips ashore
- Walking
- Whale and mammal spotting
- Zodiac cruises
