HIGHLIGHTS
- Skirt
rowdy beaches crowded with harems of New Zealand (Hooker’s)
sea lions to reach r?t? 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 in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Stateroom Triple | Stateroom Twin Or Superior | Balcony Stateroom C | Balcony Stateroom B | Balcony Stateroom A | Balcony Stateroom Superior | Junior Suite | Captains Suite |
|---|
| Jan 07, 2027 | Feb 08, 2027 | 45,895 | 47,295 | 51,295 | 53,995 | 58,095 | 63,495 | 75,595 | 86,395 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Stateroom Triple | (Mid-range)
Balcony Stateroom A | (High-end)
Captains Suite |
|---|
| Jan 07, 2027 | Feb 08, 2027 | 45,895 | 58,095 | 86,395 |
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, 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.
Days
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.
Auckland Islands
(Maungahuka / Motu Maha)
Born of fire, scoured by ancient glaciers and shaped by the fierce hand
of the Southern Ocean, there is an exquisite ruggedness to this group
of weather-worn islands. This apparent bleakness belies the
extraordinary abundance of life that thrives here. Roughly half of the
world’s yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho), most of the
world’s white-capped mollymawks, and the entire population of
Auckland Islands wandering albatross find shelter on these
shores.
Embrace the spirit of exploration as your expedition team designs your
voyage from day to day, bringing decades of experience to selecting
ideal sites based on the prevailing conditions and wildlife
opportunities.
Some places we may visit
include:
Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay is home to a breeding colony of rare New Zealand
(Hooker’s) sea lions and an enchanting r?t? forest where
yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho) make their nests.
Carnley Harbour, Erlangen
Clearing
Carnley Harbour offers superb Zodiac cruising through a landscape rich
in human history. In 1864, five men became stranded here after their
schooner, the Grafton, was wrecked, putting a sudden end to their
sealing and tin prospecting ambitions. We hope to see the skeletal
remnants of the Grafton, and the moss-covered remains of the Epigwaitt
Hut, where they sheltered for 20 months.
Victoria
Passage
Victoria Passage is a lively channel separating Auckland Island from
the mountainous Adams Island to the south. We may Zodiac cruise these
scenic waters, watching for sooty shearwaters, penguins and sea-lions
frolicking in the pure waters.
Campbell Island (Motu
Ihupuku)
Wind and weather permitting, we will Zodiac cruise sheltered harbours
and coves in search of Campbell Island snipes and teals, yellow-eyed
penguins (hoiho), and New Zealand (Hooker’s) sea lions
(whakahao).
We hope to land at Beeman Cove, Perseverance Harbour, where an old
meteorological station stands vigil on the windswept shoreline. Follow
a boardwalk through tussock and upland tundra, then enter an
otherworldly landscape where large-leaved megaherbs abound. Wonder at
the Ross Lily, Campbell Island Daisy and Campbell Island carrot, whose
brilliant flowers would look more at home in the tropics than these
southern climes. Continue towards the nesting grounds of majestic
southern royal albatross, whose wingspans can exceed three metres (10
feet). It is truly humbling to be in the presence of these great
wanderers of the southern seas. Find a spot to quietly observe these
marvellous birds as they go about their daily duties, undisturbed by
their human visitors.
Day
7 : 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.
Join your expedition team in the lecture room to hear about the
fascinating human history of Macquarie Island, and how to identify the
unique and charismatic creatures we hope to see in the coming days.
Days 8-9 : 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 10-12 : At Sea
As Macquarie Island slips over the horizon, keep watch for wandering,
grey-headed, black-browed and light-mantled albatross, which may follow
the ship to bid you farewell as you 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
13-18 : 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.
Some
places we may visit include:
Ross
Ice Shelf
Find
a spot on deck as we cruise perfectly cleaved ice cliffs towering some
30 metres above the crystalline waters of the Ross Sea. This is the
floating edge of the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, which covers an
area the size of France. Watch for elegant emperor penguins,
sweet-faced Weddell seals hauled out on ice floes, and the unmistakable
‘pouf’ of an orca’s
exhalation.
Franklin
Island
This
delightful ice-free outpost with a rookery of rambunctious
Adélie penguins is well worth a visit. Stretch your legs as
you stroll up a gentle incline past the colony to a high point, where
panoramic views of the Ross archipelago and the ice shelf
unfurl.
McMurdo
Sound
Enter
a realm of exquisite beauty, an otherworldly icescape set against a
backdrop of gleaming glaciers, shimmering mountains, and the polar ice
sheet itself. McMurdo Sound is the historic gateway to the South Pole
and remains a busy working harbour today, serving as a logistics hub
for the extensive scientific operations taking place at the McMurdo and
Scott Research bases on Ross Island.
It
is here, in this achingly barren landscape, that early explorers
established their base camps and struck out for the South Pole. If
conditions allow, we aim to land at one (or more) of their beautifully
preserved huts, many of which still stand, to dwell for a moment
amongst the artefacts of a distant time, and reflect on the triumphs
and tragedies of those who brought them here.
Cape
Washington, Terra Nova Bay
Bounded
by soaring peaks and fed by immense glaciers, Terra Nova Bay supports
an abundance of polar wildlife, including the rarely sighted Arnoux's
Beaked Whale. Fast ice anchored to the bay’s northern shore
in the shelter of Cape Washington is home to one of the largest known
emperor penguin colonies. Some 20,000 males huddle here each winter,
incubating their eggs and awaiting the sun’s return. Weather
and ice permitting, visit the bustling rookery to witness the
delightful emperors and their fledging chicks.
Cape
Hallett
The
snow-capped Admiralty Mountains rise dramatically from the gravelly
spit of Cape Hallett, where we hope to land. This is the site of a
decommissioned scientific base and an abundance of Antarctic mosses,
lichens and invertebrates, protected by the Antarctic Treaty
System.
Amble
across gently undulating terrain, taking care to give resting Weddell
seals a wide berth. The Adélie penguin rookery here can host
close to 50,000 breeding pairs, while snow petrels, Wilson’s
storm petrels and South Polar skuas breed in the rocky crevices
nearby.
Cape
Hallett also has a special significance for Aurora. It was from this
rocky foothold that Greg Mortimer, co-founder of Aurora Expeditions,
launched the Australian Bicentennial Antarctic Expedition in 1988. Cape
Hallett provided access to the glaciated coastal ranges beyond, where
the six-man team completed the first ascent of Mt Minto (4,165
metres).
Cape
Adare
Cape
Adare lies 100 km (62 miles) north of Cape Hallet, at the western
entrance to the Ross Sea. A rare ice-free refuge on this icebound
coastline, Cape Adare is home to Antarctica’s largest
Adélie penguin colony. Ice and weather permitting, wend your
way through the pack ice to land on the flat, cobbled spit where more
than 250,000 breeding pairs of Adélies gather to busily
breed, feed and raise their chicks in the short southern
summer.
First
visited by James Clark Ross in 1841, this rocky promontory played an
important role in the pioneering expeditions of the Heroic Age of
Antarctic exploration. It was here in 1899 that the Southern Cross
expedition, led by Carsten Borchgrevink, became the first to winter
over in Antarctica and establish the first human structures on the
continent.
The
remnants of these pioneering constructions, and thousands of artefacts
scattered in their vicinity, remain virtually untouched and protected
under the Antarctic Treaty System. We hope to enter
Borchgrevink’s living quarters to experience the awe and
imagine the perils of conducting science here, as they did, through an
Antarctic winter.
Days
19-26 : Expedition Cruising, Cross the International Date Line
As
you reach the halfway mark of your voyage, these days at sea offer time
and space to reflect on the emotions and special moments
you’ve experienced so far. You may like to make some notes in
a journal, reminisce with newfound friends at the bar or start editing
a backlog of amazing photos.
For the next week, find your rhythm and settle into life at sea. Your
expedition team will offer a daily program of educational activities,
entertainment and citizen science programs, which you are welcome to
attend. Join them for lectures and daily recaps of your progress,
weather and trajectory. Take advantage of the many shared spaces on
board: relax in the sauna, work out in the gym or grab a cuppa and
peruse the library shelves as the ice shelves guarding the West
Antarctic coast slide by.
There is plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and
the life that calls it home - especially as you gain a day by crossing
the international date line! As always, the best place on the ship is
out on deck, where Antarctic prions, snow petrels and great whales
await - as long as the seas permit!
As you skirt the forbidding ice cliffs guarding the Antarctic ice
sheet, spare a thought for British explorer James Cook, whose historic
circumnavigation of Antarctica in the late 18th century encountered
nothing but treacherous ‘ice islands’ and perilous
winds that threatened to blow their wooden sailboat into the sea ice.
Cook left the region firm in the belief that no Antarctic continent
could exist, and if it did it “that the world will derive no
benefit from it”. The search for Antarctica, which had been
going for hundreds of years, ground to a halt, only resuming when a
merchant sailor named William Smith chanced upon the South Shetland
Islands in 1819. This discovery sparked visits from the sealers,
whalers and scientists who would define the earliest eras of Antarctic
exploration.
Your voyage continues west past the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas,
towards the southern extremity of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Days
27-31 : Antarctic Peninsula
While
on the Peninsula we generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice
a day. Rug up and join a Zodiac cruise to view spectacular ice cliffs
or explore grounded icebergs, keeping an eye out for whales, seals and
penguins, which frequently travel and feed in these waters. Zodiacs
will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit
penguin rookeries, discover historic sites and explore some of our
favourite spots along the Peninsula.
While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches
or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains
towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an
optional activity, you will have the option to do that whenever
conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the
chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions
permitting!
In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise
some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from
the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to marvel at sculptural icebergs
and photograph spectacular scenery. This is a great time to enjoy
panoramic views from the observation lounge or make your way to the
bridge (open at the Captain’s discretion) for uninterrupted
views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak
and deep rumble of glaciers as they break off, calving into the sea.
Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white
continent.
Day
32-33 : At Sea
The
South Shetland Islands is a volcanic island group around a
day’s sail from the Antarctic Peninsula. We aim to land or
Zodiac cruise at one of the many appealing coves, bays and beaches,
with the opportunity to see chinstrap and gentoo penguin colonies, fur
and elephant seals, and the historic remnants of the sealing and
whaling age.
In the afternoon, begin your transit north across the Drake Passage.
As your journey draws to a close, take some time to reflect on the
experiences of the past few weeks. Perhaps you’d like 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 34 : Disembark in
Ushuaia
During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before
quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to
disembark around 8.00 am. 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.
Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region,
transportation to the hotel will be arranged exclusively for guests who
have booked their accommodations through Aurora or for those staying in
downtown areas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior
to 12:30 pm will be directly transferred to Ushuaia Airport, those with
flights after 12:30 pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia
before an afternoon airport transfer, and the transfer procedures and
details will be communicated onboard before
disembarkation.
Note: At the
conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing
Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there
are delays.
Greg Mortimer (Luxury Expedition, 120-guests)
Capable of negotiating the strongest winds and waves, the Greg Mortimer is built to world-class polar standards. It is designed in close consultation with expedition specialists, taking advantage of Auroras more than 25 years of experience.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
- One night’s hotel accommodation including
breakfast, in Ushuaia on Day 1.
- Afternoon catamaran cruise in Ushuaia, on Day 2.
- 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*.
Note: 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
