Spectacular Ross Sea Voyage

Your epic Ross Sea and Sub-Antarctic Islands expedition will begin in Bluff, New Zealand’s most southerly town. After having arrived independently you will embark your vessel in the afternoon. After you settle in to your cabin and explore your new surroundings we recommend spending some time on deck to watch civilisation fade in the distance as you head into the untamed regions of the far south.

Enjoy your first day at sea relaxing and taking time to prepare for the unforgettable adventures that lie ahead. Spend some time on deck soaking up the sights of the vast horizons and looking for the seabirds that follow the ship as we make our way south towards Campbell Island. Your programme of expert lectures and presentations will begin, covering everything from the wildlife and geology of the areas we will visit to the history of Antarctic exploration.

On day 3 we will arrive at the sub-Antarctic New Zealand Reserve of Campbell Island to enjoy its luxuriantly blooming vegetation. Campbell Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site brimming with fauna including excellent birding opportunities. During our day here we may see a large colony of southern royal albatrosses on the main island as well as wandering, Campbell, grey-headed, black-browed, and light-mantled albatrosses on the satellite islands. There are also three breeding penguin species present here with sightings of eastern rockhopper, erect-crested, and yellow-eyed penguins. In the 18th century, seals in the area were hunted to extinction, but the elephant seal, fur seal, and sea lion populations have since recovered.

After a day at sea, on day 5 we will visit the World Heritage Site of Macquarie Island, where we will arrive to the sight of almost one million breeding pairs of the royal penguin alongside colonies of kings, gentoos and southern rockhoppers. Amongst the other abundance of fantastic fauna on the island we will also see elephant seals and various fur seal species, such as the New Zealand fur seal. This Tasmanian State Reserve was discovered by the Australian sealer Frederick Hasselborough and the island is also home to the permanent base of the Australian Antarctic Division.

We will sail into the vast expanse of the Southern Ocean as we make our journey towards the immense Ross Sea region. This leg of the journey is the most prolific for seabirds so make sure to have your cameras ready on deck as we sail. We may also spot our first of many icebergs.

On day 9, weather dependent, we pass Sturge Island to get an impression of the windswept and remote Balleny Islands before crossing the Antarctic Circle, a moment that will be celebrated with delight. Following this we will spend a day sailing towards the Antarctic continent. Your programme of expert lectures and presentations will continue along with briefings for your upcoming landings in the pristine wilderness of Antarctica.

Our next stop will be an attempt to land at Cape Adare to visit the largest colony of Adélie penguins in the world. Cape Adare is also steeped in historical importance as it is the site of the first area where humans ever wintered on the Antarctic Continent. The Norwegian explorer Borchgrevink stayed in here 1899, taking shelter in a hut which still stands to this day and is well worth a visit.

Sailing south along the west coast of the Ross Sea, we may also attempt a landing at the protected area of Cape Hallett to see its own large Adélie penguin rookery.

As we sail south along the west coast of the Ross Sea our next aim is to make land at Inexpressible Island, which has a fascinating history in connection to the less-known Northern Party of Captain Scott’s expedition. Inexpressible is also home to a large Adélie penguin rookery that we should have the opportunity to visit. We will then heard further south passing the Drygalski Ice Tongue if ice conditions prevent entry into Terra Nova Bay.

Continuing our exploration of the Ross Sea area we will now aim to visit Ross Island to see Mount Byrd, Mount Terror and the famous Mount Erebus. This area is an exceptionally important area in regards to historic Antarctic exploration and we expect to visit Cape Royds where Sir Ernest Shackleton’s cabin still stands as well as Cape Evans where the cabin of Robert Falcon Scott can still be seen. We also hope to visit Hut Point, from which Scott and his men set out for the South Pole.

Other possible locations to visit here include the American scientific base of McMurdo Station from which it may be possible to take a 10km hike to Castle Rock to see the fantastic views across the Ross Ice Shelf towards the South Pole. We may also visit New Zealand’s Scott Base. Throughout your time here there may be opportunities for helicopter flights to numerous intriguing spots in the area including Taylor Valley, one of the Dry Valleys, where conditions are closer to Mars than anywhere else on Earth.

The aim now is to enter the Ross Sea from the west and venture south towards the Bay of Whales close to Roosevelt Island. The Bay of Whales is part of the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in the world, and is constantly changing with the receding ice masses. Spectacular scenic opportunities await as we plan to make a helicopter landing on the ice shelf itself, an unforgettable experience! Our time here will be filled with sightings of huge icebergs as well as bountiful wildlife and tales of history as we learn about the adventures of Roald Amundsen and the Japanese explorer Nobu Shirase who both managed to reach this exceptionally remote part of the world. During this part of the voyage, we will also cross the International Date Line.

After our thrilling time in the Ross Sea region we will now enjoy 6 days of sailing through the Amundsen Sea stopping at locations along the way to take in the beautiful sights and search for sightings of wildlife. As we move along through the outer fringes of the pack ice we expect to see emperor penguins and groups of seals lounging on the ice floes, as well as orca and minke whales along the ice edge. We can also expect to see different species of fulmarine petrels as we sail. Ice conditions are never the same from year to year on this part of the journey, though we aim to take advantage of the opportunities that arise if sea ice is present.

Today we arrive at Peter I Island, an uninhabited and rarely visited volcanic island in the Bellingshausen Sea. One of the most remote islands in the world this exposed island is claimed by Norway and considered its own territory (it is known as Peter I Øy in Norwegian). If weather and ice conditions allow, we hope to enjoy the unique chance to make a helicopter landing on the glaciated northern part of the island.

These 2 days will be spent sailing through the open sea and keeping a keen eye out on deck for wildlife and birdlife sightings as we sail towards the Antarctic Peninsula. Your lecture programme will continue and we recommend taking this time to relax in preparation for the final adventures that lie ahead.

We will arrive at the Antarctic Peninsula near the Antarctic Circle in the afternoon. If sea ice allows it, we will then continue through Pendleton Strait and attempt a landing at the rarely visited southern tip of Renaud Island. Here you have the opportunity to see more Adélie penguins as well as enjoy spectacular views of the icebergs in this surreal, snow-swept environment.

As our thrilling Ross Sea adventure comes to an end your ship will sail northwards through the famous Drake Passage towards Ushuaia and our final port of call. Enjoy your final days at sea relaxing and taking time to dissolve all of the unforgettable memories you will have made on your once in a lifetime expedition. You may want to spend some time on deck in search of bird sightings including wandering, grey-headed, black-browed and the beautiful light-mantled sooty albatross, southern fulmars, Wilson's storm, blue, Cape and Antarctic petrels. There may also be chances of whale sightings.

Your adventure will sadly come to an end as we disembark in the southern Argentinean town of Ushuaia and bid farewell to our new found friends.