Ross Sea Odyssey

Arrive independently to Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island, where you will be met by your tour representative, and join your group transfer to your assigned hotel for an included overnight stay. Throughout the day, a hospitality desk will be available to you for you to ask any questions about the upcoming trip and meet some of your crew members. In the early evening, a Welcome Reception and Pre-Embarkation Briefing will be held, with light refreshments provided, and the rest of the evening will be at your leisure. Your expedition team can provide suggestions for dining this evening and things to do and see in Dunedin.

On day 2, after breakfast and checking out of the hotel, the rest of the morning will be at your leisure, allowing you some more time to explore Dunedin or simply relax before the adventures ahead. In the afternoon you will transfer to the port to board your luxury expedition vessel. Settle into your beautiful cabin and explore your sumptuous surroundings as we set sail for your once-in-a-lifetime epic Antarctica expedition.

Relax at sea today as we make our way towards New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands. Spend time chilling out on deck by the heated pool and jacuzzi, looking out for marine mammals in the waters below and iconic seabirds flying overhead. Pamper yourself with a sauna, a visit to the Wellness Centre, or enjoy a workout at the onboard gym. Relax in the bar with your fellow expeditioners, or join one of the fascinating talks, lectures and presentations delivered by your team of enthusiastic onboard destination experts who will offer insights on the wildlife, history and nature of the areas you are about to visit, as well as offering tips on birdwatching and perfecting your photography skills.

Over the next three days you will have the unique and privileged opportunity to explore around some of the remote and spectacular Subantarctic Islands which offer up an incredible example of natural biodiversity. Centuries ago, Māori navigators were the first to set foot on these islands, which hold immense cultural importance for Ngāi Tahu, the indigenous people of New Zealand’s South Island. Today, their stunning natural landscapes and remarkable biodiversity have gained worldwide recognition.

Time for some relaxation at sea as we cross the Antarctic Convergence and officially enter Antarctic waters, signalled by a noticeable shift in sea air temperatures. Keep an eye out on deck as we sail through these nutrient-rich waters for porpoising penguins, flocks of fluttering Antarctic petrels, or perhaps the more solitary snow petrel. As we near the Antarctic Circle, the sight of Antarctica’s huge icebergs appearing in the distance will bring with it a memorable sense of excitement as we get set to explore these remarkable lands.

It’s hard to describe the feeling of arriving in the awe-inspiring Ross Sea Region and just what makes it so incomparably memorable. Is it that first breath of the most fresh, crisp air on the planet. Is it the breathtaking icy landscapes. Or is it the astonishing array of uniquely adapted Antarctic wildlife species. The only way to really understand it, is to see it.

Embracing the true spirit of exploration, there will be no fixed itinerary as such here, with your experienced team designing your adventures day-by-day to make the most of every moment in this simply remarkable area, selecting the ideal landing sites based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. We will search for sightings of Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels and South Pacific Weddell seals, and hope to visit Antarctica’s largest Adélie penguin colony along with some of the world’s largest emperor penguin colonies. The unique biodiversity of the Ross Sea has been protected within the world’s largest marine protected area since 2016. And 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. Enjoy unforgettable Zodiac cruises and guided shore excursions as you immerse yourself in the heart of the epic Ross Sea.

We leave the grandeur of the ice to the seals and penguins and head back 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 will have experienced over the past few weeks. You may like to take a moment of quiet contemplation or reminisce with your fellow travellers over a drink.

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.

For our last adventure we arrive at beautiful Macquarie Island where we plan to spend two days exploring around this enchanting area. As you sail aboard the Douglas Mawson, you will learn more here about the great explorer and geologist that your ship was named after. 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.

Home to one of the largest concentrations of life in the Southern Ocean, including 3.5 million breeding seabirds, with four species of penguin bustling for space alongside three types of fur seals and a large proportion of the world’s elephant seals, this is a wildlife wonderland that is simply a delight to explore. 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.

As your unforgettable Antarctica cruise nears its conclusion, we will now sail back towards Dunedin with our hearts and our cameras full of exceptional experiences that will live long in our memories.

As we arrive back in Dunedin early in the morning, after breakfast it will sadly be time for disembarkation to begin.