Mawson's Antarctica

Arrive independently to Hobart, Australia’s southernmost capital city, 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 Hobart.

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 Hobart 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 expedition.

These days will be spent relaxing at sea as we make our way towards Macquarie Island. 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.

Our first adventure takes us to 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.

Time for some well-earned 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.

As we continue along the path taken by the Aurora in 1911, join your expedition team in the lecture room for presentations about Antarctic ice, wildlife, and of course the remarkable story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. Led by Australian geologist and explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, the expedition successfully charted vast swathes of previously explored Antarctic coastline, and over 6000 kilometres of the interior. Despite its tremendous contribution to the advancement of Antarctic science, the expedition is perhaps best known for its nail-biting tales of triumph and tragedy. Hear the story of the extraordinary sledge journey undertaken by Mawson, Ninnis and Mertz, and rediscover why this remains one of the most incredible polar survival stories of all time.

Continuing our voyage in the wake of Mawson’s 1912 Australasian Antarctic Expedition, as we enter these ice-filled waters more than a century later, we may experience the same feeling of awe as those hearty explorers who came before us as we prepare to explore one of the most inaccessible and seldom-visited parts of Antarctica.

Make your way to deck as your captain skilfully navigates through frozen ocean and we begin our unforgettable exploration of this remarkable, historically rich region. Hop into a Zodiac for a memorable cruise through the pack ice, searching for emperor penguins, Weddell seals and orcas along the way. Embracing the true spirit of expedition 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 here, selecting the ideal landing sites based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

The sight of Commonwealth Bay fills many explorers with a deep reverence and humility. This is where Mawson and his crew established their primary base camp, situated along the shores of a beautiful, miniature harbour' nestled at the base of the massive Antarctic Ice Sheet. Picture their disappointment when they realised their ice-free sanctuary lay directly in the path of intense katabatic winds, barrelling down like rushing rapids from the Polar Plateau! Despite this ill-fated location, the Main Base sheltered eighteen expedition members for up to two years in what Mawson dubbed the 'Home of the Blizzard'.

As we explore around this fascinating and enthralling area, we will make our way to the historically rich shores of Cape Denison to discover a world literally frozen in time, where the well-preserved remains of several of the huts from Mawson’s Main Base still prevail despite over a century of exposure to the Antarctic elements. This will offer a humbling insight into the austere daily lives of Mawson and his men. Whilst here, we can also be on the lookout for the Adelie penguins, Wilson’s storm petrels and snow petrels that are often found here alongside leopard, elephant and Weddell seals as we wander along the pebbly beaches or hike up snow covered ridges for unforgettable vistas.

As we prepare to leave Antarctica behind, the captain will attempt to manoeuvre us into position over the South Magnetic Pole as we learn about how Mawson, alongside fellow Australian geologist T.W Edgeworth David and Scottish doctor Alistair Mackay, undertook a gruelling three month march to become the first to stand in the vicinity of the South Magnetic Pole in January 1909. Conveniently for us, the Pole has since migrated out to sea, so we can celebrate its attainment with a glass of bubbly in the comfort of the ship’s bar!

We leave the grandeur of the ice to the seals and penguins and head back northwards, with one more adventure to come. Spend some time on deck to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home, join presentations from your onboard specialists about New Zealand’s enchanting Subantarctic Islands, and relax as you reflect on the special moments you will have already experienced on your unforgettable expedition.

As we approach the rugged New Zealand subantarctic islands you have a rare opportunity to spot the endemic white-capped mollymawk (a type of albatross) in flight. The largest of the mollymawk family, over ninety percent of its population breeds on the Auckland Islands. Keep an eye out also for the playful New Zealand sea lion and southern right whale, which are known to frolic in these waters.

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. As we explore, keep an eye out for unique endemic species such as the yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho) and Campbell mollymawk.

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

As we arrive in Dunedin on New Zealand's South Island early in the morning, after breakfast it will sadly be time for disembarkation to begin.