Voyage deep into the wild Ross Sea to explore a rarely visited wilderness that holds some of the most evocative sites from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration along with incredible wildlife, spectacular ice cliffs, and massive icebergs. Scott and Amundsen’s race to the South Pole began in this stunning realm, and aboard the Orion, we navigate to historic sites such as Scott’s 1911 Terra Nova Hut and poetically named Inexpressible Island, site of the incredible story of survival of Scott’s Northern Party. As we explore this glittering ice world, regal emperor penguins, throngs of Adelie penguins, and Weddell and leopard seals are all around us.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Dunedin, New Zealand / At Sea / Auckland Island

Arrive in Dunedin, embark aboard the Orion, and sail south. On Auckland Island, we see profuse birdlife from shy albatross to the New Zealand falcon.

Days 4-5
Macquarie Island

One of the “wonder spots” of the world, Macquarie has magnificent scenery and abundant birdlife. By Zodiac, we land on beaches and headlands that are home to over 20,000 breeding pairs of royal penguins, king penguins, rockhopper penguins, and gentoos.

Days 6-9
At Sea

Our naturalists offer fascinating presentations on Antarctica’s wildlife and exploration lore.

Days 10-15
Ross Sea

The Ross Sea is bounded by the coastal mountains of Victoria Land and the massive Ross Ice Shelf, a plateau of snow-topped glacial ice the size of France. Conditions permitting, landings include Cape Evans, with Scott’s Terra Nova Hut, Cape Royds, with Shackleton’s hut from his Antarctic Nimrod Expedition of 1907, the great Drygalski Glacier, habitat of emperor penguins, and Cape Bird on Ross Island, home to an active New Zealand scientific base. Adelie penguins are slowly reclaiming some of these spectacular sites.

Days 16-19
At Sea

Day 20
Campbell  Island

The rich birdlife of Campbell Island, a World Heritage Site, includes royal albatross and black-browed mollymawk.

Days 21-22
At Sea / Dunedin, New Zealand

We spend a final day at sea before arriving in Dunedin for a full day ashore to enjoy this charming city, regarded as one of the best preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere. Depart on Day 22.

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What the Trip is Like

The trip is rated Level 1+, Easy. You will be travelling to a very remote destination. You must be able to complete on board safety drills and emergency evacuation procedures without the assistance of others. Rolling seas and windy conditions require you to be stable on your feet, especially when walking on slippery decks or up and down steep gangways. Shore excursions often require hiking over uneven terrain without the benefit of a developed trail. Some agility is required for getting in and out of the Zodiac landing crafts. While several Zodiac landings are dry, many will require that you step in the water to get ashore. Zodiac and shore excursions are weather permitting.

Explanation of Trip Levels