Antarctica: Voyage through the Ross Sea

Arrive in Queenstown, New Zealand’s world-famous alpine resort town. Guests should make their way to the designated hotel where you will spend the first night of the expedition. This evening there will be an informal get-together at the hotel for dinner; an excellent opportunity to meet fellow adventurers on your voyage and some of the expedition team.

Enjoy breakfast in the hotel restaurant and have the morning free to explore Queenstown before returning to the hotel for lunch and departing for the Port of Bluff to embark your ship. You will have time to settle into your cabin and familiarize yourself with the ship; there will also be the opportunity to conduct a number of safety briefings. You are invited to join the expedition team in the Observation Lounge and up on the Observation Deck as the ship sets course to The Snares and the adventure begins.

The closest sub-Antarctic Islands to New Zealand, they were appropriately called The Snares as they were once considered a hazard for sailing ships. Comprised of two main islands and a group of five islands called the Western Chain, they are uninhabited and enjoy the highest protection as nature reserves. Some claim that these islands are home to more nesting seabirds than all of the British Isles together. We plan to arrive in the morning, and as landings are not permitted, Zodiac cruises will take you along the sheltered eastern side of the main island if the weather and sea conditions are suitable. In the sheltered bays, you should see the endemic Snares crested penguin, Snares Island tomtit, and fernbirds. There are hundreds of thousands of sooty shearwaters nesting on The Snares; the actual number is much debated. Buller's albatross breed here from early January onward. There will be opportunities to view the forests of large tree daisy Olearia lyallii, which forms a canopy over much of the island group.

The Auckland Islands group was formed by two volcanoes that erupted some 10-25 million years ago. They have subsequently been eroded and dissected by glaciation, creating the archipelago as we know it today. Enderby Island is one of the most beautiful islands in this group and is named after a distinguished shipping family. This northernmost island in the archipelago is an outstanding wildlife and birding location and is relatively easy to land on and walk around. The island was cleared of all introduced animals in 1994 and both birds and the vegetation, especially the herbaceous plants, are recovering both in numbers and diversity. The plan is to land at Sandy Bay, one of three breeding areas in the Auckland Islands for the Hooker's or New Zealand sea lion, a rare member of the seal family. Beachmaster bulls gather on the beach, defending their harems from younger, ambitious males, to mate with the cows shortly after they have given birth to a single pup. Hooker's or New Zealand sea lion numbers are in a slow decline, for reasons that are not obvious but most probably connected with a nearby squid fishery. During your day ashore there will be several options, some longer walks, some shorter walks, and time to spend just sitting and enjoying the wildlife. The walking is relatively easy. A boardwalk traverses the island to the dramatic western cliffs; from there you follow the coast and circumnavigate the island. Birds likely to encounter include the following species: southern royal albatross, northern giant petrel, Auckland Island shag, Auckland Island flightless teal, Auckland Island banded dotterel, Auckland Island tomtit, bellbird, pipit, red-crowned parakeet, yellow-eyed penguin, and light-mantled sooty albatross. There is also a very good chance of seeing the sub-Antarctic snipe.

While at sea, learn more about the biology and history of the sub-Antarctic Islands and the Southern Ocean through a series of lectures and presentations. This is another opportunity to spot pelagic species including (but not limited to) the wandering albatross, royal albatross, shy and white-capped albatross, light-mantled sooty albatross, grey-headed albatross, and black-browed albatross, whitechinned petrel, mottled petrel, white-headed petrel, Cape petrel, diving-petrel, grey-backed and black-bellied storm-petrels. This is potentially some of the best pelagic birding on the expedition.

Described by one Australian explorer as "One of the wonder spots of the world," this is the only place in the world where the beautiful royal penguin breeds. Three other species of penguins, the king, gentoo, and rockhopper, also breed here. You will never forget your first experience of a noisy "penguin city," where the dapper inhabitants show no fear of their strange visitors and where you will be immersed in a tumult of chattering, feeding chicks, territorial disputes, petty pilfering, and courtship displays. This all happens among the hundreds of southern elephant seals lolling on the beaches and dunes. On arrival you will meet with scientists and park rangers based here who will accompany you on all the landings.

Soaring albatross and petrels circle the vessel as the ship steams south through the Southern Ocean. Lectures now concentrate on the Ross Sea region, and beyond the bow of the ship, drifting icebergs of extraordinary shapes begin to appear. Maneuvering in close for your first ice photographs, you pass the Antarctic Circle and into the continent's realm of 24-hour daylight.

During your time in the Ross Sea region, you will visit the highlights of Antarctica's most historic region. Due to the unpredictable nature of ice and weather conditions, a day-by-day itinerary is not possible. The Captain and Expedition Leader will assess daily conditions and take advantage of every opportunity to make landings or send you out in the Zodiacs. The program emphasizes wildlife viewing, key scientific bases, and historic sites, as well as the spectacular scenery of the coastal terrain, the glaciers and icebergs of the Ross Sea. While specific landings cannot be guaranteed, we hope to visit the following: Cape Adare, a large flat spit of land teeming with the staggering sight of Antarctica's largest Adelie penguin rookery, a tumult of chattering, feeding chicks, territorial disputes, petty pilfering, and courtship displays. Curious penguins often come very close, offering superb photographic opportunities. Among the shifting mass of penguins you will find Carsten Borchgrevink's Hut, the oldest in Antarctica, an overwintering shelter for the first expedition to the continent in 1899. At Cape Hallett, the enormous Admiralty Range heralds your arrival. Wild and extraordinary, the mountains rear up towering out of the sea to over 13,000 feet high and are bounded by colossal glaciers. Land at an abandoned base site, now home to large numbers of Adelie penguins and Weddell seals. Franklin Island is desolately beautiful and rugged, and home to a large Adelie penguin population and other nesting seabirds. The Possession Islands are rarely visited; small and rugged, these rocks support tens of thousands of penguins. Observe the birds' busy and humorous activity, with the Admiralty Mountains forming a superb backdrop across the water. The Ross Ice Shelf is the world's largest body of floating ice and a natural barrier, at times creating hazardous weather, with sheets of snow blown at gale force by winds off the polar ice cap. Just 800 miles from the South Pole, this daunting spectacle prevented many early explorers from venturing further south. Cruise along its dizzying 100-foot-high ice cliffs, perhaps lucky enough to see icebergs calving. On Ross Island you may visit Shackleton's and Scott's huts and visits to a scientific field station (Scott and McMurdo Stations are high on our wish list but ice, weather, and station operational requirements often make them inaccessible). Ross Island was, and is, the hub of activity in the Ross Sea, dominated by Mt. Erebus, a monstrous active volcano named after the ancient Greek god of darkness. The carefully preserved huts of the "Heroic Era" help make history come alive. If we can reach the bases, you will get a modern perspective on Antarctic Research. In Terra Nova Bay, scientists at an Italian research station are always hospitable and enjoy showing us around their lonely but beautiful home. They share with us their scientific research and also, perhaps, the best espresso in Antarctica! Nearby is the German base, Gondwana Station, which is used occasionally, and the South Korean station, Jang Bogo, and on Inexpressible Island, China is building its fifth Antarctic base.

En route to Campbell Island, take part in a series of lectures designed to prepare you for a visit tomorrow. Pelagic species abound here as they did en route to Macquarie Island earlier in the voyage. Above all, take time to rest and enjoy shipboard life after the excitement of the Antarctic.

New Zealand's southernmost sub-Antarctic territory, the Campbell Island group lies approximately 400 miles south of Bluff. Campbell Island is the main island in the group, and you will spend the day exploring the island on foot from Perseverance Harbour, a long inlet cutting into the undulating landscape. Campbell Island is a truly magnificent place of rugged scenery, unique flora, and abundant wildlife. Perseverance Harbour, where we drop anchor, is an occasional refuge for southern right whales who come here to calve. Here you will find a now abandoned New Zealand meteorological station as well as Campbell Island shags, penguins, fur seals, and rare Hooker's sea lions. The highlight of the visit is a walk to the hilltop breeding sites of southern royal albatross, over six thousand pairs of which breed on Campbell Island. These magnificent birds, close relations to and the same size as the wandering albatross, have the largest wingspan in the world and are very approachable, making superb photographic subjects.

At sea en route to the Port of Bluff, take the opportunity to relax and reflect on an amazing experience. This is a good opportunity to download and edit any remaining photos while they are fresh in your mind and you have the experience of the expedition team on board for questions.Recap the highlights of the expedition and enjoy a farewell dinner tonight as you sail to your final port.

Early morning arrival in the Port of Bluff. After a final breakfast, bid farewell to your fellow voyagers and take a complimentary coach transfer to either Invercargill or Queenstown airports. In case of unexpected delays due to weather and/or port operations we ask you not to book any onward travel until after midday from Invercargill and after 3 pm from Queenstown. Note: During the voyage, circumstances may make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include poor weather and opportunities for making unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed. Landings at the sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand are by permit only as administered by the Government of New Zealand. No landings are permitted at The Snares.