Ross Sea Odyssey

Arrive in Dunedin, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred with your fellowexpeditioners to your assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Dunedin, we ask you to make your way to yourhotel. This afternoon, visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the lobby to collect your luggage tags. Pleaseclearly label the tags with your name and ship cabin number. Our team will confirm details regarding yourembarkation day, answer any questions and provide you with information on where to dine or purchase last minuteitems.That evening, enjoy light refreshments as you meet your fellow expeditioners at a Welcome Reception and Pre-Embarkation Briefing. Afterwards, enjoy your evening in New Zealand’s southernmost city. You may like to indulge ina meal at one of Dunedin’s fine restaurants, or perhaps enjoy a leisurely stroll along the picturesque Otago harbour.Assigned accommodation: To be advised

This morning, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearlylabelled with your name and cabin number. By 11.00 am, take your cabin luggage to hotel reception, prior to, or atcheck-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred directly to the port for clearance, to be placed in your cabinahead of your arrival on board. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day.Your morning is at leisure to explore Dunedin.Settle into your cabin, where each detail was designed with your comfort in mind.This luxurious vessel is yours toexplore! As we throw the lines and set sail, join your expedition team on deck before tucking into a delicious dinner,and toast to the voyage ahead.

First visited by Māori navigators centuries ago, these islands are of great significance to Ngāi Tahu, the indigenouspeoples of New Zealand’s South Island. Their natural beauty and astonishing biodiversity have now been recognisedglobally, but few have had the privilege to visit these far-flung shores, which are now yours to explore.

First visited by Māori navigators centuries ago, these islands are of great significance to Ngāi Tahu, the indigenouspeoples of New Zealand’s South Island. Their natural beauty and astonishing biodiversity have now been recognisedglobally, but few have had the privilege to visit these far-flung shores, which are now yours to explore.

First visited by Māori navigators centuries ago, these islands are of great significance to Ngāi Tahu, the indigenouspeoples of New Zealand’s South Island. Their natural beauty and astonishing biodiversity have now been recognisedglobally, but few have had the privilege to visit these far-flung shores, which are now yours to explore.

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in this storied, ice-bound sector of Antarctica. Steppingoutside and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience to cherish forever.The Ross Sea region is a globally significant wildlife sanctuary. Its nutrient-rich waters support an astonishing array ofuniquely adapted Antarctic species, including Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels and South Pacific Weddell seals. It isalso home to Antarctica’s largest Adélie penguin colony, and many of the largest emperor penguin colonies. Theunique biodiversity of the Ross Sea has been protected within the world’s largest marine protected area since 2016. The human heritage of the Ross Sea coast is equally impressive. Since James Clark Ross discovered the region in1841, countless expeditions have built base camps on scattered ice-free slivers of land, using them as staging postsfor bold forays across the polar plateau. Many of them departed in a hurry, leaving artefacts, scientific equipmentand sometimes entire huts behind. Today these sites are preserved as open-air museums and protected under theAntarctic Treaty System.Embrace the spirit of exploration as your expedition team designs your voyage from day to day, bringing decades ofexperience to selecting the ideal sites based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in this storied, ice-bound sector of Antarctica. Steppingoutside and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience to cherish forever.The Ross Sea region is a globally significant wildlife sanctuary. Its nutrient-rich waters support an astonishing array ofuniquely adapted Antarctic species, including Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels and South Pacific Weddell seals. It isalso home to Antarctica’s largest Adélie penguin colony, and many of the largest emperor penguin colonies. Theunique biodiversity of the Ross Sea has been protected within the world’s largest marine protected area since 2016. The human heritage of the Ross Sea coast is equally impressive. Since James Clark Ross discovered the region in1841, countless expeditions have built base camps on scattered ice-free slivers of land, using them as staging postsfor bold forays across the polar plateau. Many of them departed in a hurry, leaving artefacts, scientific equipmentand sometimes entire huts behind. Today these sites are preserved as open-air museums and protected under theAntarctic Treaty System.Embrace the spirit of exploration as your expedition team designs your voyage from day to day, bringing decades ofexperience to selecting the ideal sites based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in this storied, ice-bound sector of Antarctica. Steppingoutside and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience to cherish forever.The Ross Sea region is a globally significant wildlife sanctuary. Its nutrient-rich waters support an astonishing array ofuniquely adapted Antarctic species, including Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels and South Pacific Weddell seals. It isalso home to Antarctica’s largest Adélie penguin colony, and many of the largest emperor penguin colonies. Theunique biodiversity of the Ross Sea has been protected within the world’s largest marine protected area since 2016. The human heritage of the Ross Sea coast is equally impressive. Since James Clark Ross discovered the region in1841, countless expeditions have built base camps on scattered ice-free slivers of land, using them as staging postsfor bold forays across the polar plateau. Many of them departed in a hurry, leaving artefacts, scientific equipmentand sometimes entire huts behind. Today these sites are preserved as open-air museums and protected under theAntarctic Treaty System.Embrace the spirit of exploration as your expedition team designs your voyage from day to day, bringing decades ofexperience to selecting the ideal sites based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in this storied, ice-bound sector of Antarctica. Steppingoutside and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience to cherish forever.The Ross Sea region is a globally significant wildlife sanctuary. Its nutrient-rich waters support an astonishing array ofuniquely adapted Antarctic species, including Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels and South Pacific Weddell seals. It isalso home to Antarctica’s largest Adélie penguin colony, and many of the largest emperor penguin colonies. Theunique biodiversity of the Ross Sea has been protected within the world’s largest marine protected area since 2016. The human heritage of the Ross Sea coast is equally impressive. Since James Clark Ross discovered the region in1841, countless expeditions have built base camps on scattered ice-free slivers of land, using them as staging postsfor bold forays across the polar plateau. Many of them departed in a hurry, leaving artefacts, scientific equipmentand sometimes entire huts behind. Today these sites are preserved as open-air museums and protected under theAntarctic Treaty System.Embrace the spirit of exploration as your expedition team designs your voyage from day to day, bringing decades ofexperience to selecting the ideal sites based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in this storied, ice-bound sector of Antarctica. Steppingoutside and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience to cherish forever.The Ross Sea region is a globally significant wildlife sanctuary. Its nutrient-rich waters support an astonishing array ofuniquely adapted Antarctic species, including Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels and South Pacific Weddell seals. It isalso home to Antarctica’s largest Adélie penguin colony, and many of the largest emperor penguin colonies. Theunique biodiversity of the Ross Sea has been protected within the world’s largest marine protected area since 2016. The human heritage of the Ross Sea coast is equally impressive. Since James Clark Ross discovered the region in1841, countless expeditions have built base camps on scattered ice-free slivers of land, using them as staging postsfor bold forays across the polar plateau. Many of them departed in a hurry, leaving artefacts, scientific equipmentand sometimes entire huts behind. Today these sites are preserved as open-air museums and protected under theAntarctic Treaty System.Embrace the spirit of exploration as your expedition team designs your voyage from day to day, bringing decades ofexperience to selecting the ideal sites based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in this storied, ice-bound sector of Antarctica. Steppingoutside and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience to cherish forever.The Ross Sea region is a globally significant wildlife sanctuary. Its nutrient-rich waters support an astonishing array ofuniquely adapted Antarctic species, including Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels and South Pacific Weddell seals. It isalso home to Antarctica’s largest Adélie penguin colony, and many of the largest emperor penguin colonies. Theunique biodiversity of the Ross Sea has been protected within the world’s largest marine protected area since 2016. The human heritage of the Ross Sea coast is equally impressive. Since James Clark Ross discovered the region in1841, countless expeditions have built base camps on scattered ice-free slivers of land, using them as staging postsfor bold forays across the polar plateau. Many of them departed in a hurry, leaving artefacts, scientific equipmentand sometimes entire huts behind. Today these sites are preserved as open-air museums and protected under theAntarctic Treaty System.Embrace the spirit of exploration as your expedition team designs your voyage from day to day, bringing decades ofexperience to selecting the ideal sites based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in this storied, ice-bound sector of Antarctica. Steppingoutside and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience to cherish forever.The Ross Sea region is a globally significant wildlife sanctuary. Its nutrient-rich waters support an astonishing array ofuniquely adapted Antarctic species, including Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels and South Pacific Weddell seals. It isalso home to Antarctica’s largest Adélie penguin colony, and many of the largest emperor penguin colonies. Theunique biodiversity of the Ross Sea has been protected within the world’s largest marine protected area since 2016. The human heritage of the Ross Sea coast is equally impressive. Since James Clark Ross discovered the region in1841, countless expeditions have built base camps on scattered ice-free slivers of land, using them as staging postsfor bold forays across the polar plateau. Many of them departed in a hurry, leaving artefacts, scientific equipmentand sometimes entire huts behind. Today these sites are preserved as open-air museums and protected under theAntarctic Treaty System.Embrace the spirit of exploration as your expedition team designs your voyage from day to day, bringing decades ofexperience to selecting the ideal sites based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

“Penguins were in thousands on the uprising cliffs, and from rookeries near and far came an incessant din . . .seabirds of many varieties gave warning of our near approach to their nests” Douglas Mawson, 1911.As they sailed towards Antarctica, Mawson and his men encountered ‘an exquisite scene’. Macquarie Island (knownaffectionately as Macca) rises steeply from the Southern Ocean in a series of emerald summits: a beautifully fierce,elemental landscape teeming with life.Keep your binoculars handy because this subantarctic refuge is home to 3.5 million breeding seabirds, including noless than four species of penguin! Alongside boisterous colonies of tuxedoed kings, charming gentoos, robustrockhoppers and endemic royal penguins, you’ll find three types of fur seals and a large proportion of the world’selephant seals. Layer up and head out on deck to experience the sound, sight (and smell!) as you approach one ofthe largest concentrations of life in the Southern Ocean.Remember to keep an eye out for Macca’s kelp forests—these remarkable underwater ecosystems are quitemesmerising as their fronds sway back and forth on the water’s surface.In addition to being a globally recognised and protected wildlife refuge, Macquarie Island played an important role inAntarctic history. It was here, in 1911, that five men disembarked Mawson’s Aurora and established a radio relaystation which would transmit the first communication from Antarctica to the outside world.

“Penguins were in thousands on the uprising cliffs, and from rookeries near and far came an incessant din . . .seabirds of many varieties gave warning of our near approach to their nests” Douglas Mawson, 1911.As they sailed towards Antarctica, Mawson and his men encountered ‘an exquisite scene’. Macquarie Island (knownaffectionately as Macca) rises steeply from the Southern Ocean in a series of emerald summits: a beautifully fierce,elemental landscape teeming with life.Keep your binoculars handy because this subantarctic refuge is home to 3.5 million breeding seabirds, including noless than four species of penguin! Alongside boisterous colonies of tuxedoed kings, charming gentoos, robustrockhoppers and endemic royal penguins, you’ll find three types of fur seals and a large proportion of the world’selephant seals. Layer up and head out on deck to experience the sound, sight (and smell!) as you approach one ofthe largest concentrations of life in the Southern Ocean.Remember to keep an eye out for Macca’s kelp forests—these remarkable underwater ecosystems are quitemesmerising as their fronds sway back and forth on the water’s surface.In addition to being a globally recognised and protected wildlife refuge, Macquarie Island played an important role inAntarctic history. It was here, in 1911, that five men disembarked Mawson’s Aurora and established a radio relaystation which would transmit the first communication from Antarctica to the outside world.

After breakfast, farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys,hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing prior to 12.00 pm on the dayof disembarkation in case there are delays.