True Antarctica & The Ross Sea Expedition
True Antarctica & The Ross Sea Expedition
This expedition follows in the wake of Scott and Shackleton into the Ross Sea, one of the most remote and historic regions on earth, reachable for only a brief window each summer and by a mere handful of ships. Sailing round-trip from New Zealand aboard an ice-strengthened expedition vessel, you first explore the wildlife-rich sub-Antarctic islands, the Snares, the Auckland Islands, Macquarie Island and Campbell Island, stepping stones of albatross colonies, penguins and sea lions, before crossing the Southern Ocean to Antarctica. In the Ross Sea you visit the preserved huts of the heroic-age explorers, stand before the vast Ross Ice Shelf and Mt Erebus, and walk among the largest Adelie penguin rookeries on the continent. This is a true expedition in the original sense, history, wildlife and wild landscape, with optional sea kayaking and a focus on getting ashore, led by one of the most experienced Ross Sea teams afloat.
Itinerary highlights
Follow in the wake of Scott and Shackleton into the historic Ross Sea, one of the least-visited regions on earth.
Step inside the preserved huts of the heroic-age explorers, including Scott's hut at Cape Evans and Shackleton's at Cape Royds.
Stand before the towering Ross Ice Shelf and Mt Erebus, and visit the largest Adelie penguin rookery in Antarctica at Cape Adare.
Explore the wildlife-rich sub-Antarctic islands, the Snares, Auckland, Macquarie and Campbell, with millions of penguins and seabirds.
Walk among King, Royal, Rockhopper and Gentoo penguins and southern elephant seals on Australia's Macquarie Island.
Watch for the world's greatest concentration of albatross, including the Southern Royal Albatross on Campbell Island.
Join optional sea kayaking excursions to explore beyond the reach of the Zodiacs in the sub-Antarctic and Ross Sea.
Travel with the original and most experienced Ross Sea operator, with an expert expedition and history team.
True Antarctica & The Ross Sea Expedition
This expedition follows in the wake of Scott and Shackleton into the Ross Sea, one of the most remote and historic regions on earth, reachable for only a brief window each summer and by a mere handful of ships. Sailing round-trip from New Zealand aboard an ice-strengthened expedition vessel, you first explore the wildlife-rich sub-Antarctic islands, the Snares, the Auckland Islands, Macquarie Island and Campbell Island, stepping stones of albatross colonies, penguins and sea lions, before crossing the Southern Ocean to Antarctica. In the Ross Sea you visit the preserved huts of the heroic-age explorers, stand before the vast Ross Ice Shelf and Mt Erebus, and walk among the largest Adelie penguin rookeries on the continent. This is a true expedition in the original sense, history, wildlife and wild landscape, with optional sea kayaking and a focus on getting ashore, led by one of the most experienced Ross Sea teams afloat.
Itinerary highlights
Follow in the wake of Scott and Shackleton into the historic Ross Sea, one of the least-visited regions on earth.
Step inside the preserved huts of the heroic-age explorers, including Scott's hut at Cape Evans and Shackleton's at Cape Royds.
Stand before the towering Ross Ice Shelf and Mt Erebus, and visit the largest Adelie penguin rookery in Antarctica at Cape Adare.
Explore the wildlife-rich sub-Antarctic islands, the Snares, Auckland, Macquarie and Campbell, with millions of penguins and seabirds.
Walk among King, Royal, Rockhopper and Gentoo penguins and southern elephant seals on Australia's Macquarie Island.
Watch for the world's greatest concentration of albatross, including the Southern Royal Albatross on Campbell Island.
Join optional sea kayaking excursions to explore beyond the reach of the Zodiacs in the sub-Antarctic and Ross Sea.
Travel with the original and most experienced Ross Sea operator, with an expert expedition and history team.
What's Included
- One night's hotel in Queenstown before embarkation, with welcome dinner
- All shipboard accommodation aboard an ice-strengthened expedition ship
- All meals on board throughout the voyage
- Zodiac excursions and shore landings with an expert expedition and history team
- Lectures, the onboard educational programme and sub-Antarctic island landing permits
- Coach transfer to Invercargill or Queenstown on disembarkation
- Loan of expedition gear as specified
What's Included
- One night's hotel in Queenstown before embarkation, with welcome dinner
- All shipboard accommodation aboard an ice-strengthened expedition ship
- All meals on board throughout the voyage
- Zodiac excursions and shore landings with an expert expedition and history team
- Lectures, the onboard educational programme and sub-Antarctic island landing permits
- Coach transfer to Invercargill or Queenstown on disembarkation
- Loan of expedition gear as specified
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FAQs
No Drake crossing on this one. The voyage is round-trip from New Zealand, embarking and disembarking at the Port of Bluff. You sail south through New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands to the Ross Sea region of Antarctica and return the same way. The Ross Sea is reached from the New Zealand side, not via South America.
Because ice and weather in the Ross Sea are unpredictable and can change daily. The captain and expedition leader assess conditions each day and take every opportunity to land and explore, so the twelve days in the region are deliberately flexible rather than a fixed schedule.
The Ross Sea was the stage for the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. You aim to visit the preserved huts of Scott and Shackleton, Borchgrevink’s hut at Cape Adare (the oldest in Antarctica) and the science bases of the region, walking in the literal footsteps of the early explorers.
A great deal. Macquarie Island alone has millions of penguins of four species and vast elephant seal populations, while the Auckland Islands and Campbell Island offer sea lions and some of the world’s greatest albatross colonies, including the southern royal albatross.