Mawson's Antarctica - Douglas Mawson

Retrace the historic voyage of Sir Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) and experience the grandeur of remote East Antarctica. Cross the Antarctic Circle and cruise the pack ice, skirting majestic ice cliffs and marvelling at beautifully sculpted icebergs. Keep watch for emperor and Adélie penguins porpoising along the ice edge, orcas patrolling for prey, and snow petrels soaring against a backdrop of the vast Antarctic Ice Sheet. Continue towards Commonwealth Bay and the fabled Cape Denison. Conditions permitting, make landfall to explore what remains of Mawson's main base, and find yourself transported back to the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Then onwards to Dunedin, with a pause to enjoy the ruggedly beautiful New Zealand subantarctic islands, where nesting royal albatross, the endemic yellow-eyed penguin and lush megaherb meadows await.

Navigate through gleaming pack ice - alive with Weddell and leopard seals, Adélie and emperor penguins

Discover the historic Commonwealth Bay - as we attempt to make a rare landing to the site of Mawson's huts.

Skirt rowdy beaches - crowded with harems of New Zealand sea lions