Ross Sea Exploration With Ponant

Welcome to Dunedin You will be met on arrival at Dunedin Airport and transferred to your accommodation. This evening is at leisure. Overnight: Distinction Hotel

Today is free for you to explore the sights of Dunedin. Tonight, meet your fellow travellers and tour leader at our welcome cocktail function. Overnight: Distinction Hotel Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a lazy morning or continue your exploration of Dunedin. This afternoon, you will be transferred to Dunedin cruise terminal to board Le Soleal. Embarkation will commence from 3pm. The ship will depart at 5pm. Farewell New Zealand as your ship sets sail for the frozen land. Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

During your days at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observer marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Campbell Island is the most southerly of the five New Zealand Subantarctic groups. Described by the English botanist Joseph Hooker as having a “flora display second to none outside the tropics.” You will have the opportunity to undertake a guided walk on the Col Lyell Saddle boardwalk as well as undertake a zodiac tour around the coastline of Perseverance Harbour.

Described as the very heart of Antarctica and the gateway to the South Pole, a voyage to the Ross Sea is an insight into the Heroic age of Antarctic exploration and an experience available to only a select few. This expedition will also visit the remote Subantarctic Islands on route to the Ross Sea region. A flexible itinerary will allow us to maximise our opportunity to visit the many unique locations the region is famous for. In the true spirit of expedition cruising each day the Captain and Expedition leader will continually update the voyage plan taking into account the weather and sea conditions to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests.

Cape Adare is one of the principal sites of early human activity in Antarctica, as well as the site of the largest Adélie penguin rookery in the world. If time and weather permit, you will have the opportunity to view the historic site along with the resident wildlife.

Located on the Northern tip of the Hallett Peninsula, Cape Hallett was the site of a joint scientific base between the United States and New Zealand established during the International Geophysical Year in 1957-58. The station was manned permanently until 1964, when a fire destroyed the main scientific laboratory, for the next nine years it was used as a summer only base until being completely abandoned in 1973. The Admiralty range, rising over 4,000 metres from the sea with its giant glaciers provides a spectacular backdrop to the large Adélie penguin colony that has reclaimed the site. It is also a regular haul out for Weddell seals. If time and weather permit, you will have the opportunity to land ashore and view the historic site along with the resident wildlife.

First discovered by Scott during his 1901-1904 Discovery Expedition, the bay was named after one of the relief ships for the expedition. Today, the Italian Zucchelli Station and Jang Bogo Station of South Korea are located at the Northern end of the bay. To the south of the bay lies the massive Drygalski Ice Tongue, extending over 70 kilometres into the Ross Sea from the David Glacier. The David Glacier grounding line, where the ice leaves the shore and begins to float, is in a depth of approximately 1900 metres. The Drygalski Ice Tongue is thought to be at least 4,000 years old and just over 24 kilometres at its widest point. If time and weather permit, you will have the opportunity to explore the spectacular coastal environments from our fleet of zodiacs.

Scott’s 1911 Terra Nova Hut is the largest historic building in Antarctica. Used in the 1910 to 1913 British Antarctic Expedition, it served as the base for extensive scientific research and surveys as well as Scott’s fatal journey to the South Pole. It was this expedition that gave rise to some of the most inspirational and harrowing stories associated with polar history. Ten men of Shackleton’s ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expeditions were marooned here in 1915 after their ship Aurora was blown out to sea and unable to return. Two of Aurora’s anchors remain to this day on the beach in front of the hut. Much of Scott’s equipment is well preserved and entering the hut provides a window into the Heroic age of Antarctic exploration. If time and weather permit, you will have the opportunity to view the historic hut along with the resident wildlife.

Shackleton’s hut at Cape Royds was constructed during the British Antarctic Nimrod Expedition in 1907-1909, the third British expedition to the Ross Sea region within 10 years. Since being invalided at home with scurvy in 1903 from Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery expedition, Shackleton was fixated on getting back to the ice. Unable to land at King Edward VII Island, Shackleton entered McMurdo Sound. He had assured Scott that he wouldn’t make use of Scott’s 1902 Discovery hut at Hut Point, so he selected Cape Royds for the winter quarters. In late 1908 Shackleton led a party of four in an attempt to be the first to reach the Geographic South Pole. After man-hauling sleds for two and a half months, and less than 97 nautical miles from the Pole, he made a decision considered the finest in early polar history – to turn for home. If time and weather permit, you will have the opportunity to view the historic hut along with the resident wildlife.

Franklin Island is the eroded remnant of a shield volcano lying in the Ross Sea about 130 kilometres east of Cape Hickey, Victoria Land. It was first discovered in 1841 by Captain James Ross whilst attempting to reach the South Magnetic Pole. Ross named the island in honour of the Arctic explorer and then governor of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), Sir John Franklin. It is home to several colonies of Adélie penguins and is a regular haul out site for Weddell seals. If time and weather permit, you will have the opportunity to land ashore and view the resident wildlife.

The Possession Islands are a group of nine islands and islets lying in the western part of the Ross Sea. They were named by Captain James Ross in commemoration of his planting of the British flag and taking possession in the name of the British Sovereign on 12 January 1841. Possession Island and Svend Foyn Island are the two largest islands in the group. Both are home to significant colonies of Adélie penguins. If time and weather permit, you will have the opportunity to view the historic site along with the resident wildlife.

The Balleny Islands are an extremely remote series of islands extending for about 160 kilometres in a northwest-southeast direction straddling the Antarctic Circle some 270 kilometres north of the Antarctic mainland. The volcanic islands are heavily glaciated and have received few human visitors since their discovery in 1839. Their isolated location within the rich waters of the Southern Ocean has resulted in a species diversity rivalling the entire Ross Sea region. Humpback, fin and minke whales are regular visitors to the rich feeding grounds along with Crabeater, Weddell, elephant and leopard seals. Several of the islands are home to significant colonies of Adélie and Chinstrap penguins. If time and weather permit, you will have the opportunity to explore the spectacular coastal environments and view the prolific wildlife from our fleet of Zodiac.

Tue 7 – Wed 8 Feb 2023

Thu 9 – Fri 10 Feb 2023 Long celebrated as one of the wonder spots of the world, Macquarie Island is an island of great beauty and outstanding natural diversity, a breeding place for more than 3.5 million seabirds, most of which are penguins. There are four species breeding on Macquarie Island: Royals, Kings, Gentoos and Rock Hoppers. There are also three types of fur seals and one seventh of the world’s population of elephant seals breeding on the island. In 1948 The Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions established its expedition headquarters on Macquarie Island. If time and weather permit, you will have the opportunity to land ashore and view the prolific wildlife that resides here.

At Sea Sat 11 – Sun 12 Feb 2023

After breakfast you will commence disembarkation from 9.00am. You will be transferred from the cruise terminal to Hobart Airport for your flight home.