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Rates:
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Deckplan
Introduction:
The ultimate Antarctic voyage, this expedition takes
you to the very heart of Antarctica. The Ross Sea is one
of the most remote regions, accessible only for two months
each year when the ice thaws. An historic gateway, it
was here that so many of the famous explorers and adventurers
came. This special expedition commemorates the 100th year
of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Expedition for the South
Pole aboard Nimrod. Departing from Lyttleton, visit the
Snares and Auckland Islands, Macquarie Island and Campbell,
and ten days exploring the Ross Sea region, including
historic huts, Ross Ice Shelf, and American McMurdo base.
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Trip
Itinerary
Day
1: Christchurch
Arrive to Christchurch where you overnight
in a central city hotel, dinner will be a chance to meet with
your fellow expeditioners on this centennial celebration of
Shackleton’s Nimrod expedition.
Day 2: Lyttleton / Embarkation
As Shackleton departed from Lyttleton at 4.00pm on January 1st,
1908, you depart at the same time 100 years later. Your voyage
south will include the Sub Antarctic Islands unlike Shackleton’s.
Day 3: At Sea
A day at sea to relax into the rhythm of life on the ocean and
have informal lectures and discussions from your on board lecture
staff.
Day 4: Snares Islands
Arriving at Snares in time to see the estimated 6 million sooty
shearwaters departing to sea is just the start of a wildlife
experience with Snares crested penguins grouped on the shoreline,
New Zealand furseals and sealions, endemic tomtit and fernbirds
on a zodiac cruise experience of sheltered inlets and caves.
Days 5-6: Auckland Islands
Auckland Islands, has two main harbors from past volcanic activity.
You visit Enderby Island in the northern Port Ross for a day
ashore allowing time for observations of breeding New Zealand
( Hooker’s) sealions, the yellow-eyed penguins as they
emerge from the forest and cautiously proceed to the beckoning
sea, numerous bellbirds and red crowned parakeets. Southern
royal albatross nest on the sward beyond the forest.
Your southern visit in Carnley Harbor is to South West Cape
where a climb takes you up to the white capped albatross colony.
A zodiac cruise in the sheltered waters is an alternative to
either natural history or historical sites.
Day 7: At Sea
A day of pelagic observations and lectures in preparation for
Macquarie Island.
Days 8-9: Macquarie Island
An upthrust of the earths crust this sliver of land supports
teeming wildlife – endemic royal penguins, inquisitive
king penguins, gentoo and rockhopper penguins. Southern elephant
seals breed here also. Your time ashore becomes a total sensory
overload of wildlife – take the time to sit and watch.
Your visit to the Australian Base with their hospitality, gives
a glimpse of the research undertaken here.
Days 10-13: At Sea
As you make your way across the Southern Ocean your eyes will
scan for pelagic species – listen for the call of “whale”,
watch in awe as they might cross your path. Your daily program
will prepare you for your time in Antarctic with informal lectures
and discussions. Crossing the Antarctic Circle the days lengthen
and your ice experience will begin with bergy bits and tabular
bergs frequenting the sea.
Days 14-23: Exploring the Ross Sea
Your visit to the Ross Sea region highlights 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 take advantage of every
opportunity to make landings or zodiac cruises.
Your first continental landfall is planned for Cape Adare,
where Borchgrevink’s Hut still stands built in 1899 for
the first wintering over expedition on Antarctica. The land
spit of Cape Adare is blanketed by Adelie penguins, at the height
of the season up to one million birds. As you depart the Downshire
Cliffs are spectacular.
The Admiralty Range heralds your arrival to Cape Hallett where
you land next to an abandoned American-New Zealand Base. Offshore
from Cape Hallett are Possession Islands where Sir James Clark
Ross claimed the land for Queen Victoria, England.
Terra Nova Bay is surrounded by the Society Range, center for
the Italian summer base of Baia Terra Nova. With its granitic
outcrops it is very different to the volcanic nature of Ross
Island. If possible you make landing at Inexpressible Island.
One of the few places to gain an appreciation of the scale
of Antarctica from is Franklin Island, a landing here means
an attempt of the summit.
The largest ice shelf is found at the southern end of the Ross
Sea. Impenetratable and daunting low lighting creates images
of warmth in a land of cold.
Ross Island is the center of activity historical and present
within the Ross Sea. Cape Bird at the northern end is a summer
station for Adelie penguin researchers, Cape Royds with Shackleton’s
1907-1909 Nimrod expedition hut is also the southern most adelie
colony. Cape Evans has Scott’s second hut erected in 1911
and further south at Hut Point is Scott’s Discovery Hut
from 1901-1904. The American McMurdo base is close to Hut Point
with New Zealand’s Scott Base a short distance further
on.
Orca frequent with ice channel or ice edge and Emperors have
been seen on voyages in this area.
Days 24-27: At Sea
Departing the spectacular ice carved nature of Antarctica you
steam northwards to Campbell Island with time to recover from
the extensive daylight hours of Antarctica and enjoy shipboard
life.
Days 28-29: Campbell Island
Anchor at Campbell Island in Perseverance Harbor for your visit
ashore where you walk to Col Lyall Saddle to observe the Southern
royal albatross, the rugged scenery and take in the special
nature of this island which has been cleared of introduced sheep
and rats and is making a recovery with increasing small birds
and plant life.
Day 30: At Sea
A final day at sea to reflect on the experiences you have shared.
Day 31: Port of Bluff / Disembarkation
Arrive at the Port of Bluff. After formalities disembark and
transport is provided to the city of Invercargill.
Notes:
Landings at the Sub Antarctic Islands are by permit only as
administered by the Government of New Zealand. No landings are
permitted at Snares Is.
Circumstances may be encountered during your voyage which will
make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed
itinerary. These circumstances include poor weather and opportunities
for making unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will
keep you fully informed during the voyage.
Included:
Cabin accommodations; all onboard lectures and access to public
areas; all meals on board the ship; shore excursions as described;
one nights accommodation including dinner (3 course) and continental
breakfast; accommodation based on twin share occupancy (single
supplement applies for guaranteed single); group transfers to
embark the ship and transfer from the ship to city hotels and/or
airport on disembarkation.
Not Included:
Airfare to and from your home to the port of departure and port
of arrival; items of a personal nature such as insurance and
excess baggage charges; passport, visa and vaccination fees;
onboard the ship: beverages, laundry, ship to shore communications,
medical supplies, souvenirs; landing fees ($350 per person).
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