In the Wake of Scott and Shackleton 1

Arrive at the City of Dunedin and the Port of Otago. Meet other adventurers and trip staff at the Southern Cross Hotel. A detailed programme will be available to you when you check in at reception. There will be an informal get-together at the hotel for dinner this evening.

After breakfast, board a coach to transfer to Dunedin’s Port of Otago where the Spirit of Enderby awaits. Settle into your cabin, then join expedition staff for an orientation to the vessel.

North East Island is the largest of the Snares, the first group of Sub-Antarctic Islands that we visit. This one island is home to more nesting seabirds than in all of the British Isles. We arrive early in the morning, and as landings are not permitted we will cruise along the sheltered eastern side by Zodiac. Snares Crested Penguins are plentiful around the coast, as are the Cape Petrel and Buller’s Albatross that nest here later in the season. Cruising in the sheltered bays, we should see the endemic Tomtit and Fernbird. And since an estimated 60 million Antarctic Terns, White-fronted Terns and Red-billed Gulls nest among the Snares, we are quite likely to spot a few. Mottled Petrel, Diving Petrel and Broad-billed Prion are all also in the vicinity.

Forested by windswept Rata, Enderby Island is simply beautiful. Enjoy the Bulbinella rossii fields, regenerating patches of Anisotome latifolia and red and white gentians. View the rare Hooker’s Sea Lion, and in Carnley Harbour climb up to the Southwest Cape White-capped Albatross Colony or take part in a Zodiac excursion

Learn more about the biology and history of the Subantarctic Islands and the Southern Ocean through a series of lectures. Expect the bird life to build as we cross the Subantarctic Convergence Zone.

Macquarie Island is a small sliver of land supporting one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the Southern Hemisphere. Millions of penguins breed here. Large groups of Elephant Seals and other wildlife also inhabit the sandy beaches and the tussock grass.

Lectures now concentrate on our next destination – the Antarctic’s Ross Sea region. Drifting icebergs carry vivid colours and come in extraordinary shapes. The Captain will announce our arrival at the Antarctic Circle.

Due to the unpredictable nature of ice and weather conditions, a day-by-day itinerary in the Ross Sea is not possible, but we take advantage of every opportunity to make landings. Our program emphasises wildlife viewing, key scientific bases and historic sites, as well as the spectacular scenery. We hope to visit the following areas: Cape Adare is the location of Borchgrevink’s Hut, the oldest in Antarctica, built during the first expedition to the Antarctic continent in 1899. It is also the site of the largest Adélie penguin rookery in Antarctica – up to one million birds. Cape Hallett. The enormous Admiralty Range heralds our arrival at Cape Hallett. The mountains rear up from the sea to over 4,000 metres and glaciers course down from the interior. Terra Nova Bay. At Baia Terra Nova, an Italian research station, many streams of scientific research are conducted – and they also claim to have the best ‘caffe espresso’ in Antarctica! Franklin Island. This rugged Island, deep in the Ross Sea, is capped in ice and is home to a large Adélie Penguin population. Ross Ice Shelf The largest ice shelf in Antarctica, the Ross Ice Shelf is also the world’s largest body of floating ice. A natural barrier, it lies just 800 miles from the South Pole. Ross Island – Mount Erebus/ Cape Bird/ Shackleton’s Hut/ Scott’s Hut Cape Evans hut is expected to be completed to celebrate this anniversary. Visits to McMurdo Station and Scott Base provide an insight to modern scientific research in Antarctica.Ross Island is dominated by Mt Erebus, its active volcanic crater towers over Antarctica’s most historic region, McMurdo Sound. Our time within McMurdo Sound is dedicated to visiting and witnessing the natural and historical highlights. Travel back in time, walking in the footsteps of Scott and Shackleton with visits to their huts and Cape Royds, Cape Evans and Hut Point. This is centenary of the Terra Nova Expedition and restoration work on the Possession Islands. These small, rugged and rarely visited islands lay off the shore of Cape Hallett. An Adélie Penguin rookery, numbering tens of thousands of birds, blankets both islands.

Enroute to Campbell Island, take part in a series of lectures designed to prepare you for our visit to Campbell Island and view the pelagic species, which abound.

Campbell Island is a place of rugged scenery and abundant wildlife. The highlights of our visit are the rare Hooker’s Sea Lions and a walk to the hilltop breeding sites of Southern Royal Albatross, over six thousand pairs of which breed here.

Relax and reflect on what will have been an amazing experience. We will enjoy a farewell dinner tonight as we sail the last few miles of our journey.

After breakfast and customs formalities we will disembark at the Port of Bluff, Invercargill. We will then transfer you by coach to central Invercargill hotels or to the Invercargill Airport.

This is an abridged itinerary, please contact the Heritage Expeditions office for a full voyage itinerary.