Indepth Series: Follow the Route of a Famous Explorer: Sir Douglas Mawson

This morning you'll be picked up from your hotel and taken on a day-long sightseeing journey through the Catlins, en route to Bluff. You'll depart Dunedin and take a scenic drive through Brighton Beach, Taieri Mouth, Balclutha and Owaka, to see Kaka Point, a small settlement at the northern edge of the Catlins. You'll venture on to see the Nugget Point lighthouse, as well as Purakanui Falls, and the Tautuka Boardwalk where you can possibly spot one of New Zealand's Fern birds. Your drive will continue to the beautiful Niagara Falls area, followed by a stop at the District Museum. Afterward you'll drive to Curio Bay, an impressive petrified forest which offers the possibility to see penguins or Hectors dolphins. Afterward you'll continue your Caitlins journey on to Cannibal Bay, a notable wildlife and beach area. One final stop is the Waipapa Point Lighthouse and sea lion breeding ground. Continue to your hotel in Bluff.

You'll be picked up at your hotel by your private driver for a sightseeing tour of Invercargill en route to your awaiting cruise ship later today. Your tour will take you to see the tuatara breeding enclosure to the Invercargill Museum and Queens Park & Art Gallery. You'll see the city's historic water tower, and drive through the city centre. You'll continue along the NZ State Highway 1 lands to see Bluff Hill, and finally conclude with a drop-off at the port.

Welcome aboard your cruise vessel!
After embarkation, meet some of your fellow cruise passengers and get settled in.

Two small rocky islands, North East and Broughton, comprise The Snares, the closest sub-Antarctic islands to New Zealand. The islands are covered with heavy tussock grass and wind-beaten forests of tree daisies. Weather permitting the team will launch the Zodiacs for an exploration of the sheltered eastern coastline as the island's wildlife protection program precludes landings. The Snares are home to huge numbers of breeding birds, 99 recorded species including albatross, Antarctic Terns and Snares Crested Penguins.

Sites in Port Ross may be visited including an abandoned Maori settlement, a German expedition observation point at Terror Cove and a WWII coast watching station at Ranui Cove. In Carnley Harbour castaway depots at Camp Cove, are marked by an A frame building built in 1887 by the crew of the Awarua, inscribed with the names of people from the French Bark Angou wrecked in 1905. You may cruise to Victoria Passage, a dramatic opening at the end of Carnley Harbour. The birdlife of Auckland Island is profuse.

Days at sea aboard Orion are less structured than a typical cruise ship. Rise at your leisure and select from a variety of breakfast options. Late morning consider joining a presentation in the Lecture Theatre by one of the Expedition Staff or a Guest Speaker. Luncheon is served both indoors and out and the timeless tradition of afternoon tea is observed at 4:00pm.

The sub-Antarctic island of Macquarie has been said to rival South Georgia in its magnificence, scenic diversity and prolific wildlife. Designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1933 and a World Heritage Site in 1997, Macquarie now operates a full-time manned station where biological and meteorological research is conducted. The station, located on the isthmus at Buckles Bay, is from where you will collect the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife rangers who will be your guides for the day.

Today you continue on your path into the Antarctic circle.

Begin your evenings by joining your fellow travellers in the lounge for a pre-dinner drink and a briefing on your next destination and shoreside expedition options by the expedition team. Some are included in your fare, others (marked Optional, if available) offer a range of differing experiences to suit a variety of interests.

Enjoy your relaxation time on board as your vessel sails through the Southern (Antarctic) Ocean.

The Restaurant opens for dinner at 7:00pm, though there is no rush, allowing you to dine when and with whom you choose. After dinner you will find a duo in the Lounge playing a selection of music ideally suited to conversation over a cognac, or dancing, should the mood take you.

This is your final day of sailing before you reach the Commonwealth Bay region of Antarctica. Settle in with a book, or enjoy a lecture by the expedition team. 

On 8 January 1912 Sir Douglas Mawson landed on the Antarctic continent after a journey from Hobart that took 36 days aboard the Aurora, a ship of just 612 tons. Over the next five days your cruise ship will be positioned in and around Commonwealth Bay on the Adelie coast of Antarctica. Your expedition team will lead a variety of opportunistic landings which may include sites at Cape Denison, Cape Jules, Mertz Glacier, Port Martin and Dumont d'Urville. In each instance landings ashore and Zodiac explorations are wholly subject to prevailing weather conditions, in an area Mawson described as "the home of the blizzard".

Enroute to Port Martin, Orion maneuvers through a large gallery of up to 100 grounded icebergs of various sizes, making it possible for close proximity views and photography. Port Martin is the former site of the French Antarctic base. Built in 1950 by the third French expedition to Terre Adelie, the region was so named by Dumont d'Urville for his wife. The area is in the small French Antarctic claim, sandwiched between the two Australian claims. The base was abandoned after it was partially destroyed by fire on the night of 24 January 1952. The site is scattered with artifacts and has an Adelie Penguin rookery, nesting McCormack Skuas, a spectacular backdrop of ice cliffs and a snow ramp to the Antarctic Plateau.

Your expedition leaders Don and Margie McIntyre have called Cape Denison home, having spent more time there than any other person alive today. It is the windiest place on the face of the earth and is surrounded by spectacular ice cliffs. The area is home to 60,000 Adelie Penguins, Snow Petrels, Giant Petrels, Wilsons Storm Petrels and Cape Pigeons. Weddell, Leopard and Elephant seals may be seen stretched out on the ice. Cape Denison is the site of Sir Douglas Mawson's hut from the historic 1911-13 expedition. This is one of the Antarctic's least visited sites and, as the first Australian scientific base on the Antarctic, is of great historical significance and the subject of an ongoing multi-million dollar preservation program. Apart from the main living hut and workshop, there is the absolute magnetic hut, the magnetograph house, the transit hut and the memorial cross erected in memory of Ninnis and Mertz who died tragically in 1913. The main hut is surrounded by historic debris and artifacts including clothing, shoes, food crates, sleds, ropes and kerosene tins.

The French scientific base at Dumont d'Úrville is on Petrels Island, located at the south-eastern end of the Geologie Archipelago. The base is named for French explorer Jules- Sebastien-Cesar Dumont d'Urville and was built in 1956 to replace the base at Port Martin some 100km to the east. The spectacular area is an important centre for the study of the rich local wildlife, including seals, petrels and penguins - the Adelie Penguin being named after Dumont d'Urville's wife. Emperor Penguins may be observed on some ice-floes behind the controversial and now unused airstrip (the French destroyed some Adelie Penguin rookeries to build it). Adelie Penguins abound around the base - in fact right up to the front door of most buildings!

Get up close to Mertz Glacier, first discovered by Sir Douglas Mawsom, who named it after Xavier Mertz, a crew member who lost his life during the 1911-1913 expedition. The glacier itself is approximately 72km long, turning into a glacial tongue as it extends into the Southern Ocean.

Enjoy some Zodiac cruising at Cape Jules, a rocky cape first discovered during an 1837-40 French expedition by Captain Jules Dumont d'Urville, later chartered by Mawson.

Rich with an impressive Antarctic frontier experience under your belt, your cruise ship now heads back north, into the sub-Antarctic Islands region. Relax and enjoy the jacuzzi on the sun deck as you navigate the open seas.

Enjoy the wonderful cuisine on board as you swiftly glide through the the northern limits of the Antarctic Circle. In two days you will have the rare and exclusive opportunity to visit Macquarie Island, often described as one of the "wonder spots" of the world.

Today is another relaxing day at sea. Join a lecture from your expedition team, or take to the sun deck with a good book. The day is yours to enjoy as you see fit.

Today is a day at sea, cruising back north in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean. Review the wonderful photographs you were able to capture on this amazing expedition.

Enjoy the facilities on board as you cruise back toward your final destination, Hobart, Australia. Appreciate the company of your fellow cruisemates for one final evening before disembarkation tomorrow.

Today you'll arrive at the port of Hobart, where you will disembark from your ship, and say farewell to your fellow cruisemates.

You will be transferred to/from the port in your private vehicle.

Enjoy a scenic drive with Premier Travel Tasmania to the Tasman Peninsula. Visit Port Arthur Historic Site – the remains of Tasmania’s famous convict settlement. The site features many attractions and our experienced guide will bring its history alive. After lunch visit the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park and meet Tasmania’s enigmatic character. You will gain an understanding of Devil conservation and also see many other Tasmanian animals up close. Before returning to Hobart, there may be time to view some of the interesting geology of the Tasman Peninsula.

Transportation between Hobart airport and your hotel.