Itinerary
- Day 1
Dunedin
You'll arrive in Dunedin and meet your expedition team for the transfer to your pre-voyage hotel. After you check in, head to the AE hospitality desk to collect your luggage tags. There's a Welcome Reception and Pre-Embarkation Briefing with other expeditioners later, then you're free to wander around Dunedin's restaurants and check out Otago harbour on your own time.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel in Dunedin to be confirmed)
Optional Activities
- Dine at one of Dunedin's fine restaurants
- Leisurely stroll along Otago harbour
Landmarks/POIs Otago Harbour - Day 2
Embarkation
After breakfast, you'll check out and take your cabin luggage to hotel reception by 11 am. From there, luggage gets transferred to the port and placed in your cabin. You'll board the M/V Sylvia Earle, get settled, and have time to walk through the ship before dinner and a toast to the voyage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Delicious dinner with toast to the voyage)
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Embarkation and ship orientation
- Day 3
Sea Day
This is your first day to settle in aboard ship. The expedition team gives presentations in the lecture room, or you can use the Wellness Centre, sauna, or gym. Spend time on deck spotting seabirds, visit the polar library, and catch up with fellow passengers at the bar.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Lecture room presentations on history, environment and wildlife
Optional Activities
- Sauna visit
- Wellness Centre visit
- Onboard gym
- Seabird spotting from deck
- Access to polar library
- Bar socialising
- Day 4
Subantarctic Islands
You'll visit islands that hold great significance to Ngai Tahu, the indigenous peoples of New Zealand's South Island. These islands were first reached by Maori navigators centuries ago and carry important cultural heritage that you'll see firsthand.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Visit islands of significance to Ngai Tahu
- Day 5
Subantarctic Islands
Today you're exploring far-flung islands that are recognized globally for their natural beauty and biodiversity. These remote shores don't get many visitors, so this is a chance to see places few people ever reach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Explore islands for biodiversity and natural beauty
- Day 6
Subantarctic Islands
You'll do landings and Zodiac expeditions around the Islands of the Subantarctic, getting up close to this unique region and its wildlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Landings on subantarctic islands
- Zodiac expeditions
- Day 7
Sea Day
As Campbell Island disappears behind you, watch the water for Campbell, Salvins, and white-capped albatross that often follow the ship as you head further south.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Wildlife observation for albatross species
Landmarks/POIs Campbell Island - Day 8
Antarctic Convergence
You'll cross the Antarctic Convergence, a zone where water temperature drops about 4°C/39°F, marking your entry into Antarctic waters. Keep watch from deck for porpoising penguins, Antarctic petrels, snow petrels, and your first icebergs coming into view.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Crossing the Antarctic Convergence
- Day 9
Sea Day
After your subantarctic experiences, this day is for relaxing aboard ship and preparing for what comes next. Take a sauna, work on editing photos in your cabin, or just take time to process everything you've seen so far.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Optional Activities
- Sauna visit
- Photo editing in cabin
- Relaxation and reflection
- Day 10
Sea Day
The expedition team holds presentations in the lecture room covering Antarctic wildlife and stories from expeditions along the Antarctic coastline. It's a great chance to learn more about what you'll encounter.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Lecture room presentations on Antarctic wildlife and history
- Day 11
Antarctic Arrival
You'll arrive in the ice-bound sector of Antarctica. Step outside and feel the crisp air of one of the most untouched environments on earth.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Arrival in Antarctic sector
- Day 12
Ross Sea
You're exploring the Ross Sea region, a globally significant wildlife sanctuary with nutrient-rich waters. This is where you'll see Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels, and South Pacific Weddell seals, all uniquely adapted to these waters.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Navigate through pack ice with Weddell and leopard seals
- Observe Adélie and emperor penguins
Landmarks/POIs Ross Sea Ross Sea Marine Protected Area 
- Day 13
Ross Sea Penguin Colonies
You'll see Antarctica's largest Adelie penguin colony and some of the largest emperor penguin colonies around. The Ross Sea's unique biodiversity is protected within the world's largest marine protected area, established in 2016.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- View Adélie and emperor penguin colonies
Landmarks/POIs Ross Sea Marine Protected Area - Day 14
Historic Antarctic Sites
This day focuses on human history along the Ross Sea coast. You'll visit historic huts and base camps from expeditions going back to James Clark Ross's discovery in 1841. These preserved sites are essentially open-air museums protected under the Antarctic Treaty System.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Reflect on achievements of Heroic Age explorers
- Visit historic huts from expedition bases
- Day 15
Antarctic Exploration
The expedition team shapes your voyage day by day, using decades of experience to pick the best landing sites based on weather, ice conditions, and wildlife activity. This flexibility means you get the most out of each day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Flexible expedition itinerary planning
- Day 16
Antarctic Ice Exploration
You'll do landings and Zodiac cruises through the ice, getting fully immersed in this glacial landscape and all the wildlife around you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Landings in Antarctic region
- Zodiac cruises amongst ice
- Day 17
Final Antarctic Exploration
You have one more day of Antarctic exploration before the ship turns north toward Macquarie Island.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Final Antarctic exploration
- Day 18
Sea Day to Macquarie Island
Now heading north, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the Southern Ocean. Onboard specialists give presentations about Macquarie Island's wildlife and the region's rich human history to get you ready for arrival.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Specialist presentations on Macquarie Island
- Day 19
Sea Day
This day is for reflection on the past few weeks. Catch up on photo editing, use the ship's facilities, or simply sit back and relax while you think about what you've experienced.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Optional Activities
- Photo editing
- Ship facilities access
- Reflection and relaxation
- Day 20
Approaching Macquarie Island
As you get closer to Macquarie Island, watch for graceful grey-headed, black-browed, and light-mantled albatross, which often come out from their nests to greet incoming ships.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Albatross wildlife observation
Landmarks/POIs Macquarie Island - Day 21
Macquarie Island
You'll explore Macquarie Island's green slopes, home to 3.5 million breeding seabirds including four penguin species: kings, gentoos, rockhoppers, and the endemic royal penguins. You'll also see three fur seal types and a large portion of the world's elephant seal population.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Visit Macquarie Island wildlife sanctuary
Landmarks/POIs Macquarie Island - Day 22
Macquarie Island
You'll observe Macquarie Island's kelp forest ecosystems underwater and visit the 1911 radio relay station built by five men from Mawson's Aurora. This station transmitted the first communication from Antarctica to the outside world.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Included Activities
- Explore historic radio relay station from 1911
Optional Activities
- View kelp forests from ship or Zodiac
Landmarks/POIs Macquarie Island - Day 23
Reflection Day
Your journey is winding down, so take time to process what you've seen. Review your photos, write in your journal, or just soak in the atmosphere aboard ship while reflecting on the past weeks.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
Optional Activities
- Photo review and editing
- Journal writing
- Onboard reflection
- Day 24
Sea Day
You'll become an ambassador for the Southern Ocean, advocating for its conservation and preservation. When you get home, sharing your experiences is how this journey continues to matter.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Douglas Mawson)
- Day 25
Disembarkation
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to your expedition team and fellow passengers as everyone heads off on their next journeys.
- Meals
- Breakfast
