Welcome to Aurora Expeditions’ Mawson’s Antarctica expedition, sailing on the Douglas Mawson!
✓ Retrace the historic voyage of Sir Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) and experience the grandeur of remote East Antarctica
✓ Cross the Antarctic Circle and cruise the pack ice, skirting majestic ice cliffs and marvelling at beautifully sculpted icebergs
✓ Keep watch for emperor and Adélie penguins porpoising along the ice edge; orcas patrolling for prey; and snow petrels soaring against a backdrop of the vast Antarctic Ice Sheet
✓ Conditions permitting, make landfall to explore what remains of Mawson’s main base, and find yourself transported back to the heroic age of Antarctic Exploration
✓ Onwards to Dunedin, pause to enjoy the ruggedly beautiful New Zealand subantarctic islands, where nesting royal albatross, the endemic yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho), and lush megaherb meadows await
Antarctica with Aurora Expeditions:
Mawson's Antarctica
Overwhelming, Heart Warming, Life Changing.
Highlights of this Expedition
Featured Expedition
Mawson's Antarctica
Expedition To/From: Hobart, Australia/Dunedin, New Zealand
Destination Highlights
• Navigate through gleaming pack ice alive with Weddell and leopard seals, Adélie and emperor penguins and whales feeding in fathomless leads
• Discover the historic Commonwealth Bay as we attempt to make a rare and much-coveted landing at Cape Denison, the site of Mawson’s huts
• Skirt rowdy beaches crowded with harems of New Zealand (Hooker’s) sea lions to reach gnarled rātā forests where rare yellow-eyed penguins can be found
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Hobart and transfer your hotel
Day 2: Embarkation day
Days 3-5: At Sea
Days 6-7: Macquarie Island
Days 8-10: At Sea
Days 11-13: East Antarctic Coast
Days 14-15: Commonwealth Bay
Days 16-19: At Sea
Days 20-22: New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands
Day 23: At Sea
Day 24: Disembark in Dunedin
Included Activities
Optional Activities
Reserve your optional activities at the time of booking to secure your spot.
*Landings, adventures, and activities are weather-dependent. Activity options vary by itinerary, and additional fees apply for optional activities.
Best Time To Go
New Purpose-Built Small Ship - 130 Passengers Maximum
Our expedition ship— the Douglas Mawson—is designed for exploration. This state-of-the-art, purpose-built ship uses the latest advances in design and technology, truly revolutionizing the small-ship experience.
INCLUSIONS
• All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
• One night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Hobart on
Day 1.
• Onboard accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin service.
• All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage.
• Beer, house wine and soft drinks with dinner.
• Captain’s Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house
cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.
• All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.
• Educational lectures and guiding services provided by Expedition
Team.
• Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical
clinic (initial consultation).
• One 3-in-1 waterproof, polar expedition jacket.
• Complimentary use of Muck Boots during the voyage.
• Comprehensive pre-departure information.
• Port surcharges, permits and landing fees.
• Wi-Fi* (Please note we travel to remote regions and therefore the connection can be unreliable).
EXCLUSIONS
• International or domestic flights – unless specified in the itinerary.
• Transfers – unless specified in the itinerary.
• Airport arrival or departure taxes.
• Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges.
• Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges.
• Hotel accommodation and meals – unless specified in the itinerary.
• Optional excursions and optional activity surcharges.
• All items of a personal nature, including but not limited to alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), gratuities, laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, wi-fi, email or phone charges.
About Aurora Expeditions
From the start, Aurora Expeditions— an award-winning Australian-owned company—was destined to be different. Our passion for adventure, exploring wild places and sharing the experience with friends burns just as brightly as it did over 33 years ago, as does our preference for small-group, personal expeditions, accompanied by an expedition team we believe are the world’s best.
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