Mawson's Antarctica on the Douglas Mawson

• 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.

Step back in time and retrace the historic route of Sir Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) as you venture into the awe-inspiring wilderness of East Antarctica. Cross the Antarctic Circle, navigating through the pack ice while admiring towering ice cliffs and stunningly sculpted icebergs. Keep an eye out for emperor and Adélie penguins gliding along the ice’s edge, orcas hunting in the frigid waters, and snow petrels soaring above the immense Antarctic Ice Sheet.

As we head toward Commonwealth Bay and the legendary Cape Denison, conditions permitting, we’ll land to explore the remnants of Mawson’s primary base. It’s a chance to immerse yourself in the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration. Our journey concludes in Dunedin, with a visit to the rugged New Zealand subantarctic islands, home to nesting royal albatross, the unique yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho), and vibrant megaherb meadows.