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24 Night Ross Sea Odyssey and Land Tour

From Dunedin to Port Chalmers
  • Douglas Mawson
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Douglas Mawson

Aurora Expeditions
4 Stars
  • Cruise #: 13951364
  • Departs: Fri, Jan 16, 2026
  • Returns: Mon, Feb 9, 2026
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    Rates

    Includes

    Other Dates

    Oceanview $26,770
    Balcony $29,065
    Suite $46,405
    *Prices are per person based on double occupancy
    Includes taxes & fees
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    Itinerary Summary

    Day by Day Details

    Land Segment of Itinerary

    Friday - Jan 16, 2026
    Day
    1
    Dunedin, New Zealand
    • Dunedin, New Zealand
    Arrive in Dunedin, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred with your fellow expeditioners to your assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Dunedin, please make your way to your hotel. This afternoon, visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the lobby to collect your luggage tags. Please clearly label the tags with your name and ship cabin number. The expedition team will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any questions, and provide you with information on where to dine or purchase last-minute items. That evening, enjoy light refreshments as you meet your fellow expeditioners at a Welcome Reception and Pre-Embarkation Briefing. Afterwards, enjoy your evening in New Zealand's southernmost city. You may like to indulge in a meal at one of Dunedin's fine restaurants, or perhaps enjoy a leisurely stroll along the picturesque Otago Harbour. Assigned accommodation: To be advised ...
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    Land Segment of Itinerary

    Saturday - Jan 17, 2026
    Day
    2
    Dunedin, New Zealand
    • Dunedin, New Zealand

    Cruise Segment of Itinerary

    Day 2 - Saturday - Jan 17, 2026
    Day
    2
    Cruise Begins
    • Cruise Begins
    • Port Chalmers, New Zealand
    This morning, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labeled with your name and cabin number. By 11 am, take your cabin luggage to hotel reception, prior to, or at check-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred directly to the port for clearance, to be placed in your cabin ahead of your arrival onboard. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day. Your morning is at leisure to explore Dunedin. Settle into your cabin, where each detail was designed with your comfort in mind. This luxurious vessel is yours to explore! As we throw the lines and set sail, join your expedition team on deck before tucking into a delicious dinner, and toast to the voyage ahead. ...
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    Sunday - Jan 18, 2026
    Day
    3
    At Sea
    • At Sea
    On an expedition such as this, the journey is as significant as the destination. Sea days are a wonderful opportunity to relax, meet your fellow travelers, and learn about the history, environment, and local wildlife in this fascinating corner of the globe. As you acclimatize to life onboard, your expedition team is available to answer any questions you may have and offer pro-tips on photography and birdwatching. With decades of collective experience in the region, they love to share their expertise and enthusiasm with fellow travelers. Join them in the lecture room for entertaining talks and presentations to enrich your understanding of the wildlife, landscapes, and historic sites we hope to encounter. You may like to pamper yourself with a sauna, a visit to the Wellness Centre, or work out at the onboard gym. While away the hours spotting seabirds on deck, curl up with a book in the well-equipped polar library, or chat with your fellow expeditioners at the bar. ...
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    Monday - Jan 19, 2026
    Day
    4
    • New Zealand Subantarctic Islands, New Zealand
    First visited by Maori navigators centuries ago, these islands are of great significance to Ngai Tahu, the indigenous peoples of New Zealand's South Island. Their natural beauty and astonishing biodiversity have now been recognized globally, but few have had the privilege to visit these far-flung shores, which are now yours to explore. ...
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    Tuesday - Jan 20, 2026
    Day
    5
    • New Zealand Subantarctic Islands, New Zealand
    Wednesday - Jan 21, 2026
    Day
    6
    • New Zealand Subantarctic Islands, New Zealand
    Thursday - Jan 22, 2026
    Day
    7
    At Sea
    • At Sea
    As Campbell Island slips over the horizon, keep watch for Campbell, Salvin's, and white-capped albatross, which may follow the ship to bid us farewell as we continue south. Close observers may notice a subtle change in the character of the sea as we cross the Antarctic Convergence. Beyond this belt where the waters of the north and south mix, the sea surface temperature drops by about 4C (39F), signaling our entry into the Antarctic. This transition zone is known for its nutrient-rich waters, so keep watch for porpoising penguins, flocks of fluttering Antarctic petrels, or perhaps the more solitary snow petrel. You're not far from the Antarctic Circle, so your first iceberg can't be far away! Sea days are a great opportunity for some R & R as you digest your subantarctic experiences and prepare for the next phase of your voyage. Relax and unwind your way, perhaps meeting newfound friends at the bar, treating yourself to a sauna, or editing some images in the comfort of your cabin. And join your expedition team in the lecture room for presentations on the charismatic wildlife and extraordinary adventures that took place along the epic Antarctic coastline you are about to experience. ...
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    Friday - Jan 23, 2026
    Day
    8
    At Sea
    • At Sea
    Saturday - Jan 24, 2026
    Day
    9
    At Sea
    • At Sea
    Sunday - Jan 25, 2026
    Day
    10
    At Sea
    • At Sea
    Monday - Jan 26, 2026
    Day
    11
    • Victoria Land
    • Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
    It's almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in this storied, ice-bound sector of Antarctica. Stepping outside and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience to cherish forever. The Ross Sea region is a globally significant wildlife sanctuary. Its nutrient-rich waters support an astonishing array of uniquely adapted Antarctic species, including Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels, and South Pacific Weddell seals. It is also home to Antarctica's largest Adelie penguin colony, and many of the largest emperor penguin colonies. The unique biodiversity of the Ross Sea has been protected within the world's largest marine protected area since 2016. The human heritage of the Ross Sea coast is equally impressive. Since James Clark Ross discovered the region in 1841, countless expeditions have built base camps on scattered ice-free slivers of land, using them as staging posts for bold forays across the polar plateau. Many of them departed in a hurry, leaving artefacts, scientific equipment, and sometimes entire huts behind. Today these sites are preserved as open-air museums and protected under the Antarctic Treaty System. Embrace the spirit of exploration as your expedition team designs your voyage from day to day, bringing decades of experience to selecting the ideal sites based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions, and wildlife opportunities. ...
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    Tuesday - Jan 27, 2026
    Day
    12
    Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, Antarctica
    • Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, Antarctica
    Wednesday - Jan 28, 2026
    Day
    13
    Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, Antarctica
    • Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, Antarctica
    Thursday - Jan 29, 2026
    Day
    14
    Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, Antarctica
    • Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, Antarctica
    Friday - Jan 30, 2026
    Day
    15
    Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, Antarctica
    • Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, Antarctica
    Saturday - Jan 31, 2026
    Day
    16
    Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, Antarctica
    • Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, Antarctica
    Sunday - Feb 1, 2026
    Day
    17
    Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, Antarctica
    • Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, Antarctica
    Monday - Feb 2, 2026
    Day
    18
    At Sea
    • At Sea
    We leave the grandeur of the ice to the seals and penguins and head northwards, but our voyage is far from over. In the days ahead there is plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. You won't want to miss presentations from your onboard specialists about the wonderful wildlife and rich human history of Macquarie Island. These days at sea also offer time and space to reflect on the emotions and special moments you've lived over the past few weeks. You may like to take a moment of quiet contemplation or reminisce with your fellow travelers over a cuppa (or other beverage of choice). As you approach Macquarie Island keep watch for graceful grey-headed, black-browed, and light-mantled albatross, which may venture from their nests to welcome their human visitors. ...
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    Tuesday - Feb 3, 2026
    Day
    19
    At Sea
    • At Sea
    Wednesday - Feb 4, 2026
    Day
    20
    At Sea
    • At Sea
    Thursday - Feb 5, 2026
    Day
    21
    • Macquarie Island, Australia
    "Penguins were in thousands on the uprising cliffs, and from rookeries near and far came an incessant din ... seabirds of many varieties gave warning of our near approach to their nests" Douglas Mawson, 1911. As they sailed towards Antarctica, Mawson and his men encountered 'an exquisite scene'. Macquarie Island (known affectionately as Macca) rises steeply from the Southern Ocean in a series of emerald summits: a beautifully fierce, elemental landscape teeming with life. Keep your binoculars handy because this subantarctic refuge is home to 3.5 million breeding seabirds, including no less than four species of penguin! Alongside boisterous colonies of tuxedoed kings, charming gentoos, robust rockhoppers, and endemic royal penguins, you'll find three types of fur seals and a large proportion of the world's elephant seals. Layer up and head out on deck to experience the sound and sight (and smell!) as you approach one of the largest concentrations of life in the Southern Ocean. Remember to keep an eye out for Macca's kelp forests-these remarkable underwater ecosystems are quite mesmerizing as their fronds sway back and forth on the water's surface. In addition to being a globally recognized and protected wildlife refuge, Macquarie Island played an important role in Antarctic history. It was here, in 1911, that five men disembarked Mawson's Aurora and established a radio relay station which would transmit the first communication from Antarctica to the outside world. ...
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    Friday - Feb 6, 2026
    Day
    22
    • Macquarie Island, Australia
    Saturday - Feb 7, 2026
    Day
    23
    At Sea
    • At Sea
    As your journey draws to a close, take some time to reflect on the experiences of the past few weeks. Perhaps take some time to organize your photos, jot some more notes in your journal, or simply relax and soak up the ambiance onboard as you farewell your travel mates ... until next time! Become ambassadors for the great Southern Ocean, advocating for its conservation and preservation, and share your experiences with your loved ones, so they might visit and become ambassadors themselves. ...
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    Sunday - Feb 8, 2026
    Day
    24
    At Sea
    • At Sea
    Monday - Feb 9, 2026
    Day
    25
    • Port Chalmers, New Zealand
    After breakfast, farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature. Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, booking flights departing prior to 12 pm on the day of disembarkation is not recommended in case there are delays. ...
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