Scott & Shackleton's Antarctic - Ross Sea Expedition

Embark on an extraordinary adventure to the seldom visited Ross Sea from New Zealand, and walk in the footsteps of legendary polar explorers on this exciting expedition. Sailing from Dunedin in New Zealand on board Le Soléal, start in Campbell Island, part of New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands, and discover the island's spectacular endemic flora and fauna, including six species of albatross. Whilst enjoying some time at sea, take advantage of talks and lectures on board by your team of expedition guides, before reaching the Southernmost sea on Earth.

Alongside your expedition team, explore this fascinating region and learn all about its history and natural environment, all in one of the most pristine, spectacular settings. Observe the largest Adelie penguin rookeries in the world, sail pass gigantic icebergs and thundering glaciers during a zodiac excursion, or spot Weddell Seals as they relax or hunt on icefloes.

Visit historic buildings including Sir Ernest Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds, and reflect on the heroic polar journeys of some of the world's most intrepid polar explorers. On your way back to New Zealand, enjoy some time on Australia's Macquarie Island, and its impressive colony of king penguins, as well as the Snares and their unique wildlife sanctuaries, before disembarking in Dunedin. A truly memorable adventure not many have the chance to experience!

Your cruise and stay package includes:

• 4 nights 5 star accommodation in Dunedin, including breakfast
• 4 day car hire of Hertz B2 Suzuki Swift or Similar Auto
• Larnach Castle & High Tea
• Alehouse Tour & 2 Course Evening Meal
• Elm Wildlife MAX Tour
• 21 night Scott & Shackleton's Antarctic - Ross Sea Expedition Cruise, Dunedin return
• Includes all meals, open bar including standard spirits & champagne plus select shore excursions
• A wide range of onboard entertainment
• Port charges & prepaid gratuities onboard your cruise

***Rate based on twin share for travel 16 January to 10 February 2024.***

Larnach Castle & High Tea
Experience High Tea at Larnach Castle, served in the garden or beside the fire in the Castle's historic ballroom. High Tea includes a selection of home made sandwiches, slices, scones and cream cake and a pot of tea. Larnach Castle is situated on the picturesque Otago Peninsula, and is one of New Zealand’s premier visitor attractions. Lovingly restored by the Barker Family, the Castle and surrounding grounds are at the heart of the Dunedin visitor experience. Discover its rich history that dates back to 1871 as well as explore the exquisite gardens, which have attained a Garden of International Significance award from the New Zealand Gardens Trust.

Alehouse Tour & 2 Course Evening Meal
The 75 minute guided tour takes you back in time to the cobblestone streets of the past and the origin of the Speight's' brewery in 1876. Visitors not only get to see, smell, touch and taste the ingredients that make "The Pride of the South" but will learn about the antiquity of beer from Babylonian times through to the introduction of beer in New Zealand and the story of our very own Speight's Brewery. After the tour enjoy a 2 course evening meal (choice of entree/main or main/dessert) at the brewery and complimentary 12oz beer of your choice.

Elm Wildlife MAX Tour
This eight hour extended package, combining a boat cruise aboard the 'Monarch', a Royal Albatross nesting area tour and our award winning peninsula encounter tour into one 'total wildlife' tour. This extreme option allows Wildlife enthusiasts a unique opportunity to combine the best possible viewing from land and sea. First the one-hour Monarch cruise introduces the wildlife of Taiaroa head from the sea where occasionally dolphins and whales are also seen before returning to the jetty where our guide will be waiting to transport you to the Royal Albatross centre. Here you join a one-hour descriptive introduction and viewing of the Royal Albatross breeding area before finally travelling to Elm Wildlifes private conservation reserve. Here you will meet and watch Hooker Sea lions, Yellow-eyed penguins, Blue penguins and a large breeding colony of NZ Fur seals.

If you love to be on the water and dream of seeing spectacular seabirds and long for close up viewing of penguins Sea lions and seals, then this is the tour for you. If you really want to see the world's biggest sea bird close-up, rare penguins, furseals and sea lions within a few metres then this is as good as it gets. A unique opportunity to saturate your day with wildlife. You will be collected from your accommodation and transported to the boat for your cruise, after which our guide delivers you to the Royal Albatross centre to join the one-hour tour, before you re-join for the land based part of this tour.

Scott & Shackleton's Antarctic - Ross Sea Expedition

20 January 2024 – Dunedin
Embarkation 3:00 to 4:00 PM
Departure at 5:00 PM
Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest city and is often referred to as the Edinburgh of New Zealand. This city of the south, wears its Scottish heritage with pride. The city contains some of the best preserved Victorian and Edwardian architecture in the Southern Hemisphere. The Silverpeaks hinterland to the North West provides a picturesque backdrop and The Otago Peninsula, which lies within the city boundaries, has internationally renowned wildlife reserves, including the only mainland breeding colony of Northern Royal Albatross.

21 January 2024 – At Sea
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

22 January 2024 – Campbell Island
Campbell Island is the most southerly of the five New Zealand subantarctic groups. Described by the English botanist Joseph Hooker as having a "flora display second to none outside the tropics." It is known for its megaherbs, herbaceous, perennial wildflowers characterised by their great size, with huge leaves and very colourful flowers, which have developed as an adaptation to the harsh weather conditions on the islands. Campbell Island is also home to six species of albatross, and several critically endangered endemic birds including the Campbell Island teal and snipe. You will have the opportunity to undertake a guided walk on the Col Lyell Saddle boardwalk as well as undertake a zodiac tour around the coastline of Perseverance Harbour.

23 January 2024 – At Sea

26 January to 2 February 2024 – Ross Sea Region
The Ross Sea, the southernmost sea in the world, owes its name to Sir James Clark Ross, both a naturalist and a Royal Navy officer, who first explored the area in 1841 with HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. It is bounded on the east by Roosevelt Island and the Edward VII Peninsula in Mary Byrd Land, on the west by Ross Island and the coastal mountains of Victoria Land, and on the south by the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in Antarctica located some 320 km from the geographic South Pole. The history and treasures of the world's ultimate marine sanctuary will be revealed during this extraordinary expedition.

You will be able, weather and ice conditions permitting, to discover several emblematic sites in the region. Among the possible stopovers, Cape Adare, at the northern end of the Borchgrevink coast, home to the world’s largest colony of Adélie penguins. We will attempt to reach Terra Nova Bay where the Italian and South Korean scientific stations are located to the north and the Drygalski Ice Tongue to the south. Dating back at least 4000 years, it extends 70 km offshore from the David Glacier and is 24 km at its widest point. On the Inexpressible Island, discover the exceptional survival conditions of a group of six men of the Terra Nova expedition, led by Robert Falcon Scott (1910-1913), forced to winter in a cave dug in the ice, today classified as an Antarctica historical monument. On Ross Island, follow in the footsteps of the polar explorers Sir James Clark Ross and discover Sir Ernest Shackleton's hut, classified as an Antarctica historical monument. Built at Cape Royds during the British expedition Nimrod (1907-1909), it proudly stands at the bottom of Mount Erebus. Sixty years earlier, while Captain James Ross was trying to reach the South Magnetic Pole, he discovered Franklin Island, located 130 km east of Cape Hickey in Victoria Land. He named it after Sir John Franklin, Arctic explorer and governor of the territory of present-day Tasmania. You will be offered there, a privileged position to observe Adélie penguins in their daily ballet as well as Weddell seals, resting on the shore.

3 January 2024 – At Sea

4 February 2024 – Balleny Islands
The Balleny Islands are an extremely remote series of islands extending for about 160 kilometres in a northwest-southeast direction straddling the Antarctic Circle some 270 kilometres north of the Antarctic mainland. The volcanic islands are heavily glaciated and have received few human visitors since their discovery in 1839. Their isolated location within the rich waters of the Southern Ocean has resulted in a species diversity rivalling the entire Ross Sea region. Humpback, fin and minke whales are regular visitors to the rich feeding grounds along with Crabeater, Weddell, elephant and leopard seals. Several of the islands are home to significant colonies of Adélie and Chinstrap penguins. If time and weather permit, guests will have the opportunity to explore the spectacular coastal environments and view the prolific wildlife from our fleet of zodiac.

5 to 6 February 2024 – At Sea

7 February 2024 – Macquarie Island
Long celebrated as one of the wonder spots of the world, Macquarie Island is an island of great beauty and outstanding natural diversity, a breeding place for more than 3.5 million seabirds, most of which are penguins. There are four species breeding on Macquarie Island: Royals, Kings, Gentoos and Rock Hoppers. There are also three types of fur seals and one seventh of the world's population of elephant seals breeding on the Island. In 1948 The Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) established its expedition headquarters on Macquarie Island. If time and weather permit, guests will have the opportunity to land ashore and view the prolific wildlife that resides here.

8 February 2024 – At Sea

9 February 2024 – The Snares
Amongst the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand, the Snares have the distinction of being the only forested group without introduced mammals, not even mice. Consequently, it is a remarkable haven for wildlife. The island boasts more nesting seabirds than the entire realm of the British Isles. Over 2 million Sooty Shearwaters breed here in the summer months. Four species of Albatross are listed as breeding on the Snares along with 35,000 endemic Snares crested penguins. There are also approximately 1,000 New Zealand fur seals and 500 New Zealand sea lions. Landing on the Snares is prohibited. If time and weather permit, you will have the opportunity to explore the coastal environments and view the prolific wildlife from our fleet of zodiac.

10 February 2024 – Dunedin
Arrive early morning
Disembarkation at 8:00 AM
Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest city and is often referred to as the Edinburgh of New Zealand. This city of the south, wears its Scottish heritage with pride. The city contains some of the best preserved Victorian and Edwardian architecture in the Southern Hemisphere. The Silverpeaks hinterland to the North West provides a picturesque backdrop and The Otago Peninsula, which lies within the city boundaries, has internationally renowned wildlife reserves, including the only mainland breeding colony of Northern Royal Albatross.

Prices listed are per person in Australian/New Zealand Dollars, based on twin occupancy, including all discounts unless otherwise stated. The offer is subject to availability at time of booking and shown on the lowest inside category available at the time.  Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice. Prices/Offers are correct as at 24 May 2022 and can be withdrawn without notice. Cabin categories include prepaid government fees and port taxes unless otherwise stated.  Hotels may charge resort fees not included in this package, payable direct upon check in. Visas are not included. Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge. Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge.