Ross Sea Discovery: In Scott & Shackleton's Footsteps

Arrive at New Zealand’s world famous alpine resort town, Queenstown and make your way to the designated hotel where we will spend the first night of the expedition. This evening there will be an informal get-together at the hotel for dinner; this is an excellent opportunity to meet fellow adventurers and some of our expedition team for your voyage.

After breakfast in the hotel restaurant, the morning free is to explore Queenstown before returning to the hotel for lunch and departing for the Port of Bluff to embark your ship. There you will have time to settle into your cabin and familarise yourself with the ship. We will also take the opportunity to conduct a number of safety briefings once you are. As we set our course to The Snares and our adventure begins, you are invited to join the expedition team in the Observation Lounge and up on the Observation Deck.

Staggeringly, The Snares Islands are home to more nesting seabirds than all of the British Isles put together. Zodiac cruising the coast we learn how the islands got their name and in the sheltered bays, we should see the endemic Snares crested penguin, the Cape petrel and Buller's albatross nesting on the imposing cliffs.

Characterised by towering cliffs and rugged sea stacks, these islands have borne witness to many a shipwreck in days gone by. We spend the day ashore on Enderby Island which is perhaps the most beautiful of all the Subantarctic Islands. Here we find parakeets flitting above carpets of red, white and yellow wild flowers and on the beaches beyond, the rare Hookers or New Zealand Sea Lion. We land in Carnley Harbour and if conditions are suitable, we'll climb to a Shy Albatross colony, otherwise, we explore sites within the harbour.

Take the chance to learn more about the biology and history of these islands and the tempestuous Southern Ocean through informal lectures with our experts. This particular stretch of ocean is very productive and we can expect many seabirds, including five or six kinds of albatross and numerous species of petrel.

This remote, rocky outpost which endures roaring westerly winds, supports one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the Southern Hemisphere. Four species of penguin: king, royal, rockhopper and gentoo penguins breed here. You will never forget your first experience in a ceaselessly active penguin city, where the dapper inhabitants show no fear of their strange visitors. We will also meet with the Park Rangers, visit the Australian Antarctic Base and observe the hundreds of southern elephant seals along the beaches.

Soaring albatross and petrels circle the vessel as we steam south through the Southern Ocean. Lectures now concentrate on the Ross Sea region and beyond the bow of the ship; drifting icebergs of extraordinary shapes begin to appear. Manoeuvring in close for your first ice photographs we pass the Antarctic Circle and into the continent's realm of 24-hour daylight.

With unpredictable ice and weather conditions, a day-by-day itinerary is not possible but we assess the conditions daily and take every opportunity to make landings and launch the Zodiacs. You can anticipate wildlife viewing, visits to scientific bases and historic sites, as well as the spectacular white and blue scenery.

We hope to visit the following areas:

Cape Adare: A large flat spit of land, teeming with the staggering sight of Antarctica's largest Adelie penguin rookery: a tumult of chattering, feeding chicks; territorial disputes; petty pilfering and courtship displays. Curious penguins often come very close, offering superb photographic opportunities. Among the shifting mass of penguins, we will find Carsten Borchgrevink's Hut, the oldest in Antarctica, an overwintering shelter for the first expedition to the Antarctic continent in 1899.

Cape Hallett: The enormous Admiralty Range heralds our arrival; wild and extraordinary, the mountains rear up from the sea to over 4,000m, bounded by colossal glaciers. We land at an abandoned base site, now home to large numbers of Adelie penguins and Weddell seals.

Franklin Island: Desolately beautiful and rugged, this is home to a large Adelie penguin population and other nesting seabirds. We attempt a landing and explore the coastline.

Possession Islands: Rarely-visited, small and rugged, these rocks support tens of thousands of penguins. Observe the birds busy and humorous activity, with the Admiralty Mountains forming a superb backdrop across the water.

Ross Ice Shelf: The world's largest body of floating ice and a natural barrier, at times, creating hazardous weather, with sheets of snow blown at gale force by winds off the polar ice cap. Just 800 miles from the South Pole, this daunting spectacle prevented many early explorers from venturing further south. We cruise along its dizzying 30m high ice cliffs, perhaps lucky enough to see icebergs calving.

Ross Island: Mount Erebus/Cape Bird/Shackleton's Hut/Scotts Hut(s) and visits to a scientific field station (Scott and McMurdo Stations are high on our wish list but ice, weather and station operational requirements often make them inaccessible). Ross Island was and is the hub of activity in the Ross Sea, dominated by Mt Erebus, a monstrous active volcano named after the ancient Greek God of Darkness. The carefully preserved huts of the Heroic Era help make the history come alive. If we can reach the bases we get a modern perspective on Antarctic Research.

Terra Nova Bay: An Italian research station where the scientists are always hospitable and enjoy showing us around their lonely but beautiful home. They share with us their scientific research and also, perhaps, the best cafe espresso in Antarctica!

Taking time to rest and enjoy shipboard life in the bar or library after the excitement and long daylight hours of the Antarctic, we have time for lectures on our final destination and for some pelagic bird spotting.

We drop anchor in Perseverance Harbour, an occasional refuge for southern right whales who come here to calve. Walk to the nesting site of the southern royal albatross and see the strange and beautiful megaherbs growing on the hills. These huge wild flowers that have adapted to the harsh conditions have unusual colourings and weirdly-shaped leaves. We also seek out other wildlife such as Campbell Island Shags, Light-mantled sooty albatross and sea lions.

En route to the Port of Bluff, take the opportunity to relax and reflect on a remarkable journey as you join our experts for a recap of highlights and enjoy a farewell dinner tonight.

Early this morning we will arrive in the Port of Bluff. After a final breakfast we bid farewell to our fellow voyagers. There will be a complimentary coach transfer to either Invercargill or Queenstown Airports. In case of unexpected delays due to weather and/or port operations we ask you not to book any onward travel until after midday from Invercargill and after 3pm from Queenstown.