Orion Expedition CruisesAntarctica and the Ross SeaOverview“Glittering white, shining, blue, raven black, in the light of the sun the land looks like a fairy tale. Pinnacle after pinnacle, peak after peak – crevassed, wild as any land on our globe, it lies, unseen and untrodden.” During the peak of the southern hemisphere summer, Orion offers travellers a unique opportunity to venture to the continent of Antarctica. A veteran of two Antarctic seasons already, sailing from South America to the Antarctic Peninsula,Orion's next expeditions set sail from Australia and New Zealand, crossing the Antarctic Circle to places redolent with history and adventure. In 1911 Australian explorer Sir Douglas Mawson led his Australasian Antarctica Expedition, establishing the base camp at Cape Denison in Commonwealth Bay. The huts remain today, providing a fascinating insight into the hardships intrepid explorers faced on this last frontier. Further south, sailing into the Ross Sea to Cape Evans and Cape Royds, you’ll tread in the footsteps of men Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton. Along the way the wildlife will astound you. The Australian sub-Antarctic island of Macquarie is home to 3 million penguins including Royal, King, Rock Hopper and Gentoo Penguins. The beaches are crowded with Giant Southern Petrels, Great Skuas, King Shag and White Headed Petrels and sadly the island is now home to just 9 breeding pairs of Wandering Albatross. Our expeditions are led by husband and wife team Don and Margie McIntyre. In 1995 the McIntyres spent a year living at Cape Denison, close to the location selected by Mawson who dubbed the area the ‘kingdom of blizzards’. Along with their experienced expedition team, you’ll be sailing to Antarctica with this fascinating couple. Detailed ItineraryDay 1 - LYTTLETON (for Christchurch), New ZealandPicturesque commercial port for the Canterbury Region that is accessed by a road tunnel from Christchurch and a breathtaking passage through a fjord-like entry for MV Orion. Day 2 - AT SEA Day 3 - AUCKLAND ISLANDS - By Zodiac First discovered by whalers in 1806, Auckland Island was the scene of more than 10 tragic shipwrecks in the closing years of the century. The island is close to what was once a busy route between Australia and Cape Horn and in an ocean marked by overcast skies seamen were often unable to check their astronomical bearings. Orion's guests will cruise in Zodiacs in Sandy Bay on Enderby Island at the northern end of Auckland Island, to view a large Hooker Sea Lion colony with pups all jostling for position. If we are fortunate, we may see rare Yellow-Eyed Penguins as they move to and from their nests in the forests beyond the beach. Sites in Port Ross will be visited including an abandoned Maori settlement, a German expedition observation point at Terror Cove and a WWII coast watching station at Rancid Cove. In Carney Harbour, castaway depots at Camp Cove are marked by an A frame building built in 18887 by the crew of the Aware, inscribed with the names of people from the French Bark Anjou wrecked in 1905. We may also cruise to Victoria Passage, a dramatic opening at the end of Carney Harbour, where the birdlife is profuse. Day 4 - AT SEA Day 5 - AT SEA Day 6 - AT SEA Day 7 - CAPE ADARE Cape Adare marks the entrance to the historic Ross Sea area with views of the spectacular Admiralty Ranges visible well before Orion’s arrival. Cape Adare was discovered by Captain James Ross in 1841. We plan to visit Borchgrevink’s Hut from the British Southern Cross Expedition, the first to ever spend winter in the Antarctic in 1899. Up to 1,000,000 Adelie Penguins have reclaimed the site, which is spectacular, surrounded by black volcanic hills. High above the huts is the lonely grave and cross of Borchgrevink’s biologist. Day 8 - CAPE HALLET – Dry Landing Following an intricate approach to Cape Hallett through thick pack ice, we land to inspect the site of an abandoned US/New Zealand base established during the International Geophysical Year in 1957-58. It is a magnificent area with giant glaciers and surrounding mountains of over 4,000 metres. Weddell Seals and Adelie Penguins abound. Day 9 - TERRA NOVA BAY – Wet Landing First discovered by Scott during his 1901-1904 expedition, the site is now occupied by an Italian base which operates a summer research station. It is on a peninsula with a north south orientation providing access to the sea from both the east and the west. The Tethys Bay inlet provides hard pack ice suitable for aircraft operations including Hercules aircraft. The base was started in 1985. Day 10 - AT SEA Day 11 - CAPE EVANS - Wet Landing Scott’s 1911 Terra Nova Hut is the largest historic building in Antarctica. Used in the 1910 to 1913 British Antarctic Expedition, it served as the base for extensive scientific research and surveys as well as Scott’s journey to the South Pole. Much of Scott’s equipment is well preserved and it is hoped to enter the hut with guides. Shredded seaweed sown into Jut quilting is used as an insulating layer between the inner and outer cladding of the wood hut. Ten men of Shackleton’s ill-fated imperial trans-Antarctic expeditions were marooned here in 1915 after their ship Aurora was blown out to sea and unable to return. Two of Aurora’s anchors remain to this day on the beach in front of the hut. Entering the hut provides a window into the historic age of Antarctic exploration and discovery. Day 12 - CAPE ROYDS - Wet Landing Shackleton’s hut at Cape Royds was constructed during the British Antarctic Nimrod Expedition in 1907-1909. Unable to land at King Edward VII Island, he then entered McMurdo Sound. Ice conditions prevented him reaching Hut Point, the site of Scott’s hut, so he selected Cape Royds for winter quarters. Adelie Penguins are slowly reclaiming the site which is the world’s southernmost penguin rookery. The New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust conservation program has successfully conserved a substantial number of fascinating artifacts in this hut, in such a way that at first sight the hut appears to have only recently been abandoned. Day 13 - AT SEA Day 14 - POSSESSION ISLANDS The Possession Islands were discovered by James Clark Ross and Francis Crozier in 1841 during their expedition to locate the south magnetic pole. Subject to sea and ice conditions, we hope to make a landing at the rarely visited small and craggy Possession Islands. One of these, Foyn Island, is covered with Adelie Penguins. Day 15 - AT SEA Cost of This Itinerary20 Night Trip:The least expensive cabin costs: The most expensive stateroom costs: |