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Please note:
Read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program
varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife
we encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this
expedition. Visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Day
1: Christchurch, New Zealand
We
have arranged for you to spend the night at a hotel in Christchurch
to rest and relax before the expedition.
Day
2: Embarkation Day
We
have arranged for a group transfer to Lyttelton, where you
will embark the icebreaker. Scott began his final journey
to Antarctica from the same port.
Days
3 – 5: Exploring Campbell and Enderby Islands
Anonymous
whalers and sealers were often the first to visit subantarctic
islands such as Enderby and Campbell Islands. Now protected
habitats, the islands are nesting grounds for Royal Albatross,
while Enderby is home to the rare Yellow-eyed Penguin. We
plan to go ashore, if conditions permit.
Days
6-9: Sailing to the Ice Edge
As
we sail southward a full program of onboard activities will
be underway. In addition to Adrian's presentations, the Expedition
Team will provide insight into the natural history of Antarctica.
On deck there will be photo opportunities as we sail the ice
edge, searching for Antarctic wildlife. The Expedition Leader
may deploy the onboard helicopters to provide spectacular
aerial views of glaciers and mountains.
Day
10: Drygalski Ice Tongue
This
extension of the David Glacier is named for Erich von Drygalski,
a German geophysicist who pioneered the study of ice formation.
He used a balloon to take aerial photographs. We'll be using
helicopters for aerial photography.
Days
11-12: McMurdo Station, Scott Base, Cape Evans and Cape Royds
It
is a haunting experience to enter the small, dark huts left
behind by the expeditions of Scott and Shackleton –
some still stacked with tinned goods, along with seal blubber
that was hoarded as emergency fuel. This visit may, however,
be particularly poignant as you share Adrian's Raeside first
visit to the hut that played such a significant role in the
life of his grandfather.
Days
13-14: The Dry Valleys and the Ross Ice Shelf
As
you approach in helicopters from the sea, the expanse of fast
ice stops abruptly, revealing a parched land with no vegetation
other than lichen that grow inside rocks. It is a surreal
experience to explore the Dry Valleys on foot, surrounded
by odd granite formations sculpted by powerful winds.
Days
15-16: The Bay of Whales
Roald
Amundsen, who beat Scott in their race to be the first to
reach the South Pole, began his journey from a camp at the
head of the Bay of Whales. We will explore the bay, which
is an indention in the Ross Ice Shelf.
Days
17-21: The Ross Sea
While
we sail the Ross Sea, you will hear more about the many discoveries
of James Ross, after whom the sea and the ice shelf are named.
We expect to land at Cape Adare, breeding ground of over half
a million Adélie Penguins and the location of another historic
hut built in 1899 by Carsten Borchgrevink, the first person
to winter over in Antarctica.
Days
22 – 23: Macquarie Island
Three
million Royal Penguins, virtually the entire world population,
live on Macquarie Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. King
penguins and elephant seals share the islands with the Royals.
We plan shore landings if conditions permit.
Days
24-26: North to Hobart, Australia
Our
final days at sea include presentations summing up the legacy
of the great explorers. You'll disembark in Hobart, Australia
on the island of Tasmania.
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