28 Day Ross Sea Antarctica: In the Wake of Scott & Shackleton

Arrive at Queenstown, New Zealand’s world famous alpine resort town. Guests should make their 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; an excellent opportunity to meet fellow adventurers on your voyage and some of our expedition

Today we enjoy breakfast in the hotel restaurant and have the morning free to explore Queenstown before returning to the hotel for lunch and departing for the Port of Bluff to embark Heritage Adventurer. You will have time to settle into your stateroom or suite and familiarise yourself with the ship. You are invited to join the expedition team in the Observation Lounge and up on the Observation Deck as we set our course to The Snares and our adventure begins.

The closest Subantarctic Islands to New Zealand, they were appropriately called The Snares because they were probably considered a hazard by their discoverer Lieutenant Broughton in 1795. Comprising of two main islands and a smattering of rocky islets, they are uninhabited and highly protected. North East Island is the largest of The Snares and it is claimed that this one island is home to more nesting seabirds than all of the British Isles together. We will arrive early in the morning and cruise along the sheltered eastern side of the rugged coastline by Zodiac if weather and sea conditions are suitable (landings are not permitted). In the sheltered bays, we should see the endemic Snares Crested Penguins, Snares Island Tomtit and Fernbirds. Cape Pigeons and Antarctic Terns are also present in good numbers. There are hundreds of thousands of Sooty Shearwaters nesting on The Snares; the actual number is much debated. Around Christmas time each year the Buller’s Albatross return here to nest.

Explore Enderby Island, the northernmost of the Auckland Islands, known for its rich birdlife, scenic cliffs, and recovering ecosystems. Cleared of pests in 1994, it’s now a haven for native plants, rare seabirds, and Hooker’s sea lions that breed at Sandy Bay. Enjoy easy boardwalk hikes, wildlife encounters, and sightings of species like Southern Royal Albatross, Yellow-eyed Penguins, parakeets, and possibly the elusive Subantarctic Snipe.

At sea, learn more about the biology and history of the Subantarctic Islands and the Southern Ocean through a series of lectures and presentations. We will be at sea all day, so it is another opportunity to spot pelagic species including (but not limited to) the Wandering Albatross, Royal Albatross, Shy and White-capped Albatross, Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross and Black-browed Albatross, White-chinned Petrel, Mottled Petrel, White-headed Petrel, Cape Petrel, diving-petrel, Grey-backed and Black-bellied Storm-petrels. This is potentially some of the best pelagic ‘birding’ on the expedition.

Macquarie Island is a wildlife haven, home to millions of penguins—King, Gentoo, Rockhopper, and the endemic Royal. We plan landings at Sandy Bay and Buckles Bay, and a possible Zodiac cruise at Lusitania Bay, where vast penguin colonies and elephant seals dominate the shores. Royal Penguins breed exclusively here, while King Penguins and fur seals thrive alongside them. The island, declared pest-free in 2014, now flourishes with regenerating birdlife and native vegetation. If conditions allow, we’ll also tour the long-standing Australian Antarctic Division Base at Buckles Bay.

Soaring albatross and petrels circle the vessel as we steam ever southward through the Southern Ocean. Lectures now concentrate on Antarctica and the Ross Sea region. We will pay attention to water temperatures so that we know when we cross the Antarctic Convergence into the cold but extremely productive Antarctic waters. Drifting icebergs carry vivid colours and come in extraordinary shapes. Each is a unique, natural sculpture. The captain will manoeuvre the ship in close for your first ice photograph and we will celebrate as we pass the Antarctic Circle and into Antarctica’s realm of 24-hour daylight! Relax in the ship’s bar and catch up with some reading in the library. If you have brought your laptop with you there will be time to download and edit photos while they are fresh in your mind.

During our time in the Ross Sea region, we explore one of Antarctica’s most remote and historically significant areas. With landings subject to ice and weather conditions, each day offers new opportunities for wildlife encounters, Zodiac cruises, and visits to legendary sites. Highlights may include Cape Adare, home to over a million Adélie Penguins and the continent’s oldest building—Borchgrevink’s Hut—as well as Cape Hallett, Possession Islands, and Franklin Island, all teeming with penguins and dramatic landscapes.

We also aim to cruise along the towering Ross Ice Shelf and visit Ross Island, where we may explore the preserved expedition huts of Shackleton and Scott, set against the backdrop of Mt Erebus. Scientific stations such as McMurdo, Scott Base, and Italy’s Zucchelli Station in Terra Nova Bay may also be included, offering a rare glimpse into modern polar research. Each landing is unique and unforgettable, showcasing the raw beauty and deep legacy of the Antarctic frontier.

En route to Campbell Island, take part in a series of lectures designed to prepare you for our visit tomorrow. Pelagic species abound here as they did en route to Macquarie Island earlier in our voyage. Above all, take the time to rest and enjoy shipboard life after the excitement of the Antarctic.

New Zealand’s southernmost Subantarctic territory, the Campbell Island group lies approximately 660-kilometres south of Bluff. We visit Campbell Island, the main island in the group, and spend the day exploring the island on foot from Perseverance Harbour, a long inlet cutting into the undulating landscape. Campbell Island is a truly magnificent place of rugged scenery, unique flora and abundant wildlife. Perseverance Harbour where we drop anchor is an occasional refuge for Southern Right Whales who come here to calve. Here we will find a now abandoned New Zealand meteorological station as well as Campbell Island Shags, penguins, fur seals and rare Hooker’s/New Zealand Sea Lions. The highlight of our visit is a walk to the hilltop breeding sites of Southern Royal Albatross, over six thousand pairs of which breed on Campbell Island. These magnificent birds, close relations to, and the same size as, the Wandering Albatross, have the largest wingspan in the world and their gamming makes them superb photographic subjects.

At sea en route to the Port of Bluff, take the opportunity to relax and reflect on an amazing experience. This is a good opportunity to download and edit any remaining photos while they are fresh in your mind and you have the experience of our expedition team on board for questions. We will recap the highlights of our expedition and enjoy a farewell dinner tonight as we sail to our final port.

Early this morning we will arrive in the Port of Bluff. After a final breakfast and completing Custom formalities we bid farewell to our fellow voyagers and take 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.