Scott & Shackleton’s Antarctic - Ross Sea Expedition

Clinging to the walls of the natural amphitheater at the west end of Otago Harbour, the South Island's second-largest city is enriched with inspiring nearby seascapes and wildlife. Because Dunedin is a university town, floods of students give the city a vitality far greater than its population of 122,000 might suggest. Its manageable size makes it easy to explore on foot—with the possible exception of Baldwin Street, the world's steepest residential street and home to the annual "gutbuster" race, in which people run up it, and the "Jaffa" race, in which people roll the namesake spherical chocolate candy down it.Dunedin, the Gaelic name for Edinburgh, was founded in 1848 by settlers of the Free Church of Scotland, a breakaway group from the Presbyterian Church. The city's Scottish roots are still visible; you'll find New Zealand's first and only (legal) whisky distillery, a statue of Scottish poet Robert Burns, and more kilts, sporrans, and gillies than you can shake a stick at! The Scottish settlers and local Māori came together in relative peace, but this wasn't true of the European whalers who were here three decades before, as places with names such as Murdering Beach illustrate.Dunedin has always had a reputation for the eccentric. Wearing no shoes and a big beard here marks a man as bohemian rather than destitute, and the residents wouldn't have it any other way. The University of Otago was the country's first university and has been drawing writers ever since its founding in 1871, most notably Janet Frame and the poet James K. Baxter. Dunedin also has a musical heritage, which blossomed into the "Dunedin Sound" of the 1970s and '80s.

Enderby Island is the second largest island in the archipelago which is brimming with a magnificent flora and fauna environment. The island has become well known for being home to the rare yellow-eyed penguin and it is further the primary breeding location for the New Zealand Sra Lion. Enjoy a guided tour of the Northern Cliffs track and if you’re lucky, spend some time observing the sea lion colony.

Highlights of a typical expedition of the Ross Sea region could look like this (weather and captain will ultimately make each expedition unique depending on the conditions)

Cape Adare and the Adélie Coast
Begin exploration at the northern end of the Borchgrevink coast. This day focuses on historical landings and massive penguin colonies:

• Cape Adare Visit the site of the world's largest colony of Adélie penguins. It is also home to the first permanent building erected in Antarctica, built during Borchgrevink's expedition in 1899.

• Cape Hallett Exploration may include Seabee Hook, which also hosts a significant Adélie penguin rookery.

Ross Island and the Footsteps of Polar History
This day is dedicated to the historical significance of polar exploration and the region's geography:

• Ross Island Landings focus on locations where Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton launched their expeditions to the South Pole.

• Historical Huts Visit preserved, restored historic huts, such as Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds (Nimrod expedition, 1907–1909) or Scott's hut at Hut Point (Discovery expedition).

• Mount Erebus Marvel at the majestic, gently smoking Mount Erebus, the southernmost active volcano.

The Ross Ice Shelf and Ice TongueThe focus shifts to the colossal geological features of the region:

• Ross Ice Shelf Spend time cruising alongside the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest floating ice body in the world, which early explorers called "the Barrier". Visitors witness its sheer scale and the spectacle of great tabular icebergs calving from its edges.

• Drygalski Ice Tongue Cruise near this massive ice formation, which extends 70 km offshore from the David Glacier.

Ice, Science, and Survival StoriesThe final day focuses on dramatic survival stories and scientific endeavors:

• Terra Nova Bay An attempt may be made to reach this area, site of the Italian and South Korean scientific stations.

• Inexpressible Island Visit this historical monument where a group of six men from Scott's Terra Nova expedition survived a winter in a snow cave.

• Wildlife Viewing Throughout the day, actively search the pack ice for crabeater, Weddell, and predatory leopard seals, as well as small groups of emperor penguins, which are a major draw for visitors to this region. Orcas are also often spotted here, known for hunting seals by swamping ice floes.

Macquarie Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its major geoconservation significance. It is the only island in the world that is entirely composed of oceanic crust and rocks from the mantel. The unique diversity of the island makes it a truly remarkable place to visit. Sand Bay is located on the east coast where you will find Royal and King Penguin rookeries as well as Southern Elephant Seals, and if the weather permits, you will have the opportunity to get closer on a Zodiac®.

The Snares Islands, also known as ‘The Snares’ are the northernmost of New Zealand's subantarctic islands. The islands are totally uninhabited and land mammals were never introduced on the islands, so it is only inhabited by sea mammals, birds and flora. The area is among one of five subantarctic island groups forming the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands, designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Clinging to the walls of the natural amphitheater at the west end of Otago Harbour, the South Island's second-largest city is enriched with inspiring nearby seascapes and wildlife. Because Dunedin is a university town, floods of students give the city a vitality far greater than its population of 122,000 might suggest. Its manageable size makes it easy to explore on foot—with the possible exception of Baldwin Street, the world's steepest residential street and home to the annual "gutbuster" race, in which people run up it, and the "Jaffa" race, in which people roll the namesake spherical chocolate candy down it.Dunedin, the Gaelic name for Edinburgh, was founded in 1848 by settlers of the Free Church of Scotland, a breakaway group from the Presbyterian Church. The city's Scottish roots are still visible; you'll find New Zealand's first and only (legal) whisky distillery, a statue of Scottish poet Robert Burns, and more kilts, sporrans, and gillies than you can shake a stick at! The Scottish settlers and local Māori came together in relative peace, but this wasn't true of the European whalers who were here three decades before, as places with names such as Murdering Beach illustrate.Dunedin has always had a reputation for the eccentric. Wearing no shoes and a big beard here marks a man as bohemian rather than destitute, and the residents wouldn't have it any other way. The University of Otago was the country's first university and has been drawing writers ever since its founding in 1871, most notably Janet Frame and the poet James K. Baxter. Dunedin also has a musical heritage, which blossomed into the "Dunedin Sound" of the 1970s and '80s.