Mawson’s Antarctica: Along the East Coast

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This morning you will be transferred via coach from Queenstown to Milford Sound.This remote, nature-blessed pocket of South Island's Fiordland is home to some of New Zealand’s most dramatic scenery. Lakes are so clear it’s as if they are glass, fiords are carved by ancient glaciers and rainforest reigns supreme.It’s a fitting backdrop as you board Scenic Eclipse to be welcomed by the crew who will keep you company for the duration of your voyage. But first, champagne – to provide extra sparkle to the beginning of your cruise. Mix and mingle and meet your fellow travellers.

New Zealand fiord country along with Fiordland National Park is one of New Zealand’s premier attractions. Incredibly beautiful, wild and remote, the region is an intriguing combination of rugged mountain ranges, dense rainforest, solitary alpine lakes, sparkling rivers and splashing waterfalls. Much of Fiordland is virtually unexplored wilderness and still the habitat of rare birds. As the ship cruises the beautiful Doubtful, Dusky and Milford Sounds, experience the majestic fiordland of South Island’s western coast. Captain James Cook sailed along this coast in 1770 and again in 1773, when he anchored at Dusky Sound for a rest and ship repair. Doubtful Sound is one of the region’s most majestic fiords. It is ten times larger than Milford Sound. As the ship cruises into Hall Arm, gaze at vertical cliffs and mighty waterfalls plunging over sheer rock faces. In fine weather, mountains and greenery are reflected in the protected waters of the fiord. Farther north lies Milford Sound. Far from any populated area, Milford Sound is famous for its grandeur and spectacular beauty. It is perhaps the best example of New Zealand’s renowned classic landscape of steep granite peaks framing glacier-carved inlets with mirrored reflections on dark waters. Dominating the scene is Milford’s landmark, the triangular pinnacle of Mitre Peak. Along the sheer cliffs, several waterfalls tumble more than 500 feet (154 metres) into the sheltered Sound. Only a few moored boats and a scattering of buildings at the head of the Sound break the unity of mountains, forest and water. This spectacular beauty and unspoiled setting is yours to enjoy as the ship cruises Milford Sound.

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This 160-kilometre-long chain of volcanic islands (some of them still active) is a delightful surprise in what you may be expecting to be the whole Antarctic landscape.The Balleny Islands are remote and fascinating, their location straddling the Antarctic Circle leaving them heavily glaciated. Landings aren’t permitted, but in favourable weather conditions you may have the chance to explore in Zodiacs for a front-row seat to one of the greatest convergences of wildlife in the world.Humpbacks, fin and minke whales may put on a show while we are nearby, breaching and blowing and slapping their tails. Crabeater, Weddell, elephant and leopard seals loll about, sunbaking between swims. And Adélie and chinstrap penguins march and squark, creating a cacophony that is strangely melodic.Make sure you head to the Observation Deck for a vantage view or enjoy the comforts of your private balcony to take in every moment navigating this incredible region.

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Almost completely mantled by ice, Young Island is the northernmost island in the archipelago, and British mariner Captain Balleny – after whom the chain is named – reported seeing smoke billowing from its 1,340-metre summit when he was here exploring in 1839.At the other end of the chain, Sturge is the southernmost island in the Balleny archipelago. Pull out your binoculars or head for the telescopes in the Observation Lounge, because this particular slip of land has been declared and Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. Twitchers will rejoice at spotting the enormous breeding colonies of southern fulmers and snow petrels, which set up base on the ice-free cliffs along the western and northern coasts. Gain deep insights from your expert Discovery Team about the region and its rich birdlife.

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All jagged cliffs and ink-black escarpments backed by the towering Admiralty Mountains, the Adare Peninsula is a postcard of natural drama. Much of the spectacle comes courtesy of the 250,000 breeding pairs of Adélie penguins – the largest colony in Antarctica – that call the region home, making it one of the most jaw-dropping sights of your journey. Which is saying something.Nothing quite prepares you for the Adélie orchestra that you’ll hear as Scenic Eclipse draws close to shore – raucous neighbourhood disputes, high-pitched laughter, impatient hungry youngsters, confident courtship.This is where the Southern Ocean gives way to the Ross Sea, and a place that has drawn avid expeditioners for centuries. It was the site of the first documented Antarctic landing on the continent in 1895, and Norwegian explorer Carsten Borchgrevink’s two 1899 huts remain on land. Explore the remains with your Discovery Team, who will take you to shore in Zodiacs for an experience that hits you in waves and lingers long after you return home.

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Captain James Ross discovered and named Yule Bay, a curve in the coast of northern Victoria Land. Like much of Antarctica, the immensity of the ice here can only be fully appreciated with some perspective.In these rarely seen reaches of East Coast Antarctica, glaciers glitter like gems, ice lakes are scattered with star points of light, immense snow cliffs cast blue shadows, and the gossamer sheen of silver gleams across the ridges of the frozen ocean and white abstract shapes. This is a place of superlatives, and the beauty will – leave you speechless.Back on your Discovery Yacht, meet your new friends in one of the all-inclusive nine bars and lounges. Make tonight the night you visit the Whiskey Bar, where floor-to-ceiling shelves hold a collection of more than 110 bottles. Order a drink, relax, and re-live the day’s remarkable sights with your companions.

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Throughout your voyage you will have the opportunity to experience your Discover Yacht’s two helicopters^, offering an unrivalled perspective of icebergs and glaciers along East Coast Antarctica.There’s also the option to take a deep dive into Antarctic waters in your Discovery Yacht’s custom-built submersible, Scenic Neptune^. The undersea landscape of Antarctica can be a technicolour contrast to the monochrome landscape above the water, thanks to a rich fauna of marine invertebrates.Your Discovery Team are also on call to lead more active excursions, whether kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding – words don’t do justice to the emotions you’ll feel gliding across the water and spotting a whale breach metres from you. Or perhaps it’s time to brave the Polar Plunge. Pull on your swimsuit, throw off your robe and jump into the near-freezing Southern Ocean with flair – the more dramatic, the better.You’re going to feel invigorated at the end of this split second, once-in-a-lifetime experience. The cold plunge is exhilarating, and the shared experience with your fellow Antarctica ‘plungers’ immensely bonding. That hot drink as you emerge is restorative and reviving. This is an unmissable opportunity, whether enjoyed today or throughout your voyage in Antarctic waters.

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If you’re a fan of geographical mysteries, you’ll be enthralled by the Terra Nova Islands. The Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions spotted this pair of islands back in the early 1900s and named them after explorer and British Royal Navy Officer Robert Falcon Scott’s ship, the Terra Nova.Fast forward to 1989 when a German expedition set off to map the islands, but when they went to the supposed location via helicopter, there was nothing there. After endless testing, it was concluded the Terra Nova Islands never existed. Theories around these ‘phantom islands’ abound – were they fog banks, seaweed, icebergs?What does exist in the region, however, is the Terra Nova Hut, Scott’s shelter from the elements on the volcanic shore of Cape Evans, and his base while he was trying for the Geographic South Pole. You may have a chance to explore this region today. Whether you glimpse the Cape on land, in a helicopter^, hugging the coast in a Zodiac, in a kayak or on a paddleboard, being here will make you feel small, in the best possible way.

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Today we may reach the Mawson Peninsula, a narrow tongue of ice along the George V Coast. It’s easy to be humbled by its immensity, with the Peninsula’s vertiginous white cliffs glittering in the sun and casting unimaginable shadows over opaline swirls of the ocean surrounding it.Back on your Discovery Yacht, ease into the evening with your new friends and share today’s adventures over dinner in one of the restaurants. Perhaps opt for a degustation at Lumière, the ship’s fine-dining restaurant where the food on your plate is as elegant as the décor. Champagne, oysters, and caviar at the bar are followed by an impeccable selection of food and wine that will transport you straight to France.

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It’s hard to comprehend the scale of the Mertz Glacier, an enormous hunk of crystalised ice that gleams like a turquoise jewel from a rumpled apron of sea in every shade of blue imaginable. Sunlight cascades over its waves like liquid silver; in the troughs between are shadows of azure.Back in 2010, a massive iceberg with enough freshwater in it to fill Sydney Harbour 135 times over calved from the Mertz Glacial Tongue – it’s now known as Iceberg C-28 because it is the 28th substantial iceberg to have broken off the Antarctic ice shelf, in the quadrant that faces Australia, since 1976.The Suvorov Glacier, 9 km wide, will bring you a feeling of amazement as you admire its bright, silent stillness, with stretches of snow and ice tipping away into fathomless distances without the interruption of a single alien feature. There are no trees or shrubs; flora is just a sprinkling of occasional lichen, moss and algae.These impressive spectacles of nature are just two of the immense glaciers you may witness on this remarkable journey.This is what infinity looks like, and you’ll have the chance to see it up close and personal with your expert Discovery Team, in Zodiacs, kayaks or on stand-up paddleboards.

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Australia has a rich Antarctic history, arguably the most significant moments of which are remembered and preserved at Mawson’s Huts along Cape Denison at Commonwealth Bay.Sir Douglas Mawson came here on the 1911-1914 ‘heroic era’ Australian Antarctic Expedition, and rather fortuitously decided to set up base on what is now known to be the windiest place on the planet – it’s dubbed the ‘home of the blizzard’ for a reason. Remarkably, Mawson’s Huts have not been blown away, and remain frozen in time, opening a vault of historic expedition moments.Weather permitting, you will have the opportunity to step back in time as you see the historic Mawson’s Huts, walking through and immediately feeling connected with the men of that incredible expedition.Located west is Dumont D’Urville station, giving you the chance to see emperor penguins. While the breeding season is over, there may still be some around.

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If the wind stays away, Commonwealth Bay is one of the few places along East Coast Antarctica where it’s possible to step ashore, giving you the chance to follow in Mawson’s footsteps and marvel at his six fragile wooden huts and structures.The explorer and his team spent two years here documenting the continent, and this legacy – along with his 1929-1931 expedition – is the reason why Australia has a territorial claim of 42 per cent of Antarctica. The Main Hut is the most well preserved of the structures, although today is mostly filled with ice, Mawson’s memories literally frozen in time. You may also spot his team’s belongings left behind, including a cast-iron stove, bottles, jars and cans.

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Largely ice free, Cape Denison’s peninsula adjacent to the polar plateau emerges from beneath the continental ice sheet. The result is a series of dramatic rocky ridges and valleys, the sculptural sweep of snow and ice at times interrupted by sharp-toothed mountains like black cut-outs against a turquoise sky. They’re high, but in this fathomless expanse their scale is impossible to judge; there are no points of reference.Apart from Mawson’s Huts, Cape Denison is a magnet for breeding wildlife. Weddell seals can often be seen with pups during the breeding season, while colonies of skuas, petrels and penguins clutter the shores and the sky.

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Small and rocky, Ile du Gouverneur is part of Antarctica’s Géologie Archipelago. And in between is sea ice, an important breeding site for Emperor penguins. The fact that it’s close to a research station means that the creatures here are well documented – they also include Adelie penguins, Antarctic skuas, Wilson’s storm petrels, southern giant petrels, snow petrels and Cape petrels. You’ll likely also spot Weddell seals basking in the sun.Today you may wish to join them, soaking up a few rays and incredible vistas from the comfort of your private verandah. Or join the Discovery Team on active excursions. Be sure to make the most of your day by adding an optional helicopter^ or submersible^ excursion, revealing the stark beauty of the southern continent from the air and below the surface of the sea.

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®.

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Macquarie Island is a place that sparks every sense. First smell, then sound… then sight. From a distance, Macquarie’s earth appears to be moving. As Scenic Eclipse approaches you realise that the land is, in fact, heaving – under the weight of millions of penguins.Subject to permits, you may get to see this spectacle of epic proportions, an extraordinary landscape hosting one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the Southern Ocean. Countless tuxedoed, bushy eyebrowed and golden crowned penguins – king, rockhopper, gentoo and the endemic royal – breed here, and they’re not shy about having a good time. Or about greeting passengers who step ashore with squarks and squeaks. Occasionally one flops down for ice surfing, paddling on its belly like a torpedo-shaped toboggan. The youngsters, fluffy, impossibly cute, have the gleeful look of children allowed to stay up past their bedtime for a grown-up gathering.You’re likely to see leopard seals that patrol the waters, southern elephant seals that peek from tussocked dunes, and sooty albatrosses that circle overhead.

Straddling the Derwent River at the foot of Mt. Wellington’s forested slopes, Hobart was founded as a penal settlement in 1803. It’s the second-oldest city in the country after Sydney, and it certainly rivals its mainland counterpart as Australia’s most beautiful state capital. Close-set colonial brick-and-sandstone shops and homes line the narrow, quiet streets, creating a genteel setting for this historic city of 215,000. Life revolves around the broad Derwent River port, one of the deepest harbors in the world. Here warehouses that once stored Hobart’s major exports of fruit, wool, and corn and products from the city’s former whaling fleet still stand alongside the wharf today.Hobart sparkles between Christmas and New Year’s—summer Down Under—during the annual Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race. The event dominates conversations among Hobart’s citizens, who descend on Constitution Dock to welcome the yachts and join in the boisterous festivities of the crews. The New Year also coincides with the Tastes of Tasmania Festival, when the dockside area comes alive with the best of Tasmanian food and wine on offer in numerous cafés, bars, and waterfront stalls. Otherwise, Hobart is a placid city whose nightlife is largely confined to excellent restaurants, jazz clubs, and the action at the Wrest Point Casino in Sandy Bay.The Hobart Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre hours are weekdays 8:30–5:30 and Saturday 9–5.

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Your voyage ends in Hobart – knowing there’s still nothing between you and Antarctica but swathes of icy ocean helps take away the sting of everyday life. After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to your new friends and the dedicated Scenic Eclipse crew, who have made your voyage so remarkable. Fly home carrying once-in-a-lifetime memories with you, or choose to extend your journey to explore the captivating city of Hobart. Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK.Please book your flight to depart out of Hobart after 12:00 PM.Please note, the itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons and weather conditions. As such, Scenic cannot guarantee the cruise will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above.