New Antarctic Voyages Departing NZ

Immediate Release

Aurora Expeditions Launches New Antarctic Voyages Departing New Zealand

Australian adventure company, Aurora Expeditions, have released three new voyages to East Antarctica and the subantarctic islands next Antarctic season that will sail either to or from New Zealand, making it easier for New Zealanders to reach the icy continent as well as explore a rarely visited part of their own backyard.

Two of the voyages will commemorate the centenary of Sir Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition. In January 1912, explorer Douglas Mawson and 17 others landed at Commonwealth Bay. For the next year, they braved appalling conditions, when the wind speed averaged nearly 80 km/h, occasionally peaking above 320 km/h. Their expedition ranks as one of the most successful in polar exploration history.

Each of Aurora Expeditions’ Centenary voyages visits three outstanding regions: Macquarie Island, where Mawson set up a communications base; the East Antarctic coast, a vast region where the polar plateau offers a dramatic backdrop to Mawson’s Hut; and New Zealand’s exquisite subantarctic islands.

These 26-day ‘Mawson’s Centenary Celebration’ voyages are Aurora Expeditions’ most adventurous in scope, with extended sea crossings and the chance to explore the pack ice edge, where much of Antarctica’s marine life, including whales, seals and penguins, can be found. The voyages will visit Mawson’s Hut and the abandoned French base at Port Martin, and the working research station of Dumont d’Urville. Departing Bluff, New Zealand and Hobart, Australia, prices start from US$17,475 per person twin share.

The voyage, ‘Emeralds of the Subantarctic’ is a 13-day expedition focusing entirely on the stunning islands south of New Zealand and Australia. This one-off voyage takes us to Macquarie Island and Campbell Island, the Auckland Islands and, depending on sea conditions, a rare Zodiac cruise of the Snares Islands. This region contains the greatest diversity of seabirds in the world, often in astounding numbers. It’s a tremendous opportunity to visit a wildlife wonderland. Departing Bluff, New Zealand on 16 November 2011, prices for this voyage start from US$7,325 per person twin share.

Aurora Expeditions will be utilising their ship Akademik Shokalskiy for the East Antarctica voyages. The decision to use small, ice-strengthened ships allows Aurora Expeditions to visit areas that other large cruise ships can't. For many years, Aurora Expeditions has been a leading travel company specialising in Antarctic and High Arctic expeditions. Since the early 1990s, Aurora Expeditions have shared their love of Antarctica with small groups of adventurous individuals keen to explore one of the wildest places on Earth.

Aurora Expeditions’ dynamic team all share a great respect for natural and cultural environments. Aurora Expeditions continues to approach expedition travel as a catalyst for making a difference in one’s life, and in the world.

For more information on Aurora Expeditions or to order a brochure, visit www.auroraexpeditions.com.au or call +61 2 9252 1033 to speak to an Expedition Expert.

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