Mawson’s Antarctica: Along the East Coast

Your journey begins in Queenstown, a playground of snow-capped peaks, pristine lakes, and world-class vineyards. Enjoy an overnight stay in a luxury hotel, allowing you to acclimatise and soak in the stunning landscapes before the Expedition Voyage ahead.

This morning you will be transferred via coach from Queenstown to Bluff, where your Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse II awaits. Marvel at the awe-inspiring scenery of rugged mountains, serene lakes, and lush forests on the way. Step on board and be welcomed with a glass of Champagne, meet your butler, and toast with fellow guests as you set sail toward the White Continent.

At the very southern tip of the South Island, Bluff is one of New Zealands oldest European settlements. It began life as a whaling station in the 1830s and has retained its strong ties to the sea, with one of the world’s few natural oyster beds sitting just offshore in the Foveaux Strait. Bluff is the gateway to Stewart Island and Antarctica beyond, offering travellers a taste of the rugged character of an oystering port. Freechoice: Invercargill Sights & Transport World: Visit Invercargill to admire antique vehicles at the Transport World Museum and enjoy the town’s stunning gardens. Southern Sojourn: Explore Southlands art and history from Bluff, starting with a scenic drive to Gore. Visit the Moonshine Museum and Eastern Southland Art Gallery, where youll discover local and international artworks. Scenic Drive & Walking Tour: Discover Stirling Point, the southernmost tip of the South Island, and explore Bluff Hill for panoramic views. Travel along the scenic coastline to Oyster Cove Marina, enjoy Ocean Beachs wild beauty, and explore seafaring history at the Bluff Maritime Museum.

While exploring the ultra-luxurious spaces on board Scenic Eclipse II, you’ll have the chance to meet some of the experts who will bring the places you visit to life. The specialist polar Discovery Team will enrich your East Antarctica experience with their encyclopaedic knowledge of geology, glaciology, photography, marine biology, history, ecology and more. Their presentations will fascinate you with facts and stories beyond anything you can find in guidebooks or websites. Join an introductory presentation by the Discovery Team as they share how your Zodiac and other Scenic Discovery excursions will work. Get to know the team and your polar equipment.

It’s time to ease into your ultra-luxury surroundings. This might be the day you sleep in, conserving energy for the activities ahead, then relax in your suite, which provides you with the comforts of a 6-star hotel. Learn more about your new home from your Captain and crew at the open bridge. They will share details about your Discovery Yacht’s world-class technology, which includes two on board helicopters^, offering exclusive ways to explore across your journey. Then visit the theatre to hear today’s presentations from the Discovery Team or our expert scientist and conservationist guests.

Today you’ll cross the Antarctic Convergence, where the cold waters of the Antarctic circumpolar current meet and mingle with warmer waters to the north. Icebergs will begin to pop up around you, albatross are a common sight, and the nutrient-rich waters are popular among orcas, seals, penguins and whales. Due to the extraordinary nature of this region, Scenic Discovery excursions throughout your Expedition Voyage are dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Your experienced Captain and specialist polar Discovery Team, who have made countless journeys to Antarctica including visits to this region in our last season, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, making the most of your time in this spectacular destination. Every day on board, a true culinary journey awaits, with up to 10 extraordinary all-inclusive dining experiences and eight bars and lounges. You may decide to return to the Yacht Club for lunch, or opt for Azure Bar & Café, where you can graze throughout the day.

Freshly squeezed juice, steaming barista-made coffee or tea delivered to your door by your butler will help you start your day just the way you like it.  Stay on the lookout for penguins, swirling flocks of Antarctic petrels, or the solitary elegance of a snow petrel. With the Antarctic Circle on the horizon, your first iceberg is surely just around the corner. The Observation Lounge and Terrace on Deck 5 is the perfect place for a specialty tea or coffee while reading a book, playing a board game and watching the world float by.

This 160-kilometre-long chain of volcanic islands, some of them still active, straddles the Antarctic Circle. Here, you will have 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, blowing, and slapping their tails. Crabeater, Weddell Ross Sea Seals and leopard seals loll about, sunbaking between swims. Join a Discovery Excursion or just take in the view from the Observation Deck or your private verandah. Discovery: Daily experiences may include cruising on Zodiacs, stepping ashore to view vast penguin rookeries or kayaking around icebergs. Wherever your voyage takes you, you will have countless “pinch me" moments.

Take a moment for yourself this morning and unwind in the comfort of your luxuriously appointed suite—your very own 6-star hotel. Ask your butler to bring breakfast to your suite and perhaps book a treatment at the tranquil Senses Spa#. An ESPA facial or massage or an alternative therapy including Ayuverdic massage could be a revitalising pursuit.  In the evening, settle in at the spacious Scenic Lounge Bar for your beverage of choice. With Scenic’s signature all-inclusive ultra-luxury philosophy, indulge in top shelf spirits, over 130 whiskeys, a premium wine list and French Champagne.

Wake up to the breathtaking beauty of nature’s most remote frontiers, where towering ice formations and untouched landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see. This is a world of pure wilderness, where silence is broken only by the crackle of shifting ice and the calls of seabirds soaring overhead. Today invites you to fully immerse yourself in this extraordinary environment. Step onto the ice for an unforgettable exploration, where every crisp breath and crunch beneath your boots connects you to the raw, untamed beauty of this frozen realm. Discovery: Weather and ice conditions permitting, step ashore on the rugged, windswept terrain, where the stark beauty of Antarctica unfolds before you. Here, Adélie penguins waddle across the ice, and seabirds soar overhead, their cries the only sound in this frozen wilderness. Zodiac cruises may offer the chance to glide between sculpted ice formations, revealing hidden glacial caves and towering ice cliffs. 

Today you may see some of the ocean’s most elusive giants in their natural habitat as towering icebergs drift silently across the horizon. This could be the day you encounter the legendary blue whale. The sight of a 30-metre-long silhouette breaking the surface is a moment of pure magic. The elusive Type C orcas could also make an appearance. Whether observed from the comfort of the Observation Deck, during an exhilarating Zodiac cruise, or perhaps even from the above in the helicopter^, today is a rare opportunity to witness Antarctica’s most awe-inspiring marine life in its natural element.

As we navigate the untamed waters of East Antarctica, the landscape is a breathtaking spectacle of floating ice cathedrals. Towering tabular icebergs, sculpted by wind and time, stand sentinel, while smaller bergs, growlers, and shifting pack ice drift silently, creating a mesmerizing frozen mosaic. Amidst this pristine wilderness, Adélie penguins waddle across the ice, Crabeater and Weddell seals bask in the Antarctic sun and minke whales surface gracefully, offering fleeting glimpses into their world.

Wake up to a Christmas morning unlike any other, surrounded by an endless expanse of pristine white ice. Throughout the day, special dining, treats and entertainment bring the magic of Christmas to the heart of the frozen continent. Today, weather and ice conditions permitting, prepare for an extraordinary Zodiac cruise to the Mertz Glacier Tongue—a colossal river of ice extending into the Southern Ocean. If nature permits, you may witness the powerful moment of ice calving, as enormous chunks break away and thunderously crash into the sea—a phenomenon both humbling and exhilarating. Discovery: Enjoy daily Discovery excursions. Cruise on the Zodiacs around ice formations, step onto islands to view vast penguin rookeries and seals. Kayak and stand-up paddleboard around icebergs and hear the ice cracking and whales feeding below. For the ultimate perspective, take to the skies on an optional helicopter flight^, soaring over the vast, untouched landscapes of East Antarctica.

As your Discovery Yacht navigates deeper into East Antarctica’s remote frontier, prepare for a day of extraordinary exploration in an area few have ever set foot. Stillwell Island is an unparalleled polar experience, where stunning, ice-draped landscapes transport you to a captivating world of frozen wonder. Towering glacial cliffs, sculpted icebergs, and vast, untouched expanses provide an unforgettable backdrop to today’s exploration. Discovery: Weather and ice conditions permitting, embark on an exhilarating Zodiac cruise, gliding through icy waters that mirror the towering ice formations above. Keep your binoculars ready—these remote islands are known for their thriving seabird populations, including snow petrels and skuas soaring high above. If the conditions allow, you may even step ashore on the rugged, windswept terrain, experiencing the raw, untouched majesty of these seldom-visited outposts. 

Today, you will have the rare opportunity to follow in the footsteps of one of history’s greatest explorers, the legendary Sir Douglas Mawson, as you embark on an unforgettable experience retracing his historic 1911–14 Australasian Antarctic Expedition. Discover the remote, wild beauty of East Antarctica as you navigate the iconic Commonwealth Bay, explore Mawsons Main Base huts, and immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes that defined the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. This is your opportunity to experience the extraordinary - just as the pioneers did over a century ago. Discovery: Weather and ice conditions permitting, embark on an unparalleled journey back in time with a visit to the iconic Mawson’s Huts—one of the most historically significant sites in Antarctica. Scenic Eclipse II is the only ship offering an included helicopter flight shuttle experience, allowing all guests to take in aerial views of Commonwealth Bay before landing near the huts to explore this living time capsule of Antarctic exploration. Due to its historic nature, only four people are permitted inside the hut at a time. Scenic Eclipse II will be positioned in this area for several days, providing guests one opportunity to visit this extraordinary site over the next few days.   Daily experiences may include thrilling Zodiac excursions, stepping ashore to observe vast penguin rookeries, or kayaking past sculpted icebergs, each moment revealing breathtaking landscapes and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters. As you venture further into the Antarctic region, join our Discovery Team in the theatre for lectures that provide deep insights about the fantastic world around you.

As you continue your journey through Commonwealth Bay, you’ll witness the same untamed landscapes and powerful elements that led Mawson to famously call this place "Home of the Blizzard." Today, presents an opportunity for guests still to visit the historic huts and other significant sites to experience the vivid and immersive insights into this remarkable era in Antarctic history. After a day of exploration, restore your senses back on board. Book a luxurious spa treatment# in the tranquil Senses Spa, whether it’s an ESPA facial, a hot stone massage, or an Ayurvedic-inspired therapy. Then embrace the ultimate relaxation in the KLAFS Salt Therapy Lounge.    Discovery: Katabatic winds and ice permitting, today’s exploration will be another unforgettable immersion into the heart of East Antarctica. Step ashore at Mawson’s Huts, where history comes alive in its most untouched form. As you stand where legendary explorers once braved the elements, you will gain a profound appreciation for the resilience of early Antarctic pioneers. Daily experiences may include thrilling Zodiac excursions, stepping ashore to observe vast penguin rookeries, or kayaking past sculpted icebergs, each moment revealing breathtaking landscapes and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters.  Back on board, our scientists and conservationists will share their latest research, offering rare insights into the fragile Antarctic ecosystem and ongoing efforts to protect it.

This extraordinary corner of East Antarctica is not only home to Mawson’s legendary huts, but also one of the rare ice-free wildlife havens on the continent. Here, thousands of Adélie penguins waddle along the rocky shoreline, snow petrels glide effortlessly above, and Wilson’s storm petrels dance across the water’s surface in search of food. Throughout the day, delve deeper into the wonders of Antarctica with expert-led lectures and dynamic discussions in the state-of-the-art theatre. If conditions allow, you may even have the unique opportunity to contribute to real-time research projects, assisting in polar discovery like never before. Discovery: Weather and ice permitting, today presents another extraordinary opportunity for guests still to visit Mawson’s Huts, a truly remarkable experience where history comes alive. Step inside these century-old structures and stand in the footsteps of the fearless explorers who braved the harshest conditions on Earth. Daily experiences may include thrilling Zodiac excursions, stepping ashore to observe vast penguin rookeries, or kayaking past sculpted icebergs, each moment revealing breathtaking landscapes and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters.

Sea days aboard offer a perfect opportunity to unwind, connect with fellow guests, and dive into the rich history, environment, and unique wildlife of this captivating part of the world. Our guest scientist and conservationist experts, as well as the Discovery Team, will deliver engaging talks and presentations on the local wildlife and history. Tonight, decide on a bar or lounge to make the most of the truly all-inclusive beverage menu. The special guests and Discovery Team will still be on hand for engaging Q&A sessions, so enjoy every opportunity to talk with them.

As you sail through one of the world’s most fragile and pristine environments, take a moment to reflect on the importance of conservation. Scenic Eclipse II is designed to navigate this extreme region with the utmost care, equipped with world-class technology that minimises environmental impact. Take advantage of our open bridge policy, where you can meet the Captain and crew to gain insight into the state-of-the-art systems that make this voyage possible. Tonight, ring in the New Year in unforgettable fashion—toasting with Champagne as the midnight sun glows over the endless ice. Share in the joy of celebration with your fellow guests, savouring this rare moment in one of the most remote places on Earth.

Awaken to a brand-new year in Antarctica, greeted by the vast expanse of ocean and ice. Ease into the day however you wish—perhaps with a refreshing morning fitness class, followed by a soak in the heated Vitality pool as you watch the frozen landscape drift by. Tonight, could be the night you enjoy contemporary French fine dining at Lumière with your new friends. Stay up late in the bar or retire to the library for a moment of blissful solitude before bed.

Today, you will sail past Macquarie Island, a remote subantarctic sanctuary in the Southern Ocean. Macquarie Island is home to millions of seabirds and marine mammals, including royal, king, rockhopper, and gentoo penguins, as well as large populations of elephant seals. The Island and surrounding areas are strictly protected as part of an Australian Nature Reserve, ensuring its delicate ecosystems remain preserved. Subject to the necessary permits being granted, as well as favourable local weather and ice conditions for safe passage, we may have the opportunity to land or embark on a Zodiac cruise in this remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site. In the event that permits are not granted, you can still look forward to a scenic day of cruising as we search for whales and other incredible wildlife. Conservation efforts have successfully restored native wildlife, making it one of the world’s most pristine and untouched environments. This is also one of the few places on Earth where rocks from the Earth’s mantle (from beneath the crust) are exposed above sea level, making it a site of unique geological importance. Whether you have the opportunity to land or simply admire this natural wonder from several vantage points on the ship’s decks, Macquarie Island is a truly rare and remarkable sight, offering a glimpse into the wild beauty of the Southern Ocean.

Continue to be inspired by expert-led lectures, offering a deeper appreciation of Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem and the conservation efforts protecting it for future generations. This evening, savour the final nights at sea with a performance in the Scenic Theatre or unwind in the Observation Lounge, where you can relive the highlights of your expedition with fellow guests.

Indulge in one last moment of relaxation at Senses Spa#, booking an ESPA facial or an alternative therapy, such as an Ayurvedic massage or Japanese Shiatsu. Let the warmth of the Salt Therapy Lounge envelop you as you hold onto the sense of calm and renewal that this voyage has brought. As the evening draws near, raise a glass in the Scenic Lounge Bar, toasting to an extraordinary journey with a perfectly aged whiskey, a fine wine, or a flute of French Champagne—all part of Scenic’s truly all-inclusive ultra-luxury philosophy.

With an overnight stay in Hobart, immerse yourself in a city where heritage meets creativity. Wander through Salamanca’s lively streets and bustling market, marvel at MONA’s groundbreaking exhibitions, and soak in the charm of the historic waterfront. Indulge in world-class Tasmanian cuisine and experience the city’s vibrant arts scene after dark. Freechoice: Hobart Explorer: Explore Salamanca Place’s historic warehouses, now charming shops and restaurants. Photograph Hobart and Bruny Island from Mt Nelson, then stroll the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens’ unique collections. MONA Museum of Old and New Art: A must for the Art lover, visit the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Australia’s largest private museum, featuring underground galleries of contemporary art and antiquities from David Walsh’s collection, plus stunning grounds. Wine & Oysters: Journey to Barilla Oyster Farm to sample fresh, delicious oysters from pristine southern waters, then enjoy wine tasting at Coal Valley Vineyard before a scenic Hobart tour with a Rosny Hill lookout stop. Cascades Female Factory: Discover the Cascades Female Factory, Australia’s key historic site for female convicts, where over 6,000 women and children were imprisoned from 1828 to 1856, sharing tales of resilience and hardship with local guides.

This morning, enjoy a final breakfast on board, taking in the views of Hobart’s picturesque harbour before disembarking. It’s time to bid farewell to the dedicated Scenic Eclipse II crew. As you step ashore, you’ll carry with you a lifetime of extraordinary memories—from the untouched beauty of East Antarctica to the exhilarating moments shared with renowned scientist, conservationist, and fellow guests. Whether you continue exploring Tasmania or embark on your journey home, this polar expedition will stay with you forever. Please book your flight to depart out of Hobart after 12:00 PM. #Spa treatments at additional cost. +All drinks on board, including those stocked in your mini bar, are included, except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits. Specialty restaurants require a reservation, enquire on board. ~Kayak and stand-up paddleboard not available in all locations. ^Flights on board our two helicopters and submersible experiences are at additional cost, subject to regulatory approval, availability, weight restrictions, medical approval and weather, ice and tidal conditions. Submersible is not in operation on this voyage: Mawson’s Antarctica: Along the East Coast. The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the voyage will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Locations listed within East Antarctica are subject to weather and operational conditions. Sightings cannot be guaranteed. Attendance of guest lecturers is subject to availability at time of departure. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.