Antarctica–Expedition to the Ross Sea EP1: New Zealand’s Sub-Antarctic Islands and Macquarie Island

Welcome to the first of ten episodes covering my expedition from New Zealand to Antarctica aboard the Spirit of Enderby, a small ship carrying only 50 passengers. Over five incredible weeks we explore New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic Islands and Australia’s Macquarie Island, before steaming south to the Ross Sea in Antarctica. Highlights include Mt Erebus, vast expanses of frozen ocean, stunning wildlife encounters, and of course the huts: Shackleton, Scott and Borchgrevink. This expedition was a special trip extended by one week to allow a visit to the amazing Bay of Whales in the Ross Ice Shelf, from where Amundsen set out to become the first to reach the South Pole.

The videos are a combination of high quality stills and down-to-earth GoPro footage. The stills show the stunning beauty of the place, while the GoPro gives some idea of the actual conditions and wonderful encounters with the wildlife.

In Episode One I spend a day hiking in the Catlins before boarding the ship at Bluff. After a night at sea, first stop is a Zodiac cruise at the amazing Snares Islands. Another overnight leg brings us to Enderby Island, where I spend the day hiking this wind-swept place and meeting some of its wildlife.

There follows the long and difficult passage against the winds of the Furious Fifties (latitude) to Australia’s Macquarie Island, where the episode finishes. Episode 2 will be an exploration of Macquarie Island on foot and in the Zodiac.

Cruise run by Heritage Expeditions, New Zealand.