| Aurora details Australian season

AURORA Expeditions has revealed details of some of its itineraries and activities on its inaugural Australian season (CW 01 Mar).

Antarctic Ross Sea & Commonwealth Bay voyages will operate round trip from Hobart aboard Greg Mortimer, which will become the first time an X-BOW passenger ship will sail Australian waters.

Aurora’s activity program for the season, running from Jun to Mar, includes sea kayaking, clear-bottom kayaking, scuba and shark diving, climbing, helicopter rides, and snorkelling with sea lions in Hopkins Island, & dolphins in Kangaroo Island.

The season begins in northern Australia, with a Kimberley in Depth itinerary, which will sail Darwin to Broome between 08 Jul and the end of Aug.

Travellers will explore King George River and its falls, which cascade over 80-metre sandstone cliffs.

Further Western Australian itineraries are the 10-day Ningaloo Reef Adventure, which sees travellers embark on a Zodiac-cruise, snorkel, kayak or dive among coral reefs, lagoons and canyons of Rowley Shoals Marine Park.

The season then heads to the south coast, with the Southern Australia Coastal Discovery, which departs 04 Oct across 12 days.

Travellers will explore and learn about the marine ecosystems designated as “Hope Spots” by Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue team, including the Great Southern Reef, Salisbury Island and Kangaroo Island.

Also on offer is the Bass Strait Islands & East Coast Discovery voyage, departing across seven days on a number of dates, visiting the remote and rarely visited islands of the region.

Aurora’s season in the Southern Ocean begins with Mawson’s Antarctica on 11 Dec, which travels across 25 days, offering the only access to East Antarctica from Australia.

The itinerary also navigates mazes of pack ice alive populated by seals, penguins and hunting orcas to reach Mawson’s Hut, and Commonwealth Bay.

Other similar departures include the Antarctica featuring the Ross Sea itinerary, travelling from 05 Jan to 25 Feb, and the 18-day Subantarctic Discovery, which visits Bruny Island’s Cloudy Bay and explores the remote New Harbour.

Bookings open in one week, and expressions of interest can be lodged HERE.

Call Aurora Expeditions on 1800 637 688.