Who said penguins are flightless birds? Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) exit the water at Cape Denison in Antarctica. 

Zodiac cruising the waters of Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica allowed expeditioners to get up close and personal with icebergs.

A group of Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) drift by on an iceberg in the still waters of Commonwealth Bay, east Antarctica. 

Interior of the main of Mawson’s huts, home to 18 men during the winter of 1912. This room served as both eating and sleeping quarters. The stove can be seen in the foreground, at left, and bunks line the edges of the room.

Three of the five Mawson’s Hut Foundation team for 2010/2011 in front of the hut. (L-R: Matt Tucker, Dr. Dave Tingay, Pete McCabe). They will spend five short weeks restoring the hut while the weather at Cape Denison is kind enough to allow work. 

A juvenile (1-2 years old) Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) resting amongst tussock grass on Macquarie Island. Prized for their abundant blubber, the species was hunted to near extinction on Macquarie island at the beginning of the 19th century. They now number in their tens of thousands on the island. 

Majestic king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) stand tall at Sandy Bay, Macquarie Island. Once hunted to near extinction on the Island, the birds now number in the hundreds of thousands. 

A royal penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli) rookery on the slopes behind Sandy Bay, Macquarie Island. Adults returning from the sea are able to distinguish the cry of their own offspring amongst the many thousands of chicks.

White-capped albatross (Thalassarche steadi) nesting on the near vertical sea cliffs on the weather-beaten western side of Auckland Island. ICUN lists the species as near-threatened.

A Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) weaner pup (1-4 months old) on the beach at Sandy Bay, Macquarie Island. The pups are only weaned for about a month before their mothers abandon them to their fate. Full grown adult males can reach up to 4 tonnes. 

Campbell albatross (Thalassarche impavida) surround the boat during a chumming session. The species is endemic to New Zealand’s Campbell Island. 

Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) are the most numerous species of penguin at Cape Denison. There are several rookeries in the vicinity of Mawson’s Hut – just follow your nose!

A juvenile fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) befriends the expedition ship in Antarctic waters. The whale circled the zodiacs for about an hour, obviously curoius to know more about these strange floating fish that had drifted into its territory. 

Spirit of Enderby navigates the bergy bits in Antarctic waters on the AG Society expedition. 

Looking west from New Zealand’s Campbell Island. There were 100 km/h winds rushing up this cliff from the sea. The strong winds make the island a popular nesting site for 6 species of albatross.

A new-born Hooker (New Zealand) sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) pup on the beach at Sandy Bay, Enderby Island, part of New Zealand’s Auckland Island group. On the day we visited, three pups were born on the beach in front of our eyes.

Some of the various bottles lining the shelves within the hut. 99 years of sub-zero temperatures have left everything in the hut covered with a delicate dusting of ice crystals.

Mawson’s Hut is preserved exactly how it was abandoned in 1913. On the walls and shelves lining the hut can still be seen bottles, tins, books and magazines – it is like stepping into a time capsule. 

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) pups playfight on the beach at Macquarie Island.

The imaginatively named iceberg C28 dwarfs our zodiacs. At 2,500 sq. km, it’s about the size of Luxembourg.