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January 10, 2026 — 5:00am
It takes conviction for a small Australian company to influence a global industry, but Aurora Expeditions has done so since its founding in 1991 by Greg and Margaret Mortimer. Built on a guiding ethos of environmental responsibility and true expedition travel, the company has maintained its focus on accessing remote regions, supporting science and fostering meaningful adventure.
With that ethos top of mind, Aurora Expeditions has launched its newest purpose-built vessel, the Douglas Mawson.
The 154-passenger ship is named for Sir Douglas Mawson, the pioneering Australian Antarctic explorer and scientist whose legacy is central to Australia’s Antarctic identity. The Douglas Mawson becomes Aurora’s third modern expedition vessel, joining the Greg Mortimer (2019), named after the company’s mountaineer founder, and the Sylvia Earle (2022), named for the American marine biologist and oceanographer. All three ships are Infinity-class expedition vessels built by SunStone and feature the distinctive Ulstein X-BOW hull design, which improves handling, efficiency and comfort in heavy seas.
The Douglas Mawson is equipped with low-impact technologies including fuel-efficient diesel-electric propulsion and dynamic positioning technology allowing for landings without the use of anchors. The ship length of 104 metres, compared with French cruise operator Ponant’s Le Laperouse at 131 metres, for example, allows for manoeuvrability where others might not venture.
Onboard specialists for programs including seabird monitoring, marine ecology and oceanographic sampling are a feature, with passengers encouraged to take part through Aurora’s long-running citizen science program, supported by a Citizen Science Centre and research facilities designed for data collection with universities and climate organisations.
It’s not all ice, penguins and polar bears, though. In addition to the Douglas Mawson operating across Antarctica, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, Patagonia, the Arctic and selected sub-polar regions, the ship will cruise the Mediterranean, the British Isles and other destinations where excursions will see less of the science-led exploration but still be immersive.
In polar regions though, passenger numbers are capped at 130 to allow efficient Zodiac operations and shore landings.
Accommodation spans 10 cabin categories, many with private balconies and including single-berth staterooms. Public spaces include an observation lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows, two restaurants, a wellness centre and a heated outdoor pool, reflecting the sector’s blend of comfort with purposeful expedition travel. The ship’s expanded expedition team enables Aurora to field a broad roster of biologists, geologists, ornithologists, historians and photographers on each voyage.
While most Antarctic voyages depart the southern reaches of South America, the Douglas Mawson will operate multiple itineraries from Hobart, underscoring the Tasmanian capital’s role as an Antarctic gateway city for logistics, crew movements and passenger embarkation.
That’s good news for the 10,000 or so Australians travelling to the region each year.
With industry data showing the global expedition cruise sector continuing to grow strongly, Australia remains one of the fastest-growing source markets for Antarctica.
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