The Douglas Mawson, Aurora Expedition’s latest ship, makes maiden call to Hobart
Aurora Expeditions founder Greg Mortimer has achieved a 35-year dream with the arrival of the Douglas Mawson vessel in Hobart, marking a personal triumph for the renowned climber.
For Greg Mortimer OAM, the arrival of Aurora Expedition’s newest vessel marks not only a significant milestone in the long-standing Tasmania-Antarctica partnership, but a profound personal triumph.
The renowned climber established the cruise company with the aim of providing “immersive, sustainable adventures” to the world’s most remote places 35 years ago.
But the goal of welcoming a ship bearing the Mawson name to Hobart – Australia’s gateway to Antarctica – remained an elusive goal.
Christened in Sydney last week, the Douglas Mawson – a 130 passenger vessel – touched down in Hobart ahead of its inaugural circumnavigation of Tasmania and the start of the 2025-2026 Antarctic season on Monday.
Mr Mortimor described reaching the milestone as “closing the loop”.
“I started Aurora Expeditions on the back of growing up with the story of Douglas Mawson, so it’s been the career leader for me,” he said.
“To be able to have the honour of carrying his name on one of our ships into the beautiful morning sunlight of Hobart is a big deal.”
With a nose shaped like an Orca for greater stability, the Douglas Mawson will embark on a 10-night circumnavigation of Tasmania before heading south towards Cape Adare, Antarctica.
A ticket for the Tasmanian expedition starts at a price of more than $12,000 per person.
Despite being fitted with panoramic lounges, a two-storey atrium and various observation decks, Aurora’s expedition leader Daniel Stavert said the vessel was designed to “get you away from the ship”.
“Despite how shiny and lovely it is inside, the ship is designed to get you into small boats and zodiacs to take you out to see wild things, whether that’s icebergs, glaciers or polar bears,” he said.
“That is the primary difference of this ship. It’s actually about immersing you in the wild place you’re in.”
Having worked with the company since 2017, Mr Stavert said being tasked with preparing the kayaking program for the deep ice of the south – “one of the most dynamic kayaking environments in the world” – was an “extraordinary opportunity”.
But reconciling travel and exploration with a changing planet remained a critical challenge.
“Our intended results for an expedition like this to have people feel connected to those wild places,” he said.
“When we experience a place, we are far more likely to advocate for a place.”
Mr Mortimer said despite the environmental questions often asked of Antarctic explorations, it was an exciting time for the industry.
“This vehicle will welcome thousands of people on board each year,” he said.
“That’s small on the world scale, but thousands of influential people a year to be educated about their own environmental footprint (means) this is an incredible resource.
“It’s been a long road to get this ship to where it’s at. And now we can start putting people’s stories into it. Putting the soul in it.”
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