Aurora Expeditions names third ship Douglas Mawson

The Australian small expedition ship company was named after Mawson’s ship, SY Aurora.

The 154-passenger Douglas Mawson, which will join sister ships Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle, will feature the latest Ulstein X-BOWâ, designed for faster ocean crossings and fuel efficiency.

This is the seventh and final ship in SunStone Group's China-built Infinity series. 

East Antarctica return

She will make her maiden voyage in December 2025 and her inaugural season will see Aurora Expeditions return to East Antarctica for the first time in 15 years.

A new itinerary will include a ‘Mawson’s Antarctica’ voyage to East Antarctica from Hobart to Dunedin.

Like her sister ships, Douglas Mawson is designed to be a comfortable base camp, with a changing room and mudroom.

A dedicated science centre will be the hub for educational Citizen Science programmes.

Most cabins will feature private balconies and for the first time the company will offer several single berth cabins to cater for the growing number of solo travellers.

Mawson’s Huts Foundation

‘We look forward to our partnership with the Mawson’s Huts Foundation — a custodian of Australia’s Antarctic heritage and advocate for Antarctic science education for children,’ Chief Marketing Officer Hayley Peacock-Gower said.

Gower said the foundation does ‘fantastic work’ preserving the Mawson’s Huts complex and bringing the stories and achievements of Mawson and his Australian Antarctic Expedition 1911-14 to life.

She said a full programme will be announced shortly.