Aurora Expeditions’ newest vessel, the Douglas Mawson, is currently sailing her inaugural Tasmanian voyage — a coastal journey celebrating the wild edges, small islands, and cultural heritage of our state.

Named after the legendary Australian explorer, the ship carries forward his pioneering spirit with enhanced sustainability features and a design built for global discovery.

Travelling smoothly and quietly, the Douglas Mawson is purpose-built to get people off the ship and into the natural world. This Sunday, we welcome the vessel and her 125 guests to Flinders Island — and they’re not just visiting, they’re contributing.

Aurora Expeditions has shaped its day visit around locally hosted experiences, supporting island businesses and connecting with the community in a thoughtful, low-impact way. Briefed on how to respect the islands and its communities, and travelling in small groups, guests will take part in experiences to support local operators such as:

• Furneaux Museum– exploring island history
  • Wybalenna – visiting this significant cultural site
  • Flinders Island Distillery – local tastings and island lunch by Cate Cooks
  • Sports & RSL Club – buffet lunch with Liz Leigh at a much-loved community venue
  • East Coast birdwatching – immersing in our wild coastline with David Williams
  • Unavale Vineyard – wine tasting with Cassie and Barry and a picnic among the vines
  • Trousers Point and Castle Rock walks – island trails with breathtaking views
  • Transport with Flinders Island Adventures – guided by James Luddington and his team

A Sustainability Initiative Worth Noting

Aurora Expeditions has also taken a meaningful step toward cleaner oceans. The Douglas Mawson is the first expedition vessel in the world to install advanced microplastic filtration in partnership with Cleaner Seas Group. The system captures up to 99% of microfibres from laundry before they reach the ocean, protecting fragile places like Antarctica — and the Furneaux Islands!

All fibres collected are fully recycled, creating a simple closed-loop system.
A small change with real impact.

We welcome Aurora Expeditions to Flinders Island this weekend — not just as visitors, but as partners who care and want to do the right thing by the places they visit.

For more information – www.aurora-expeditions.com