J.R.Stenhouse, in command of the 'Aurora', with instructions to select a base and land a party.
The first objective was Hut Point, where stands the hut erected by the Discovery expedition in 1902.

An advance party, consisting of Joyce (in charge), Jack, and Gaze, with dogs and fully loaded sledges, left the ship on January 24; Mackintosh, with Wild and Smith, followed the next day; and a supporting party, consisting of Cope (in charge), Stevens, Ninnis, Haywood, Hooke, and Richards, left the ship on January 30.

The first two parties had dog teams.

The third party took with it the motor-tractor, which does not appear to have given the good service that I had hoped to get from it.

These parties had a strenuous time during the weeks that followed.