An international agreement banned Huskies from the Antarctic after April 1994 and required the removal of all those left, despite protests by the Australian and Mawson station. The film begins with the final expedition of sledgedogs leaving Mawson to go 630 km along the coast to survey the emperor penguin rookeries. Two traditional Nansen sledges, each drawn by nine dogs, battle against temperatures of minus 40° and blizzards that keep the men tentbound, wile the marvellous huskies have to survive outside. When they return, the men and the dogs board the "Aurora Australis" ship. After a marathon two week journey, using various transportation and covering 20,000 km, the 19 dogs and 3 pups finally reach their new home in Ely, Minnesota.