The film is introduced by Captain 'Teddy' Evans, who was Scott's second-in-command on the Expedition. He is filmed as if before the cinema curtains and in turn introduces Herbert Ponting, who says a few words before the picture proper begins. He provides a voice over commentary to the footage shot, by him, in the Antarctic. The footage shows the departure of the Terra Nova from Lyttelton in New Zealand, the voyage and arrival at Cape Evans. It shows the unloading of the ship and life in camp as well as footage of the local wildlife, penguins, killer whales and seals. The film ends with the setting off of the various parties on the journey to the South Pole, the return of the depot laying teams and a reconstruction of the story of what befell Scott and his companions on the way to and return from the Pole.