This voyage was ordered for the prosecution of discoveries in high southern latitudes, to determine the question of the long asserted continent in the extreme south. M. Bouvet had reported a certain Cape Circumcision, lying in south latitude 54°, and in east longitude 11° 20′. Cook was furnished with two ships, the Resolution and the Adventure. Of the latter vessel, Captain Furneaux was appointed commander; and they had two astronomers, Mr. Wales and Mr. Bayley. Having made their explorations round the antarctic circle, they were to return to Spithead by way of the Cape of Good Hope, and they had each of them instructions in case of the ships being separated, to make rendezvous, in the first place, at Madeira, in the second, at Port Praya, thirdly, at the Cape of Good Hope, and fourthly, in New Zealand.

In this voyage, they employed the new mode of calculating the longitude east and west, to the 180° from the meridian of Greenwich. The two vessels set sail from Plymouth Sound, on Monday the 13th of July, 1772. Having reached the quarter where the asserted Cape Circumcision should lie, they sailed about in vain seeking it, and advanced into the Antarctic circle, finding much ice, but no land. There in thick fogs the two ships lost each other, and, therefore, made for their appointed place of rendezvous in Dusky Bay, New Zealand.