Discover the 'Albatross Latitudes and explore the stunning Subantarctic islands including Snares, Bounty, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell, Macquarie & Chatham Islands on this comprehensive expedition perfect for those interested in birds, history, wildlife and remote places and photography
Day 1: Queenstown
Guests should make their way to the designated hotel where we will
spend the first night of the expedition. This evening there will be an
informal get-together at the hotel for dinner; an excellent
opportunity to meet fellow adventurers on your voyage and some of our
expedition team.
Day 2: Port of Bluff
Today we enjoy breakfast in the hotel restaurant and have the morning
free to explore Queenstown before returning to the hotel for lunch and
departing for the Port of Bluff to embark your ship. You will have
time to settle into your cabin and familarise yourself with the ship;
we will also take the opportunity to conduct a number of safety
briefings. You are invited to join the expedition team in the
Observation Lounge and up on the Observation Deck as we set our course
to The Snares and our adventure begins.
Day 3: The Snares – North East Island
The closest Subantarctic Islands to New Zealand, they were
appropriately called The Snares as they were once considered a hazard
for sailing ships. Comprising of two main islands and a group of five
islands called the Western Chain; they are uninhabited and enjoy the
highest protection as Nature Reserves. It is claimed by some that
these islands are home to more nesting seabirds than all of the
British Isles together. We plan to arrive in the morning, and as
landings are not permitted, we will Zodiac cruise along the sheltered
eastern side of the main island if the weather and sea conditions are
suitable. In the sheltered bays, we should see the endemic Snares
Crested Penguin, Snares Island Tomtit and Fernbirds. There are
hundreds of thousands of Sooty Shearwaters nesting on The Snares; the
actual number is much debated. Buller’s Albatross breed here from
early January onwards. There will be opportunities to view the forests
of large tree daisy Olearia lyallii which forms a canopy over much of
the island group.
Day 4: Auckland Islands – Enderby Island
The Auckland Islands group was formed by two volcanoes which erupted
some 10-25 million years ago. They have subsequently been eroded and
dissected by glaciation creating the archipelago as we know it today.
Enderby Island is one of the most beautiful islands in this group and
is named after the same distinguished shipping family as one of our
own vessels. This northern most island in the archipelago is an
outstanding wildlife and birding location and is relatively easy to
land on and walk around. The island was cleared of all introduced
animals (pests) in 1994 and both birds and the vegetation, especially
the herbaceous plants, are recovering both in numbers and diversity.
Our plan is to land at Sandy Bay, one of three breeding areas in the
Auckland Islands for the Hooker’s or New Zealand Sea Lion, a rare
member of the seal family. Beachmaster bulls gather on the beach,
defending their harems from younger (ambitious) males, to mate with
the cows shortly after they have given birth to a single pup. Hooker’s
or New Zealand Sea Lion numbers are in a slow decline, for reasons
which are not obvious but most probably connected with a nearby squid
fishery. During our day ashore there will be several options, some
longer walks, some shorter walks and time to spend just sitting and
enjoying the wildlife. The walking is relatively easy. A boardwalk
traverses the island to the dramatic western cliffs, from there we
follow the coast and circumnavigate the island. Birds that we are
likely to encounter include the following species: Southern Royal
Albatross, Northern Giant Petrel, Auckland Island Shag, Auckland
Island Flightless Teal, Auckland Island Banded Dotterel, Auckland
Island Tomtit, Bellbird, Pipit, Red-crowned Parakeet, Yellow-eyed
Penguin and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross. There is also a very good
chance of seeing the Subantarctic Snipe. Other more common species we
will see include the Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Blackbird, European
Starling, Red-billed Gull and Redpoll. On Derry Castle Reef we will
look for migratory waders which could include Bar-tailed Godwit,
Turnstone and possibly vagrants.
Day 5: At Sea
As we make our way through an area known as the Furious Fifties in
the tumultuous Southern Ocean, we will learn more about the flora and
fauna as we prepare for our arrival at Macquarie Island. En route
there are great birding opportunities which may include the Wandering
Albatross, Royal Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Light-mantled
Sooty Albatross, Salvin’s Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross, Northern
and Southern Giant Petrel, Sooty Shearwater and Little Shearwater. We
will endeavour to spot the Fairy Prion, Fulmar Prion and Antarctic
Prion – never an easy task – but we should get some great views. Other
species to be on the lookout for include the Soft-plumaged Petrel,
Mottled Petrel, White-headed Petrel, Grey-faced Petrel, White-chinned
Petrel, Grey-backed Storm-Petrel, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel and the
Black-bellied Storm-Petrel.
Days 6 to 7: Maquarie Island
The great Australian Antarctic Explorer Sir Douglas Mawson once
called Macquarie Island “One of the wonder spots of the world.” You
are about to discover why as we spend two days exploring this amazing
Island. It was one of the first of the Subantarctic Islands to obtain
World Heritage Status and that was largely due to its unique geology.
It is one of the few places on earth where mid-ocean crustal rocks are
exposed at the surface due to the collision of the Australian and
Pacific Plates. The island was discovered in 1810 and was soon ravaged
by sealers who introduced various animals including rats, mice, cats
and rabbits. The native bird population was virtually eliminated and
plants destroyed. The Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service
which administered the island recently embarked on a very ambitious
eradication program which appears to have been successful. The island
is now predator free and both the birds and plants are responding. It
is amazing to witness the regeneration and the increase in the number
of birds. Macquarie Island is home to four species of penguin, Kings,
Royals, Gentoo and Rockhopper. The Royal Penguin occurs nowhere else
in the world. During our visit we will land at two sites (subject of
course to weather and sea conditions) and you will get a chance to
see, observe and photograph all four species, although the Rockhopper
is much harder to capture than the others. Macquarie also has a large
population of Southern Elephant Seals. Pups are born in October and
weaned in November when the breeding adults return to sea. The weaners
and sub adults lie around on the beaches. The weaners go to sea
sometime in January, running the gauntlet of Orcas or Killer Whales
who are waiting offshore. We plan a landing at the Australian
Antarctic Research Base at Buckles Bay where you will be able to meet
with scientists and base staff. The original base was established in
1947 and the island has been ‘manned’ since then. It is one of the
longest continuously occupied bases in the Subantarctic.
Day 8: At Sea
At sea en route to Campbell Island and time to unwind after the
adventures of Macquarie Island. Look for cetaceans and albatross, join
a lecture or catch up on your photos and journaling.
Day 9: Campbell Island – Perseverance Harbour
Today we explore Campbell Island, New Zealand’s southernmost
Subantarctic territory. Its history is as rich and varied as the other
islands we visit. Discovered in 1810, it was soon occupied by sealers
who introduced rats and cats. Farming followed from 1895 to 1934 when
it was abandoned. Coastwatchers were stationed on the island during
the war and at the end of the war the station was taken over by the
New Zealand Metrological service. They maintained a manned weather/
research station there until 1995. In the early 1970s the removal of
farm animals commenced and all were eventually removed by 1990. The
vegetation recovered quickly and the cats died out naturally. In a
very ambitious (and never before attempted on such a large scale)
eradication programme the New Zealand Department of Conservation
successfully removed the rats. With the island declared predator free,
the way was clear to reintroduce the endangered Campbell Island
Flightless Teal, which had been rediscovered on an offshore island in
1975. Snipe, which were formerly unknown from the island but were
discovered on another offshore island, recolonised the islands
themselves. The vegetation which the great English botanist Sir Joseph
Hooker described in 1841 as having a “Flora display second to none
outside the tropics” is flourishing and is nothing short of
spectacular. We will offer a number of options which will enable you
to explore the island including an extended walk to Northwest Bay.
There will also be an easier walk to the Col Lyall Saddle. All of
these options will allow you the opportunity and time to enjoy the
Southern Royal Albatross which nest here in large numbers. We also
visit areas of the island which contain outstanding examples of the
megaherbs for which the island is renowned.
Day 10: At Sea
At sea en route to the Antipodes, it is a day for pelagic birding.
Species commonly seen in this area include Wandering Albatross
species, Southern Royal Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Campbell
Island Albatross, Lightmantled Sooty Albatross, Salvin’s Albatross,
Grey-headed Albatross, Northern and Southern Giant Petrel, the Sooty
Shearwater and the Little Shearwater. This region of the Southern
Ocean is one of the few places where the Fairy Prion, Fulmar Prion and
Antarctic Prion occur together, providing a good opportunity for
comparison. Other species to be on the lookout for include the
Soft-plumaged Petrel, Mottled Petrel, White-headed Petrel, Grey-faced
Petrel, Whitechinned Petrel, Grey-backed Storm-Petrel, Wilson’s
Storm-Petrel, Black-bellied Storm-Petrel and the Common Diving-Petrel.
Day 11: Antipodes Islands
The Antipodes group of islands is the most isolated and perhaps the
least known of New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands. Sealers lived here
in the decades immediately after their discovery in 1806. Mice are the
only introduced animal on the islands but efforts to eradicate them
will hopefully see that their days are numbered. The islands are of
volcanic origin, but are heavily eroded especially the western
shoreline. The largest of the group is Antipodes Island. Landings are
not permitted so we plan to cruise, along the coastline by Zodiac
where we have a good chance of seeing the Antipodes Parakeet, the
largest of New Zealand’s parakeets. This species has an entirely green
head. We will also look for the Reischek’s Parakeet, a subspecies of
the Red-crowned Parakeet found in the Auckland Islands and on the
Chatham Islands. We also see the Antipodes subspecies of the New
Zealand Pipit. Good views of both Erect-crested and Rockhopper
Penguins can be expected along the coast where they often breed in
mixed colonies.
Day 12: Bounty Islands
We arrive at the incongruously named Bounty Islands, the remote
northernmost of the five New Zealand Subantarctic groups; they were
discovered by Captain Bligh just months before the infamous mutiny.
Here inhospitable granite knobs, tips of the submerged Bounty
Platform, are lashed by the Southern Ocean. They are home to thousands
of Salvin’s Albatross, Erect-crested Penguins, Fulmar Prions and the
endemic Bounty Island Shag – the world’s rarest. We plan to arrive in
the early morning and if conditions are suitable we will cruise by
Zodiac around the granite outposts to take a closer look at the birds
which breed there. New Zealand Fur Seals which were almost hunted to
extinction in the Subantarctic Islands are present in large numbers.
Sailing towards the Chatham Islands there are opportunities to see a
good selection of birdlife as we sail. These should include Wandering
Albatross, Northern Royal Albatross, Mottled Petrel, Soft-plumaged
Petrel, Broad-billed Prion, White-chinned Petrel and Black-bellied
Storm-Petrel as well as Wilson’s Storm-Petrel. Other possible
sightings include White-capped Albatross, Northern Giant Petrel, Cape
Petrel, Antarctic Fulmar, Sooty Shearwater, Little Shearwater and
Grey-backed Storm-Petrel. We will also start to keep a lookout for the
Chatham Island Petrel.
Day 13: Pyramid Rock and South East Island
As we continue toward the Chatham Archipelago, there are excellent
opportunities for pelagic birding today. In particular, we will look
out for the Chatham Island Petrel which has been seen on this leg of
the voyage before. In the past we have observed the very rare Chatham
Island Taiko in this area. Endemic to the Chatham Islands, the Chatham
Island Taiko – also known as the Magenta Petrel – is among New
Zealand’s most endangered species. It is one of the world’s rarest
seabirds with a population estimated to number less than 150. This
afternoon we will cruise around spectacular Pyramid Rock, a basalt
outcrop south of Pitt Island. This is the only breeding place of the
Chatham Island Albatross. During the afternoon we arrive at South East
Island. This has to be one of the world’s greatest nature reserves and
landings are not permitted. However we should obtain good views of the
very rare New Zealand Shore Plover and Chatham Island Oystercatcher
from the Zodiacs as we cruise along the coast. We should also see the
Pitt Island Shag which nests on the island.
Day 14: Chatham Islands – Waitangi
The Chatham Archipelago consists of one large island and numerous
smaller islands and rocky islets. Only two of the islands are
inhabited. They represent New Zealand’s eastern most territory. The
islands were originally settled by East Polynesians. In the 1400s the
population became isolated and interestingly developed its own
distinct culture. The islands were discovered by Europeans in the
1790s. Sealers and settlers followed and then in the 1830s Maoris from
New Zealand invaded killing and enslaving many of the indigenous
people. The impact of the original settlers, the European and later
the Maori people on the native flora and fauna was disastrous.
Introduced animals, hunting, fires and land clearing wiped out many
species of endemic birds. Fortunately a number survived on the
offshore islands in the archipelago. With a new generation has come a
new awareness and a willingness to be part of a concerted conservation
effort. A number of private reserves have been established, a lot of
replanting has taken place and predators are being controlled. Today
we will visit one of the original private reserves established by a
local family on the south coast of the main island where there is a
very good chance to see the endemic Chatham Island Pigeon and Warbler.
The pigeon was close to extinction until recently, and is now in good
numbers. We will travel by local bus to the reserve. The road takes us
through developed farmland where we will undoubtedly see numerous
introduced species and possibly the Weka. Near our landing in Waitangi
there is a good chance of seeing the endemic Chatham Island Shag. This
afternoon we cruise back along the south coast, this is where the only
known population of the Taiko breeds and also where they are
attempting to establish a new population of the Chatham Island Petrel
in a predator free area. We have seen both Taiko and Chatham Island
Petrel in this area on previous expeditions.
Days 15 to 16: At Sea
En route to Bluff we will cross the Chatham Rise, a large, relatively
shallowly submerged part of the Zealandia continent that stretches
east from near the South Island of New Zealand. Nutrient rich waters
from the south mix with warm northern waters and there is an overlap
between northern pelagic species and birds from southern latitudes, so
we can expect great pelagic sightings. Species we expect to encounter
include Wandering Albatross, Royal Albatross, Black-browed Albatross,
White-capped Albatross and Salvin’s Albatross. Petrel species we
should be able to identify are the Northern Giant Petrel, Cape Petrel,
Westland Black Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Great-winged Petrel,
Grey-backed Storm-Petrel, Whitefaced Storm-Petrel, the DivingPetrel
and Cook’s Petrel. Additional birdlife will include species of
shearwater seabirds. These tubenose birds fly with stiff wings and use
a ‘shearing’ flight technique to move across wave fronts with the
minimum of active flight. Photographic opportunities can include
Flesh-footed Shearwater, Buller’s Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater and
Little Shearwater. Small petrels on the horizon and close by include
Fairy Prion and Broad-billed Prion. We will recap the highlights of
our expedition and enjoy a farewell dinner tonight as we complete the
last few miles of our journey.
Day 17: Invercargill/Queenstown
Early this morning we will arrive in the Port of Bluff. After a final
breakfast we bid farewell to our fellow voyagers and take a
complimentary coach transfer to either Invercargill or Queenstown
Airports. In case of unexpected delays due to weather and/or port
operations we ask you not to book any onward travel until after midday
from Invercargill and after 3pm from Queenstown.
Note:
During our voyage, circumstances may make it necessary or
desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include
poor weather and opportunities for making unplanned excursions. Your
Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed. Landings at the
Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand are by permit only as
administered by the Government of New Zealand. No landings are
permitted at The Snares, Antipodes or Bounties.