Our “Galapagos of the Southern Ocean” Expedition Officially Begins

The centrepiece of our trip to New Zealand was a 10 night ‘Galapagos of the Southern Ocean‘ expedition. After being captivated by the documentary “Edge of Nowhere,” and having previously visited South Georgia for penguin watching, the NZ subantarctic islands, and Macquarie Island—a part of Tasmania—seemed like a closer, equally thrilling alternative.

The expedition was a rare glimpse into these seldom-visited islands, accessible only by a few expedition ships a few times each year. The adventure began with a night at the Copthorne Lakefront in Queenstown, where we checked in after concluding our memorable Doubtful Sound cruise.

Navigating to our room in the hotel was an adventure in itself, involving multiple turns, two elevators, and a flight of stairs. Despite the initial maze, our ground floor room rewarded us with a splendid view. Our agenda was simple but essential: check in with Heritage, do some laundry, and return the rental car.

Heritage Expeditions had a check-in desk at reception, and we collected our lanyards, a small dry bag, a notebook and pen, and some hand sanitizer—which, post-pandemic, still triggered a slight unease given the close quarters of ship travel. Could I avoid covid this time? Stay tuned.

Fortunately, the hotel had guest laundry facilities, allowing us to refresh our clothes before we dropped off our rental car at the airport and Ubered back. That evening, Heritage hosted a welcome dinner, and the room was buzzing with the excitement of over 100 passengers. The unique itinerary attracted a mix of avid birders and seasoned Antarctic travellers, all eager to embark on this exclusive adventure.

Next up — Embarkation Day: Setting Sail for New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands