A Surprise Second Shot at the Snares
- Rediscovering New Zealand: An Expedition to the Subantarctic and South Island Adventures
- Our Adventure Begins in Queenstown
- A Day Trip to The Remarkables and Glenorchy
- Te Anu and Milford Sound
- An Overnight Cruise in Doubtful Sound with Fiordland Expeditions
- Our "Galapagos of the Southern Ocean" Expedition Officially Begins
- Embarkation Day: Setting Sail for New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands
- Navigating Rough Seas at the Snares
- A Day in the Auckland Islands
- Discovering Macquarie Island
- A Glorious Day at Sandy Bay
- Christmas at Sea and the Wonders of Campbell Island
- Exploring Enderby Island
- A Surprise Second Shot at the Snares
- From Disembarkation to Dunedin
- A Heli-hike on the Tasman Glacier in Aoraki/Mt. Cook
- Lake Tekapo Weather Woes
- Chasing Dusky Dolphins in Kaikoura
- Hiking the Abel Tasman Coast Track (well, part of it)
Our expedition was nearing its end, and rather than the planned quiet day at sea, our crew made the decision to revisit the Snares—an opportunity we’d missed earlier due to adverse weather conditions. As we approached the famed Penguin Slide, the outlook was initially grim; the swell was high, and it looked doubtful we’d be able to deploy the zodiacs. Yet, after repositioning the ship, the captain approved a zodiac excursion, and we were warned of the potentially rough 2-hour ride ahead and the likelihood of it getting cut short.
I was in the second zodiac to launch and it was rough and raining. I heard the expedition lead, who was in the first zodiac, radio the other guides warning of a choppy passage around the point and request all zodiacs return to the ship within one hour. But as soon as we rounded the point, conditions improved significantly so we were able to explore as planned. Snares crested penguins were everywhere—waddling around the coves, porpoising through the water, and forming dense rafts as they made their way ashore.
Amidst this bustling penguin activity, we also saw numerous birds, New Zealand fur seals and elephant seals.
Our exploration also took us to several intriguing caves along the coast, providing a unique perspective of the rugged island landscape.
The highlight, however, was viewing the Penguin Slide from the water—a vantage point that brought us up close to the penguins’ dynamic life on the Snares.
Next Up — Disembarkation to Dunedin
