Disembarkation day always carries a hint of melancholy, almost like the end of a relationship. We docked at Bluff around 8 AM and, being bound for Invercargill Airport, we were among the last to disembark at around 9:30 AM. The drive to the airport was quiet and reflective. Arriving at the airport before the […]
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 […]
The day dawned with perfect weather at Sandy Bay on Enderby Island, part of the Auckland Islands. Today’s activities included three options: Enderby Circuit: An 11km all-day hike around the island, complete with lunch and a ‘poo bag’ kit. Northern Cliff Boardwalk and Sandy Bay: A 6km full-day hike, also requiring a poo bag. Morning […]
Christmas Day aboard the Heritage Adventurer was all about eating, beginning with an extensive brunch instead of the usual breakfast. We had most of the day to relax, with the exception of a presentation by Nigel Marvin about his experience filming nature documentaries, and another round of bio-securing our gear. The celebrations culminated in […]
The morning greeted us with a calm anchorage at Sandy Bay, a spot celebrated for its easily accessible colonies of king and royal penguins. The bay also serves as a breeding ground for elephant and fur seals, making it a hub of wildlife activity. The calmer weather made boarding the zodiacs a breeze compared […]
After a challenging couple of days at sea, and another round of bio-securing our gear, we were greeted with an exciting text message: “Welcome to Macca.” Macquarie Island, under Australian jurisdiction and part of Tasmania, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its extraordinary biodiversity and geological features. It is the only place […]
Our day began with gentler seas as we approached the northern part of the Auckland Islands and anchored off Erebus Cove. The morning’s agenda included a visit to the historical Hardwicke Settlement, established in 1849 and abandoned just 3 years later. We disembarked via zodiacs for a short trip to shore, where we were divided […]
Our night was a turbulent one, rocked by what felt like unusually rough seas. The motion was a strong side-to-side sway, reminiscent of a baby being rocked in a cradle a bit too vigorously, which left us wondering if it was due to our cabin’s location or just the wild sea conditions. By morning, we […]
Our day kicked off with a hearty buffet breakfast and a picture-perfect weather day for Queenstown. Following the instructions provided by Heritage, we checked out of our room and dropped our bags at the hotel reception by 9 AM. We had some time to spare, so we walked over to the gondola. Despite the steep […]
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 […]