Galapagos of the Southern Ocean ex Hobart | Heritage Adventurer

Arrive in Hobart, capital of Australia’s Island state of Tasmania and make your way to the designated hotel where we will spend the first night of the expedition. This bustling port town is rich in culture and colonial history, and features a renowned foodie scene all wrapped in stunning waterfront surrounds. This evening, there will be an informal get-together at the hotel for dinner, providing an excellent opportunity to meet fellow adventurers on your voyage and some members of our expedition team.

Today, we will enjoy breakfast in the hotel restaurant before departing for the Port of Hobart to embark on your ship. Upon arrival, you will have time to settle into your cabin and familiarize yourself with the ship. In the early afternoon, we will depart from the Port of Hobart, which was historically the center for the Southern Ocean whaling and sealing trade. Now, it is a bustling seaport and serves as the home port for both Australian and French Antarctic operations. You are invited to join the expedition team in the Observation Lounge and on the Observation Deck as we sail across Storm Bay, passing by Bruny Island and the Tasman Peninsula before setting our course for Macquaire Island.

As we journey south through the Roaring Forties towards Macquarie Island, we will prepare for our visit with a series of lectures on the island's biology, history, and the Southern Ocean. Birdwatching enthusiasts will have exciting opportunities to spot various species, including the Wandering Albatross, Royal Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Salvin’s Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross, as well as the Northern and Southern Giant Petrel. Additionally, we may encounter the Sooty Shearwater, Little Shearwater, Soft-plumaged Petrel, Mottled Petrel, White-headed Petrel, Grey-faced Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Grey-backed Storm-petrel, Wilson’s Storm-petrel, Black-bellied Stormpetrel, and Common Diving-petrel. Keep your eyes peeled for these fascinating seabirds as we continue our journey.

Sir Douglas Mawson, the renowned Australian Antarctic Explorer, once described Macquarie Island as 'One of the wonder spots of the world.' During our two-day exploration of this remarkable island, you'll understand why. Recognized as one of the first Subantarctic Islands to achieve World Heritage Status, its unique geology sets it apart. Macquarie Island boasts exposed midocean crustal rocks, a rare phenomenon resulting from the collision of the Australian and Pacific Plates.

Affectionately known as 'Macca' by its resident ranger population, the island was discovered in 1810 and quickly faced devastation from sealers who introduced invasive species like rats, mice, cats, and rabbits. This led to the near-elimination of native bird populations and widespread destruction of vegetation. However, a determined 7-year eradication program by the Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service restored the island to a pest-free status in 2014. Since then, both birds and plants have rebounded, showcasing remarkable regeneration and increased numbers.

Macquarie Island is a sanctuary for four penguin species: Kings, Royals, Gentoo, and Rockhopper, including the exclusive Royal Penguin found nowhere else in the world. Weather permitting, our visit will allow us to land at two sites, offering opportunities to observe and photograph all four species. Additionally, the island hosts a thriving population of Southern Elephant Seals, with pups born in October and weaned in November as breeding adults return to the sea. Visitors may witness these weaners and sub-adults lounging on the beaches, later braving the seas in January while navigating past offshore predators like Orcas or Killer Whales.

Home to the Australian Antarctic Research Base at Buckles Bay, Macquarie Island has maintained one of the longest continuously occupied bases in the Subantarctic. Established in 1947, the base has remained staffed ever since.

Sailing east through the Furious Fifties, also known as the Albatross latitudes, we will host a series of informal lectures on the biology and history of the Subantarctic Islands in preparation for our visit to Campbell Island. Species we may encounter include the Wandering Albatross, Royal Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Salvin’s Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross, Northern and Southern Giant Petrel. Additionally, we anticipate sightings of numerous prions, such as Fairy, Fulmar, and Antarctic, although identifying them can pose a challenge, we are sure to enjoy some spectacular views.

We have two days to explore Campbell Island, New Zealand’s southernmost Subantarctic territory, boasting a rich and varied history akin to the other islands we've visited.

Discovered in 1810 by the same sealing captain who found Macquarie Island, it was soon occupied by sealers who introduced rats and cats. In 1895, the New Zealand government offered the island as a pastoral lease, taken up by an entrepreneurial sheep farmer who stocked it with sheep and cattle. Farming practices, including scrub burning, significantly altered the island until abandonment in 1934. During the war, Coastwatchers were stationed on the island, later succeeded by the New Zealand Meteorological Service, which maintained a manned weather/research station until 1995.

In the early 1970s, the island was halved by fencing, with stock removed from the northern half. Monitoring and removal of remaining animals culminated in a predator-free declaration in 2003, facilitating the reintroduction of the endangered Campbell Island Flightless Teal. Snipe, previously unknown on the island but discovered on an offshore counterpart, recolonized naturally. The island's vegetation, once lauded by Sir Joseph Hooker, is now flourishing and spectacular.

We will offer several exploration options, including extended walks to Northwest Bay and an easier stroll to the Col Lyall Saddle. Each option provides ample opportunity to observe the Southern Royal Albatross nesting in abundance. Additionally, we will visit areas showcasing the island's renowned megaherbs.

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. In the south of the archipelago, there is a very large sheltered harbor rich in human history, including shipwrecks, treasure hunters, Coastwatchers, and, of course, scientific parties. We enter the harbor through the eastern entrance, which is guarded on both sides by dramatic cliffs and rugged, tussock-covered hills.

The more energetic expeditioners may climb to the South West Cape and visit the Shy Albatross colony. This climb provides magnificent views in all directions, especially over the western entrance to Carnley Harbour, Adams Island, and Western Harbour. For those not climbing, there will be an opportunity to Zodiac cruise along the coast of Adams Island and Western Harbour, with landings at the latter.

Other options include the Tagua Bay Coastwatcher’s hut and lookout which was occupied during the Second World War. We could visit Epigwatt and the remains of the ‘Grafton’ which was wrecked here in 1864. All five men aboard survived and lived here for 18 months before sailing their modified dinghy to New Zealand to get help.

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 former vessels. This northernmost 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 vegetation, especially the herbaceous plants, are recovering in both 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.

Hooker’s or New Zealand Sea Lion numbers are in 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 where 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 observing the Subantarctic Snipe.

The closest Subantarctic Islands to New Zealand, they were appropriately called The Snares as they were once considered a hazard for sailing ships. Comprising 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 early 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. Cape Pigeons, Antarctic Terns, White-fronted Terns, and Red-billed Gulls are also present in good numbers. There are hundreds of thousands of Sooty Shearwaters nesting on The Snares; the actual number is much debated. This afternoon en route to the Port of Bluff, take the opportunity to relax and reflect on an amazing experience. We will recap the highlights of our expedition and enjoy a farewell dinner tonight as we complete the last few miles of our journey.

Early this morning, we will arrive at 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 3 pm from Queenstown.

Note: During our voyage, circumstances may necessitate or make it 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.