Tour OverviewDiscover the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia and the Chatham Islands.
Listen to the names: Snares, Bounty, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell, Macquarie and Chatham Islands. They are music to the ears of ‘Birders’. Apart from the Chatham, these islands are probably more isolated now than they were when they were discovered in the late 1700s and early 1800s and were regularly visited by sealers, whalers and government steamers searching for castaway sailors. It is relatively simple to get to the Chatham Islands, but opportunities to visit the others are rare. This expedition is the only one to include all of these islands.
The islands occupy the tempestuous latitudes of the Roaring Forties and the Furious Fifties, but they are also known as the Albatross Latitudes and with good reason. Ten of the world’s albatross species breed in the region; five of them nowhere else but here! In fact, this zone where the air is never still hosts the most diverse collection of seabirds in the world. More than 40 species breed here – that is at least 11 per cent of the entire world’s seabird population.
With the exception of the Chathams, the islands are all designated UNESCO World Heritage sites and are afforded the highest conservation status and protection by the Australian and New Zealand governments, so passage to their shores is not granted lightly. There are also islands that we visit within the Chatham Islands’ Archipelago with similar status and protection.
This expedition has huge appeal to pelagic enthusiasts, penguin fanatics and those interested in island endemics. Though you don’t have to be a keen birder to enjoy this voyage. People interested in islands and island ecology, botany, geology and an increasing number of photographers have enjoyed this trip immensely, as have those interested in the history of southern ocean discovery and exploration.
Get more detail about what to expect on this tour: Go to full itinerary
TOUR INFO:
Expedition starts in Queenstown, Australia and ends in Invercargill/Queenstown
Tour duration: 17 days
Accommodation type: Heritage Adventurer Expedition ship
Next group departure date: 3 December 2024
Highlights:
• Chatham Islands
• The Snares
• Auckland Islands
• Enderby Island
• Macquarie Island
• Campbell Island
• Antipodes Islands
• Bounty Islands
• Pyramid Rock and South East Island
Top birds:
• Snares Crested Penguin
• Snares Island Tomtit
• Subantarctic Snipe
• Fairy Prion
• Fulmar Prion
• Antarctic Prion
• Kings, Royals, Gentoo and Rockhopper Penguin
• Campbell Island Teal
• Antipodes Parakeet
• New Zealand Shore Plover
• Chatham Island Oystercatcher
• Chatham Island Petrel
Top mammals:
• New Zealand Sea Lion
• Southern Elephant Seals
• New Zealand Fur Seals
| ITINERARY OVERVIEW |
|---|
| Day 1 | Queenstown |
|---|---|
| Day 2 | Port of Bluff |
| Day 3 | The Snares – North East Island |
| Day 4 | Auckland Islands – Enderby Island |
| Day 5 | At Sea |
| Day 6-7 | Macquarie Island |
| Day 8 | At Sea |
| Day 9 | Campbell Island – Perseverance Harbour |
| Day 10 | At Sea |
| Day 11 | Antipodes Islands |
| Day 12 | Bounty Islands |
| Day 13 | Pyramid Rock and South East Island |
| Day 14 | Chatham Islands – Waitangi |
| Day 15-16 | At Sea |
| Day 17 | Invercargill/Queenstown – Departure |
All our tours can be customised according to your specific requirements.
Get in touch with one of our team members for more information at info@naturetravelbirding.com