Meet your fellow voyagers and expedition staff for an informal get-together over dinner at the hotel, where you stay overnight. 

You will be transferred to the Port of Bluff where the staff welcomes you on board the Heritage Adventurer and as you settle into your cabin, where your adventure begins.

North East Island is the largest of The Snares and, staggeringly, this one island is claimed by some to be home to more nesting seabirds than all of the British Isles together. While 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.

Named for the same distinguished shipping family as your own vessel and one of the most beautiful islands in the group, this is a great birding location and a chance to see everything from the famous southern royal albatross and northern giant petrel to parakeets,, and the endemic Snares Crested Penguin, teal, and snipe. Sandy Bay is one of three breeding grounds on the Auckland Islands for the rare Hooker’s or New Zealand sea lion.

These islands have witnessed many a shipwreck in days gone by. We plan to arrive mid-morning entering the harbor through the eastern entrance which is guarded on both sides by dramatic cliffs and rugged, tussock-covered hills. Our activities here today are weather-dependent. We have a number of options. If the weather is fine there will be an opportunity for the more energetic expeditioners to climb to the South West Cape and visit the Shy Mollymawk colony. For those not making the climb there will be an opportunity to Zodiac cruise along the coast of Adams Island, Western Harbour and Victoria Passage. 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. 

As the ship makes its way through an area known as the Furious Fifties in the tumultuous Southern Ocean, learn more about the flora and fauna of the region as you prepare for your arrival at Macquarie Island. En route there are great birding opportunities which may include the wandering albatross, royal albatross, black-browed albatross, light-mantled sooty albatross, Salvin’s albatross, grey-headed albatross, northern and southern giant petrel, sooty shearwater, and little shearwater. Endeavour to spot the fairy prion, fulmar prion, and Antarctic prion – never an easy task, but you should get some great views. Other species to be on the lookout for include the soft-plumaged petrel, mottled petrel, white-headed petrel, grey-faced petrel, white-chinned petrel, grey-backed storm-petrel, Wilson’s storm-petrel, and the black-bellied storm-petrel.

Described by one Australian explorer as “One of the wonder spots of the world”, this is the only place on earth where the beautiful royal penguin breeds. Three other species of penguins, the king, gentoo and rockhopper also breed here. You won't soon forget your first experience of a noisy ‘penguin city’, where the dapper inhabitants show no fear of their strange visitors and where you are quickly immersed in a tumult of chattering, feeding chicks, territorial disputes, petty pilfering, and courtship displays. This all happens amongst the hundreds of southern elephant seals lolling on the beaches and dunes. On arrival meet with scientists and park rangers based here who accompany you on all your landings.

There will be briefings and lectures on Campbell Island in preparation for our visit there and opportunities for pelagic birding and/or simply relaxing.

Explore Campbell Island, New Zealand’s southernmost Subantarctic territory for a full day.  We will offer a number of options which will enable you to explore the island including an extended walk to Northwest Bay. There will also be an easier walk to the Col Lyall Saddle. All of these options will allow you the opportunity and time to enjoy the Southern Royal Albatross which nest here in large numbers. We also visit areas of the island which contain outstanding examples of the megaherbs for which the island is renowned.

At sea 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.

Arrive at the Port of Bluff early in the morning. After breakfast, customs formalities, and a last-minute opportunity to bid farewell to your expedition team, disembark and board your complimentary transfer by coach to downtown Invercargill or Queenstown airport. Your adventure ends but memories last long beyond this.