Embark on Heritage Adventurer this afternoon in Auckland, New Zealand. Upon arrival, your Captain and Expedition Team await to greet and guide you to your cabin. Settle in, acquaint yourself with the ship, and meet your Expedition Team and Guides. Join them in the Observation Lounge and on the Observation Deck as you journey to the Hauraki Gulf.



 

Daybreak reveals us in the Mokohinau Islands (known locally as the Mokes), a group of small islands in the Hauraki Gulf. This afternoon, Heritage Adventurer sails northwards through the Hauraki Gulf. Join the naturalists on deck, watch for whales and seabirds, as these waters usually host a few cetaceans, including Short-beaked Common Dolphin, Long-finned Pilot Whale, and occasionally Bryde’s Whale.

Spend today sailing north to Norfolk Island, an area rich in seabirds. There's a good chance to see Sperm Whales here. Relax, join the naturalists on deck, and enjoy presentations as you prepare for the arrival at Norfolk Island.

Enjoy a full day exploring Norfolk Island, a former penal colony encountered by Captain Cook in 1774 and named after the Duchess of Norfolk. This morning, explore the beautiful St Barnabas Chapel, a five-year labor-of-love featuring mother-of-pearl inlays, stained glass windows, and a spectacular vaulted timber ceiling. In the afternoon, discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Kingston, a former brutal outpost for British prisoners and Australia's second oldest settlement. Alternatively, visit the Norfolk Island Botanical Gardens with its 40 endemic or unique species, including 15 plant species considered critically endangered. For the more active, consider walking in the National Park towards Mt Pitt, where tracks wind through lush palm forests and stands of Norfolk Island Pine, leading to remarkable views of the island and ocean.

Continuing your journey northwards, today you arrive in the tropics, sailing across the Tropic of Capricorn and entering the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean.

This morning, sail along the southern shores of New Caledonia, passing through the extensive barrier reef surrounding the island on the way to Noumea. Today is dedicated to exploring the history, culture, and beauty of New Caledonia. Begin by visiting the local institution Port Moselle Market, Noumea, where you can mingle with locals amidst an astounding range of fresh produce, souvenirs, and handcrafts from around the island. Continue to the Maritime Museum for a journey through the history of the islands, including their discovery by Captain Cook. A highlight of the day is the visit to the Tjibaou Cultural Center, introducing the traditional Kanak culture through six architectural pavilions. There may also be an opportunity to explore Parc Provincial de la Rivière Bleue, home to the unique Kagu bird. Enjoy a traditional lunch and spend a relaxing afternoon at the beach, with the option for snorkeling.

Described as a taste of France in the Pacific, this tropical island blends Melanesian traditions with French sophistication. New Caledonia, a fragment of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana, detached and became an island tens of millions of years ago. This isolation explains the extensive biodiversity and incredible levels of endemism on this delightful tropical island. This afternoon, explore Noumea with local guides. Heritage Adventurer stays in port overnight, allowing you to enjoy the evening ashore.

Enjoy time aboard as you sail through the tropical waters of the South Pacific. Relive the experiences of the past days, watch your passage unfold by the pool or in the Observation Lounge, and prepare for the arrival to the Solomon Islands.

This morning, your passage takes you through Iron Bottom Sound, named after the large number of Japanese and American ships and aircraft sunk here during the intense World War II naval battles. Located on the northern coast of Guadalcanal, by the Mataniko River, Honiara was founded by the British as a military base during World War II. Honiara witnessed the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, where the Allied forces eventually overcame the Japanese invasion. Options for today include exploring Honiara's bustling central market and visiting historic sites, including Henderson Airfield, war memorials, and the open-air war museum.

Sail westwards through the Solomon Islands chain today. Due to its remarkable oceanic topography, shaped by volcanic activities and abundant reefs, the Solomons offer a combination of incredible tropical seabirds and marine mammal watching. On previous voyages, there were regular observations of Kogias, including Dwarf Sperm Whales, and even rare Pygmy Sperm Whales. Spinner and Pantropical Spotted Dolphin are the most regularly observed dolphin species, and Pygmy Killer Whales are fairly regular. Blainville’s, Cuvier’s, and even Longman’s Beaked Whales have all been seen on previous voyages, while flying fish reach some of their highest diversity in this area. Take the opportunity to discover the rich history and cultures of these islands in the lecture theatre.

Today, uncover the treasures of Papua New Guinea's Bougainville Island, long isolated and strangely protected due to the conflict around its shores. Bougainville is emerging as a newly vibrant and remarkably pristine island paradise, home to some of the greatest biodiversity in the region, both above and below the water. The exploration includes the area around Arawa, including the Panguna Copper & Gold Mine site – the setting for the movie Mr Pip – providing great opportunities to access the island’s interior and its reefs. Enjoy a unique shopping experience under the thatched roof of the Arawa Markets amidst the hum and chatter of hundreds of locals.

Today, you'll be sailing between Bougainville and New Ireland. Options include relaxing poolside, joining lectures, or joining the expedition team observing the impressive numbers of seabirds and cetaceans known to visit this stretch of ocean. It can be particularly good for Kogias (the Dwarf and Pygmy Sperm Whale), along with the blackfish: False Killer Whale, Pygmy Killer Whale, Short-finned Pilot Whale, and Melon-headed Whale.

The capital of the Papua New Guinean province of New Ireland and the largest town on the island of the same name, Kavieng is known for its ancient Malagan culture. If you choose to disembark today, say your farewells after breakfast with a transfer to Kavieng Airport. For those continuing, enjoy a traditional Malagan cultural performance, explore tropical beaches, snorkel abundant coral reefs, and visit Kavieng town and its highlights, including the busy local market, before sailing northwards.

You now have five days at sea as you sail northwards. Use this time to relax, catch up on notes and photos, celebrate your crossing of the Equator, sail through a blue desert poolside, and enjoy lectures from your expedition team.

Arrive at the Bonin Islands, the most remote part of Japan, with plans to complete customs at the largest of the Bonin Islands, Chichijima. While here, there may be time for a short walk on shore to explore the settlement and the surrounding area. The largest of Japan's Bonin Islands, Chichi-jima is considered the 'father island' among an archipelago rightly described as the 'Galapagos of the Orient' and supported by its UNESCO World Heritage Site status. There may also be an opportunity to see Minami-jima's stone arch and the local Bottlenose and Spinner Dolphin populations.

Today, you return south to visit the most interesting of the Bonin Islands, biologically speaking, Haha-jima. Known as the ‘mother island’ to Chichi-jima’s ‘father island,’ Haha-jima is smaller, more remote, and less developed than its neighbor. It is known for its outdoor attractions and activities, including pristine beaches, impressive snorkeling, jungle treks, and cetacean watching, with Humpback Whales often seen in the nearshore waters. Explore the small but busy village centered around Oki Port, take in the grand scale views of Mount Kofuji, and discover historic sites, including the former Kita Port and abandoned wartime gun batteries.

With its name literally translating to 'bird island,' Tori-shima, an uninhabited 453-hectare volcanic islet, is an internationally-protected bird sanctuary and the largest breeding ground for the once thought extinct Short-tailed Albatross. While no landings are possible, you plan to circumnavigate this rocky outpost, learning about the incredible conservation story behind this remarkable, endangered bird and the scientific debate surrounding whether it should be considered two species (Torishima-type and Senkaku-type).

On this final day at sea, sail towards Honshu, anticipating one last round of excellent pelagic birding on this stretch. Keep an eye out for species like the Streaked Shearwater, and Tristram’s and Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel. Also, be on the lookout for the Japanese Murrelet in these waters, although spotting them might take some luck.

After breakfast and completion of arrival formalities for Osaka, disembark Heritage Adventurer. A complimentary transfer from the ship to Osaka Air Terminal is available. Please refrain from booking any onward flights (Domestic or International) until mid-afternoon to accommodate potential delays and travel time to the airports. Note: Throughout the voyage, circumstances may necessitate or make it desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include poor weather and opportunities for unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed.