Upon arrival in Tauranga, transfer to the Spirit of Enderby. Settle into your cabin and join your expedition team and captain for a welcome cocktail on board as you cruise north up the coast of New Zealand.

Cruise past the Mokohinau Islands, looking for grey ternlet, little penguin, grey-faced and black petrels, little, fluttering and Buller’s shearwaters, and the recently rediscovered New Zealand storm-petrel.

While sailing to Norfolk Island, keen birders can spend time out on deck for a good chance of seeing Gould’s, black-winged, Kermadec, white-necked, black and grey-faced petrels, and wedge-tailed and short-tailed shearwaters. During the days at sea your specialists provide an entertaining variety of lectures on the history, culture, marine mammals, and birdlife of the region.

Norfolk Island’s rugged coastline, golden sand beaches, lush native bush, and fascinating history also offers a chance to see three endemics - the Norfolk Island parakeet, Norfolk gerygone and the slender-billed white-eye.

While sailing on a northward course, cross a large underwater seamount, a productive area for seabirds such as Tahiti, Kermadec, collared, and white-necked petrels.

Visit the forests of the Rivière Bleue National Park searching for New Caledonian endemics such as the unique kagu and highly range-restricted crow honeyeater as well as the horned parakeet, cloven-feathered dove, yellow-bellied robin, and New Caledonian imperial pigeon.

Enjoy a glimpse into the Kanak way of life, which retains its authenticity on this remote island. The day’s activity should include snorkeling the lagoons and coral reefs, jungle walking, Zodiac cruising mangrove-wreathed lagoons, and meeting the locals. Birders look for the two species which are only found on this island, the large lifou white-eye and small lifou white-eye.

Two leisurely days at sea offer time to relax, sort through photos, catch up on reading, and sleep. Also keep a look out for Polynesian storm-petrel and an interesting range of marine mammals and flying fish.

Land expecting the full village welcome on the small coral island of Santa Ana, with colorful warriors, music, and rhythmic dancing. Once formalities are completed, enthusiastic children are keen to show off their home as they escort you around the village. Try snorkeling at the reef edge or just stretch the legs on a walk across the island to visit the other settlements or look for a new selection of exotic birds.

Enjoy the treasures of Makira Island to include the endemic sooty myzomela, San Cristobal melidectes, San Cristobal starling, Makira flycatcher, Makira cicadabird, white-collared monarch, mottled flowerpecker, white-headed fruit-dove, and chestnut-bellied imperial-pigeon. Later visit the idyllic Anuta Village.

Anchor off Honiara and depart for nearby Mt Austin in the early morning. Birding here is absolutely remarkable with good possibilities of endemics and localized specialties including ultramarine kingfisher, Blyth’s hornbill, Solomon Islands cuckoo-shrike, chestnut-bellied and black-and-white monarchs, steel-blue flycatcher, and yellow-faced myna. The later risers enjoy a tour of Honiara.

Explore Santa Isabel and its surrounding islands, said to be amongst the most picturesque places in the Solomon Islands. Zodiac cruise through an amazing channel where the rainforest comes down to the water’s edge, and see a range of parrots and other wildlife, including a chance of dugong. Plan to visit Vakao Island where there is an opportunity to explore the verdant rainforest and look for some localized birds such as red-capped myzomela and yellow-throated white-eye.

Kolombangara’s Imbu Rano Conservation Area offers a walk through dense forest to view picturesque waterfalls and grottos. More endemic birds can be found here including pale mountain pigeon, duchess lorikeet, and white-capped monarch. An afternoon sailing finds you scanning the sea for dolphins and hopefully the highly localized and rare Heinroth’s shearwater.

Call in at the rarely-visited Shortland Islands, which were a Japanese seaplane war-time base. Have the opportunity to see the impact of World War II on the remote atolls and local settlements.

Cruising off the coast of New Ireland gives you your best chance of finding the recently rediscovered Beck’s petrel as well as Heinroth’s shearwater. This region can also be excellent for cetaceans and previously melon-headed whales as well as both pygmy and dwarf sperm whales have been seen.

Following breakfast and the completion of arrival formalities, disembark the Spirit of Enderby. Bid farewell to voyage companions and board a complimentary transfer to a centrally located hotel or the airport to conclude your voyage.