Birding Down Under - The Sub Antarctic Islands of NZ & Macquarie Island

Itinerary

Day 1: Invercargill, New Zealand

Arrive at the city of Invercargill, New Zealand's southernmost city. Established by Scottish settlers with its wealth in the rich farmland – sheep and dairy farms predominate. On arrival please make your own arrangements to transfer to the Kelvin Hotel in the central city. A detailed program will be available to you when you check in at reception. Dinner is at the hotel which is an opportunity to meet fellow expeditioners.

Day 2: Embark the Spirit of Enderby

Breakfast at your leisure in the dining room at the hotel. Your program will advise a time for bags out and then you will be transferred to the Southland Museum to view the special Subantarctic display in the Museum before being transferred by coach to the Port of Bluff to board the Spirit of Enderby. Depart for the Snares Islands.

Day 3: Snares Island

The Snares is the first of the Sub Antarctic Islands that you will be visiting. It is an amazing island rich with seabirds around coast. You will arrive early morning; landings are not permitted so you will zodiac to the sheltered eastern side. The birds you’ll be seeing while cruising the sheltered bays: Snares Crested Penguins, Tomtits, Fernbirds, Cape Pigeons, Antarctic Terns, White-fronted Terns and Red-billed Gulls. There is an estimated 6 million Sooty Shearwaters nesting on the Snares Islands. Bullers Albatross breed here from early January onwards.

Days 4-5: Auckland Islands

Arrive at Enderby Island, a great island to bird in the Auckland Island group. Land at Sandy Bay, the main breeding ground for the Hookers Sealion. You’ll also see a diverse collection of birds, both common and rare to the region. You will spend some time searching for the Sub Antarctic Snipe which you have a very good chance of seeing. On Derrycastle Reef there is a good chance to see Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone and perhaps other migratory waders. Next morning you will cruise to Carnley Harbour in the south of the main Auckland Islands. There will be an opportunity to climb to the Southwest Cape Shy Albatross colony. Get good views of these birds at Gibson’s Wandering Albatross nest above the colony amongst the tussock. Those remaining on board will explore the coastal forest to see the New Zealand Falcon and enjoy close encounters with other bush birds. You depart the Auckland Islands and head southwest to Macquarie Island.

Day 6: At Sea

At sea you will have a series of lectures of the biology and history of the Sub Antarctic Islands and the Southern Ocean. The closer you get to Macquarie Island, the more abundant the birds will become. You will be at sea all day, another opportunity to see pelagic species, including Wandering Albatross Species, Royal Albatross, Shy and White-capped Albatross, and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, among others.

Days 7-8: Macquarie Island

Arrive at Macquarie Island, which is the only site to see the Royal Penguin. The King Penguins, the Gentoo and the Rockhopper inhabit the island as well. Along the coast you will see the Imperial (Macquarie) Shag. Redpolls can be seen as can the European Starling along the cliff edges. There will be landings at both ANARE base and Sandy Bay. You will also zodiac to Lusitania Bay to explore Macquarie Island and then depart for Campbell Island on the afternoon of your second day.

Day 9: At Sea

At sea en-route to Campbell Island, you will see a similar range of species as you saw en-route to Macquarie Island from the Auckland Islands.

Day 10: Campbell Island

You will spend the day exploring the island by foot from Perseverance Harbour. There is some great birding and photographic opportunities on this island especially Southern Royal Albatross and the early flowering mega herbs. During the day ashore you should see the Southern Royal Albatross, Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Northern Giant Petrel, Campbell Island Shag, and Southern Skua, among others. The regeneration of the megaherbs since the removal of the sheep is a spectacle to behold.

Day 11: At Sea

At sea en-route to the Antipodes. It is a day for the pelagic birding. You will see common species that include Wandering Albatross species, Southern Royal Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Campbell Island Albatross and rare species such as Fairy Prions, Fulmar Prions and Antarctic Prions. Other species to be on the look out for include Soft-plumaged Petrel, and Mottled Petrel, among others.

Day 12: Antipodes Island

Antipodes Island is one of the most isolated, least known and rugged of the New Zealand’s Sub Antarctic Islands. Landings are not permitted; you plan to zodiac cruise the coastline where you have a good chance of seeing Antipodes Island’s Reischeks Parakeet. You will also see the Antipodes subspecies of the NZ Pipit. Enjoy good views of both Erect Crested and Rockhopper Penguins breeding the coastline. There are usually a good number of Antarctic Terns and Kelp Gull.

Day 13: Bounty Islands

After arriving at the Bounty Islands, you’ll be zodiac cruising. Erect Crested Penguin, Fulmar Prions and the endemic Bounty Island Shag will feature on your bird lists for this morning. Departing for the Chatham Islands, you should see Wandering Albatross, Northern Royal Albatross, White Capped Albatross, Salvins and Albatross Northern Giant Petrel, among others.

Day 14: Pyramid

This morning you continue toward the Chatham Archipelago with excellent opportunities for pelagic birding. You will be especially interested in looking out for the Chatham Island petrel (it has been seen on this leg of the voyage before) and also the very rare Chatham Island taiko or magenta petrel (which has also been seen on this part of the voyage before). This afternoon you will arrive at the spectacular Pyramid Rock - which is the only breeding place of the Chatham Island albatross.

Days 15-16: Chatham Islands

This morning you will land at Waitangi, the main settlement on the Chatham Islands. Near the landing you should see the endemic Chatham Island Shag. Local buses and Landrovers will transport you down the South Coast to the Tuku Reserve. Here the local people will guide you through a bush walk in the hopes of seeing the Chatham Island Warbler and Chatham Island Pigeon. You return to the Spirit of Enderby early afternoon and depart for Dunedin.

Days 17-18: At Sea

En-route to Dunedin you will cross the Chatham Rise. It is a relatively shallow area of water, compared with the rest of the surrounding ocean; it is also one of the best places for pelagic. You can expect to see Wandering Albatross species, Royal Albatross species, Black-browed Albatross, and White-capped Albatross, among others.

Day 19: Dunedin

Arrive in Dunedin and after completing formalities passengers will be able to disembark. There will be a central city and airport drop off.

Trip Details

Ship	Spirit of Enderby
Just Released Offer	Members of ExpeditionTrips.com receive a FREE upgrade to a twin-share cabin. Pay the triple rate of $5547 and save $1109!Regular Rate: $6656
Highlights	Beautiful Nature Reserves, Outstanding Birding, Pyramid Rock, King Penguin Colonies, Nesting Albatross
Trip Notes	Included:Cabin accommodations; all onboard lectures and access to public areas; all meals on board the ship; shore excursions as described; one nights accommodation including dinner (3 course) and continental breakfast; accommodation based on twin share occupancy (single supplement applies for guaranteed single); group transfers to embark the ship and transfer from the ship to city hotels and/or airport on disembarkation.Not Included:Airfare to and from your home to the port of departure and port of arrival; items of a personal nature such as insurance and excess baggage charges; passport, visa and vaccination fees; onboard the ship: beverages, laundry, ship to shore communications, medical supplies, souvenirs; landing fees - $350 per person (11/9/2008), $375 per person (11/14/2009); fuel surcharge may apply.
Payment Policy	A deposit of 25% per person is required to confirm your reservation. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Payment MethodsDeposit: credit cards are accepted (VISA, MC, AMEX, Discover); Final payment: check or wire.WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS FOR FINAL PAYMENT.

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-11-09	2008-11-27	+
2009-11-14	2009-12-02	+

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