You won't find them mentioned in a travel brochure, you won't find them in most guidebooks, you probably don't know anyone that has ever been there, and they don't even appear on some maps of the South Pacific - these are the 'forgotten islands'. Despite their low profile, they are among the most remarkable wildlife reserves in the Southern Ocean, designated UNESCO World Heritage sites and afforded the highest protection of any nature reserves in New Zealand. Remote, uninhabited, and on no regular shipping route, access is further restricted by a strict Management Plan which limits the number of people allowed ashore each year. Join this 8-day voyage for your opportunity to visit these remarkable islands, home to a priceless ecosystem.
Highlights
Discover part of New Zealand that few have been privileged enough to visit
Hike through windswept rata forests, and along exposed coastal cliffs
Visit abandoned WWII Coastwatcher’s huts, a shipwreck, and castaway depots
Explore some of the most remarkable wildlife reserves in the Southern Ocean
Witness the flowering of megaherbs, which paint the landscape vivid colors
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Meet at an Invercargill central city hotel and transfer to the Port of Bluff for embarkation. The captain and expedition team is awaiting your arrival on the Spirit of Enderby. Familiarize yourself on board and then join the captain on the bridge or fellow travelers on deck as the ship sets sail and your adventure begins.
The largest of this group of islands is North East Island, a nature reserve of international importance and home to more nesting seabirds than all of the British Isles put together. A group of islands that have had no introduced mammals, they are a pristine haven for wildlife. Cruise the jagged coastline by Zodiac, which allows you to see some of the features of the island. From the water you can view the unique large tree daisies, Olearia lyallii and Brachyglottis stewartiae, which dominate the island. Your cruise should also allow an encounter with some of the birdlife that inhabit these islands, including the endemic Snares crested penguin. You may also catch glimpses of the Snares Island tomtit and fernbird, which are unique to these islands. On the cliffs you are likely to see Buller’s albatross, whose Maori name translates as ‘flying wind’, which could be an apt description of The Snares. This species only nests here and at the Solander Islands.
Enderby Island is a wildlife-rich island that has no equal in the Southern Ocean. Offering a varying landscape where the Rata forests are regenerating and there is a resurgence of herbaceous plants, it is one of the most beautiful islands in this group. The island is home to the Hooker’s, or New Zealand, sea lion which breeds on Sandy Bay beach where your crew plans to land. This animal is the rarest sea lion in the world. Walk to enjoy close encounters with the royal albatross nested amongst a hummocked sward of Oreobolus pectinatus and regenerating tussock. There is a good chance that you might see the endemic snipe, shag, and Auckland Island flightless teal as you walk around the island. Plan to spend some time with the yellow-eyed penguin, the world’s rarest penguin and the fourth largest of the world’s penguins. Unique fields of megaherbs, whose languorous names promise the exotic: the Bulbinella rossii, the regenerating patches of Anisotome latifolia, and the vivid red and white gentians make an unforgettable sight. Native birds such as the tui, bellbird, and parakeets benefit from the presence of Rata trees and can be heard in the forest.
Auckland Island is the largest of the islands in the group. The western coastline has been sculpted into formidable cliffs by the prevailing westerly winds, and to the east, the coast has been carved by glaciers into some of the most picturesque fjords in the world. Your anchorage in Carnley Harbor in the south of the group offers a range of activities, depending on weather and sea conditions. You could go in search of a shy mollymawk albatross colony and perhaps spot the beautiful wandering albatross spreading its huge wingspan above the cliffs. Other possibilities include visiting the abandoned World War II coastwatcher’s station or the remains of a ship wrecked in 1864 and made famous by two books written by the survivors.
Explore the island by foot and take in the panorama of rocky islets and sea stacks, once the lonely preserve of settlers and seal hunters and now returned to nature. Campbell Island is known for its megaherbs – herbaceous, perennial wild flowers characterized by their great size, with huge leaves and very colorful flowers, which have developed as an adaptation to the harsh weather conditions on the islands. Your visit should coincide with the flowering of the Pleurophyllum speciosum, an endemic daisy carpeting the hills and startling in size with leaves sometimes half a meter wide. Adapting unusually to survive the harsh climate, its nearest relatives can be found in the Canary Islands. A range of walks are offered here so you can explore an abandoned Meteorological Station at the head of the harbor or take the Col Lyall Saddle walk which offers an opportunity to view and photograph the southern royal albatross nesting amongst the flowers and tussocks.
Alternatively, walk to remote Northwest Bay across the tussock tops and megaherb fields to an isolated coastline that southern elephant seals haul out on and New Zealand sea lions and yellow-eyed penguins call home. Or you could climb the beautifully-named Mt. Honey which offers dramatic views from its summit.
A day at sea provides a great opportunity to reflect on your voyage to the Subantarctic Islands. Today spend time on deck and view pelagic bird species that come close. You may also see cetaceans such as the dusky dolphins which sometimes surf the bow waves of the ship, and if sea conditions are good, a number of different whale species are a possibility. The day is interspersed with illustrated lectures of the biology and history of the area you have visited and the Southern Ocean.
Day 8: Disembark in Invercargill
1 Breakfast
On arrival at the Port of Bluff this morning, have your final breakfast and say your farewells before disembarking and transferring by complimentary coach to either a central city point in historic Invercargill or to the airport.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
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Main Deck Triple
One cabin located on the Main Deck, with two lower bunk beds, one upper bunk bed, outside porthole, wash basin, desk and chair, wardrobe with hanging space, and shared bathrooms on same deck.
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Main deck
Thirteen cabins located on the Main Deck, with two lower bunk beds, outside porthole, wash basin, desk and chair, wardrobe with hanging space, and shared bathrooms on same deck.
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Superior
Four cabins located on the Middle Deck,with one lower and one upper bunk, side-facing windows, desk and chair, wardrobe with hanging space, and private bath facilities.
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Superior Plus
Eight cabins located on the Upper and Middle Decks,with two lower bunk beds, side-facing windows, desk and chair, wardrobe with hanging space. and private bath facilities.
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Mini Suite
Two cabins located on the Upper Deck, with one double bed in separate room, side-facing windows, separate lounge area with a single bed, desk and chair, wardrobe with hanging space, and private bath facilities.
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Heritage Suite
One cabin located on the Upper Deck, with one double bed in separate room, forward- and side-facing windows, separate lounge area with a single pull-out bed, desk and table area, wardrobe with hanging space, and private bath facilities.
Notes
- Travel Insurance is mandatory for all passengers aboard the Spirit of Enderby.
- Single clients are matched with a sharer of the same sex in a twin-share cabin. Payment of a single supplement guarantees a single cabin. The single supplement is 1.8 times the price of the voyage with the exception of the suites which are double the single rate.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
9 hours ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.