Heritage Expeditions

Story

Heritage Expeditions forms in 1984 to increase awareness and conservation of the natural world through responsible expedition travel. Founded by Rodney and Shirley Russ, the company is built on Rodney's experience as a biologist with the New Zealand Wildlife Service. Through conservation work with the Kakapo, Chatham Island Black Robin, and other endangered species, Heritage Expeditions embraces the belief that sharing wilderness with people creates ambassadors who advocate for and support conservation efforts. Conservation and responsible travel remain lasting partners, achieving together what might otherwise be unachievable.

From those early beginnings, Heritage Expeditions remains family-owned and operated, now led by Rodney and Shirley's sons, Aaron and Nathan Russ. The company operates its own ships—the 140-guest expedition ship Heritage Adventurer and the 18-guest expedition yacht Heritage Explorer—on authentic small-ship expedition cruises to the heart of Antarctica's Ross Sea, the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, the Philippines, Australia's Kimberley Coast, and the coastal regions of New Zealand, including Fiordland, Stewart Island, and the Marlborough Sounds. Every expedition is meticulously planned and expertly led, allowing you to maximize every opportunity to learn about and experience each destination while minimizing the impact of your visit.

Today, Heritage Expeditions operates from modern purpose-built offices in Christchurch, New Zealand. When you book with Heritage Expeditions, you benefit from the extensive experience, knowledge, and passion of a team dedicated to the remarkable destinations you explore.

Mission

Increase awareness and conservation of the natural world through responsible expedition travel. Inspire you to become an ambassador for conservation by delivering authentic, expertly led small-ship expeditions that maximize learning and discovery while minimizing environmental impact.

Vision

Lead responsible expedition travel by demonstrating that conservation and exploration go hand in hand. Continue creating meaningful journeys that protect extraordinary destinations, inspire lifelong advocates for nature, and deliver exceptional expedition experiences across the world's most remarkable wilderness regions.

Travel with Heritage Expeditions and experience responsible expedition travel. As biologists and ornithologists, Heritage Expeditions remains intimately aware of the many issues confronting animals, their habitats, the world's oceans, and isolated ethnic groups. Heritage Expeditions also takes action by actively contributing to the conservation of the places you visit in several ways. The company buys local, employs local communities, ensures you respect local customs and traditions, and disposes of waste responsibly.

Conservation
Heritage Expeditions supports conservation by providing advocacy through responsible travel and by offering funding and logistical support for research and management. Since 2011, Heritage Expeditions has continued to serve as a BirdLife International Species Champion for the Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper. In addition to providing transport and logistics for researchers, Heritage Expeditions commits to making financial contributions as a company and welcomes you to join in supporting this programme.

All donated funds support BirdLife International's efforts to prevent extinction. Seventy percent goes directly to the Spoon-billed Sandpiper conservation project, while the remaining 30% is retained and pooled with other contributions to fund three additional priorities:

1. To fund vital development of conservation (capacity) for Critically Endangered species who do not yet receive support.
2. A contribution to the BirdLife Partnership's International Science, Policy, Advocacy, Conservation and Coordination work that underpins the programme.
3. Vital communications and publicity that raises international awareness of the extinctions crisis and promotes the programme to help recruit new BirdLife Species Champions.

Heritage Expeditions also makes significant annual contributions to the New Zealand Department of Conservation, the Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Antarctic Heritage Trust, and the Russian State Reserve Agency. In addition, Heritage Expeditions provides transport for freight and personnel to and from nature reserves. The company also supports the New Zealand Meteorological Service and non-governmental research agencies, including the World Wildlife Fund (Russia), the University of Canterbury, and The Last Ocean Charitable Trust.

Travel in small groups and enjoy an intended guide-to-client ratio of 1:12. Each expedition is led by an experienced Expedition Leader who knows the region you visit. When selecting specialist expedition equipment, vehicles, and vessels, Heritage Expeditions carefully researches every option to ensure it is both suitable and environmentally responsible.

All waste generated during expeditions is disposed of responsibly. Onboard waste is treated according to MARPOL regulations, while land expeditions encourage recycling. Non-recyclable waste is returned for disposal at approved facilities.

Heritage Expeditions also partners with True Young Explorer to provide scholarships for young people who could not otherwise afford to travel, giving them the opportunity to join an expedition.

Heritage Expeditions maintains active membership in several conservation and travel organisations, including the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), which promotes responsible travel to Antarctica, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), the Department of Conservation, and Forest & Bird.