spirit of enderby australian and new zealand sub antarctic island cruise

Sub-Antarctic Islands: Forgotten Islands of the South Pacific

  • Overview

    You won’t find them mentioned in a travel brochure on your high street; 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. These islands represent a priceless ecosystem. Joining this expedition redefines natural history travel and will leave you wishing you could have spent more time there.

    Duration: 8 days
    Passengers: 48 passengers
    Embarkation Point: Invercargill, NZ
    Disembarkation Point: Invercargill, NZ
    Physical rating: Soft Adventure
    Fly/Cruise: Cruise only
    Single Supplement: 1.7x - 2.0x twin rate or share options
  • Itinerary
    • Day 1 - Invercargill,; Embarkation Day

      Meet at an Invercargill central city hotel and be transferred to the Port of Bluff for embarkation. The captain and expedition team will be waiting for your arrival on the Spirit of Enderby. Familiarise yourself on board and then join the captain on the bridge or fellow travellers on deck as we set sail and our adventure begins.

    • Day 2 - The Snares – North East Island

      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. Snagged with hidden reefs we learn how the islands got their name. We will cruise the jagged coastline by Zodiac allowing us to see some of the features of the island. From the water we can view the unique large tree daisies Olearia lyallii and Brachyglottis stewartiae which dominate much of the island, creating a forest canopy and draping the hills. Our cruise should also allow us to encounter some of the birdlife that inhabits these islands, including the endemic Snares Crested Penguin. We may also catch glimpses of the Snares Island Tomtit and Fernbird which are unique to these islands. On the cliffs we will likely 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.

    • Day 3 - Auckland Islands – Enderby Island

      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 we plan to land. This animal is the rarest sea lion in the world. We will 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 we will see the endemic snipe, shag and Auckland Island Flightless Teal as we walk around the island. We 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.

    • Day 4 - Auckland Islands – Carnley Harbour

      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 fiords in the world. Our anchorage in Carnley Harbour in the south of the group offers a range of activities, depending on weather and sea conditions. We 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.

    • Day 5/6 - Campbell Island

      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 characterised by their great size, with huge leaves and very colourful flowers, which have developed as an adaptation to the harsh weather conditions on the islands. Our 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 metre wide. Adapting unusually to survive the harsh climate, its nearest relatives can be found in the Canary Islands.

      There will be a range of walks offered. You can explore an abandoned Meteorological Station at the head of the harbour 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 we could climb the beautifully-named Mt Honey which offers dramatic views from its summit.

    • Day 7 - At Sea

      A day at sea provides a great opportunity to reflect on the voyage and the Subantarctic Islands that we have visited. Today spend time on deck and view pelagic bird species that come close. We 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 we have visited and the Southern Ocean.

    • Day 8 - Invercargill; Disembarkation

      On arrival at the Port of Bluff this morning, we have our final breakfast and say our farewells before disembarking and taking a complimentary coach transfer to either a central city point in historic Invercargill or to the airport.

    Please consider that our voyages are expeditionary in nature. This means, that there are no concrete itineraries, your Captain and Expedition Leader will utilise their vast experience to chart the best course for your expedition depending on the climatic and environmental conditions. Mentioned highlights and wildlife cannot be guaranteed.

  • Adventure Activities

    ANZ sub-Antarctic Islands

    Australia and New Zealand’s Subantarctic islands are a wonderland of rugged landscapes, birds, penguins and seals. Little known and often forgotten about for the likes of South Georgia, these islands present a very similar experience. Macquarie Island in particular, is home to the Wandering Albatross, King Penguins and Elephant seal colonies of wild proportions. The New Zealand sub-Antarctic islands are made up of Auckland, Snares, Campbell, Bounty, Chatham and the little known Antipodes Island. Home to rare and endemic birds species, rarely visited and in a number of instances our expeditions to these islands are the only ones permitted.

    Macquarie Island

    Macquarie Island is home to the Wandering Albatross, King Penguins and Elephant seal colonies of wild proportions. In terms of wildlife and island ecology, it is surprising similar to South Georgia, if you did not make it to South Georgia on your Antarctica cruise, this is an excellent option to consider.

    The sub-Antarctic islands around New Zealand are home to numerous pelagic and rare endemic bird species. Although, these expeditions are music to birders ears, you certainly do not have to be a birder to enjoy the immense scenery and wildlife of wild proportions.

    Albatross

    Spectacular in flight and on the ground, with the largest wingspan of any bird on the planet; gracefully and effortlessly glides for thousands of kilometres across the Pacific Ocean to their nesting sites. This region is home to 10 species of Albatross, 5 of them found no where else!

  • Inclusions

    Pre-cruise accommodation & transfers

    One night accommodation is provided before your expedition. Transfers to/from the expedition ship are provided on the day of embarkation and disembarkation.

    Landing Fee

    Our expedition rates incorporate the required USD$880 landing fee

    Inclusions / Exclusions

    Included in your Expedition

    - All onboard ship accommodation with meals
    - All expedition shore excursions

    Not included in your Expedition

  • Map
    Map coming soon
  • Gallery
  • Vessel

    SPIRIT OF ENDERBY

    The Spirit of Enderby is a fully ice-strengthened expedition vessel, built in 1984 for polar and oceanographic research and is perfect for Expedition Travel. She carries just 50 passengers and was refurbished in March 2013 to provide comfortable accommodation in twin share cabins approximately half of which have private facilities. All cabins have outside windows or portholes and ample storage space. On board there is a combined bar/library lounge area and a dedicated lecture room. The cuisine is excellent and is prepared by top NZ and Australian chefs. The real focus and emphasis of every expedition is getting you ashore as often as possible for as long as possible with maximum safety and comfort. Our Expeditions are accompanied by some of the most experienced naturalists and guides, who have devoted a lifetime to field research in the areas that we visit. The ship is crewed by a very enthusiastic and most experienced Russian Captain and crew. The name Spirit of Enderby honours the work and the vision of the Enderby Brothers of London. The Enderby Captains were at the forefront of Antarctic exploration for almost 40 years in the early 1800s. It also celebrates Enderby Island, arguably the greatest Subantarctic Island in the world.

    Features & Facilities
    • Basic accommodation
    • Small and intimate vessel
    • Bar/Library
    • Lecture room
    • Observation decks
    • Open Bridge
    • Internet
    Key Facts
    Luxury star rating: 3
    Guests #: 48
    Crew #: 30
    Ice Class: 1A
    Speed: 12
    Refurbished:
    Technical Specs
    Year built:
    Length: 72m
    Width: 13
    Draft:
    Tonnage: 1750
    Registry: Russia
    Elec Outlets: 220V / 2 Round Pin
Check Voyage Dates, Pricing and Availability
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Ready to book your expedition?

We understand that the trip of a lifetime takes planning, so we make the financial commitments easy to manage.

  • Confirm your booking today with just USD$ 1,000 per passenger.
  • Pay your 25% deposit 5 day later.
  • Final payment due 120 days prior to departure.
spirit of enderby main deck triple

Main Deck Triple

23 Dec 2020 - 30 Dec 2020
Feature 1 x upper bunk and 2 x lower berths, wardrobe, drawers, a desk, washbasin and porthole. The nearby showers and toilets are shared with other Main deck cabins. *Same sex cabin Cabin prices are inclusive of the required landing fee.
USD$ 5,000pp
USD$ 5,000pp
spirit of enderby main deck twin cabin

Main Deck Twin

23 Dec 2020 - 30 Dec 2020
Feature two lower berths, wardrobe, drawers, a desk, washbasin and porthole. The nearby showers and toilets are shared with other Main deck cabins. Cabin prices are inclusive of the required landing fee.
USD$ 5,400pp
USD$ 5,400pp
spirit of enderby superior cabin

Superior Twin

23 Dec 2020 - 30 Dec 2020
Feature bunks (an upper and lower berth), wardrobe, drawers, a desk, a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. These cabins have windows. Cabin prices are inclusive of the required landing fee.
USD$ 5,600pp
USD$ 5,600pp
spirit of enderby superior plus cabin

Superior Plus Twin

23 Dec 2020 - 30 Dec 2020
Feature two lower berths, wardrobe, drawers, desk, a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. These cabins have windows. Cabin prices are inclusive of the required landing fee.
USD$ 6,000pp
USD$ 6,000pp
spirit of enderby mini suite

Mini Suite

23 Dec 2020 - 30 Dec 2020
Feature a a separate bedroom with a double bed and a single bed or a sofa in the lounge, wardrobe, drawers, a desk and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. The Mini Suites have windows. Cabin prices are inclusive of the required landing fee.
USD$ 6,400pp
USD$ 6,400pp
spirit of enderby heritage suite

Heritage Suite

23 Dec 2020 - 30 Dec 2020
The Heritage Suite has a large lounge area, a separate bedroom with double bed, a single bed in the lounge, writing desk, wardrobe, drawers. There is a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. There are large forward and side facing windows to allow great views. Cabin prices are inclusive of the required landing fee.
USD$ 6,900pp
USD$ 6,900pp