Classic Sub-Antarctic Islands Expedition
Classic Sub-Antarctic Islands Expedition
This twelve-day expedition explores some of the wildest, least-visited islands on earth, New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic reserves, where the wildlife rules and few people ever set foot. These UNESCO World Heritage islands lie far south of the mainland, on no regular shipping route and protected by strict permit, so they can only be reached on a voyage like this. Sailing round-trip from the Port of Bluff, you explore Campbell Island with its nesting southern royal albatross and famous megaherbs, the Auckland Islands with their breeding New Zealand sea lions, and the Snares, said to hold more nesting seabirds than all the British Isles combined. The voyage also takes in the predator-free sanctuary of Stewart Island’s Ulva Island and three days among the ice-carved fiords of Fiordland. This is a different kind of southern voyage from the great ice expeditions, no continent landing, but an unmatched concentration of wildlife, megaherb meadows and dramatic scenery, led by the most experienced operator in these waters.
Itinerary highlights
Explore New Zealand's UNESCO World Heritage sub-Antarctic islands, among the most protected nature reserves on earth.
Walk among nesting southern royal albatross and the spectacular megaherb meadows of Campbell Island.
Land at Enderby Island in the Aucklands, with breeding New Zealand sea lions, rare endemic birds and easy walks.
Zodiac cruise the Snares, said to hold more nesting seabirds than all of the British Isles combined.
Discover the predator-free sanctuary of Ulva Island, alive with kaka, kakariki, weka and birdsong.
Spend three days exploring the ice-carved fiords of Fiordland, including Doubtful and Dusky Sounds.
Look for bottlenose dolphins, Fiordland crested penguins and fur seals in some of New Zealand's remotest waters.
Travel with the most experienced sub-Antarctic operator, with naturalist-led landings and an optional Fiordland helicopter flight.
Classic Sub-Antarctic Islands Expedition
This twelve-day expedition explores some of the wildest, least-visited islands on earth, New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic reserves, where the wildlife rules and few people ever set foot. These UNESCO World Heritage islands lie far south of the mainland, on no regular shipping route and protected by strict permit, so they can only be reached on a voyage like this. Sailing round-trip from the Port of Bluff, you explore Campbell Island with its nesting southern royal albatross and famous megaherbs, the Auckland Islands with their breeding New Zealand sea lions, and the Snares, said to hold more nesting seabirds than all the British Isles combined. The voyage also takes in the predator-free sanctuary of Stewart Island’s Ulva Island and three days among the ice-carved fiords of Fiordland. This is a different kind of southern voyage from the great ice expeditions, no continent landing, but an unmatched concentration of wildlife, megaherb meadows and dramatic scenery, led by the most experienced operator in these waters.
Itinerary highlights
Explore New Zealand's UNESCO World Heritage sub-Antarctic islands, among the most protected nature reserves on earth.
Walk among nesting southern royal albatross and the spectacular megaherb meadows of Campbell Island.
Land at Enderby Island in the Aucklands, with breeding New Zealand sea lions, rare endemic birds and easy walks.
Zodiac cruise the Snares, said to hold more nesting seabirds than all of the British Isles combined.
Discover the predator-free sanctuary of Ulva Island, alive with kaka, kakariki, weka and birdsong.
Spend three days exploring the ice-carved fiords of Fiordland, including Doubtful and Dusky Sounds.
Look for bottlenose dolphins, Fiordland crested penguins and fur seals in some of New Zealand's remotest waters.
Travel with the most experienced sub-Antarctic operator, with naturalist-led landings and an optional Fiordland helicopter flight.
What's Included
- One night's hotel accommodation before embarkation, with dinner and breakfast
- Pre and post-cruise transfers and the coach transfer to Invercargill or Queenstown
- All shipboard accommodation aboard an expedition ship, with all meals
- House beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- All expedition shore excursions and Zodiac landings
- A programme of lectures by noted naturalists
- Sub-Antarctic island landing permits
What's Included
- One night's hotel accommodation before embarkation, with dinner and breakfast
- Pre and post-cruise transfers and the coach transfer to Invercargill or Queenstown
- All shipboard accommodation aboard an expedition ship, with all meals
- House beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- All expedition shore excursions and Zodiac landings
- A programme of lectures by noted naturalists
- Sub-Antarctic island landing permits
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FAQs
No. This is a sub-Antarctic islands voyage, not an Antarctic continent expedition. You explore New Zealand’s southern islands, Campbell, the Aucklands and the Snares, plus Stewart Island and Fiordland, all reached round-trip from the Port of Bluff. There is no ice-continent landing; the appeal is extraordinary wildlife, megaherbs and scenery.
They are UNESCO World Heritage reserves among the most protected on earth, remote, uninhabited and on no regular shipping route, with access limited by strict permit. Few people ever visit, and they hold remarkable concentrations of albatross, penguins, sea lions and the famous megaherbs.
Nesting southern royal albatross and megaherbs on Campbell Island, breeding New Zealand sea lions and rare endemic birds on Enderby Island, the endemic Snares crested penguin, and the native forest birds of predator-free Ulva Island, with dolphins and penguins in Fiordland.
Walking is mostly easy to moderate, with options of different lengths at each landing, from gentle wildlife watching to longer walks and the energetic climb to a mollymawk colony at Carnley Harbour. You choose what suits you at each site.