“Birding Down Under” Trip Report

Last month saw a group of eleven clients travel with WildWings/Limosa guide Chris Collins on “Birding Down Under”.  This iconic cruise, which visits the Subantarctic islands of New Zealand and Australia, is widely considered one of the best pelagic voyages in the world and during the 15 days we were aboard the very comfortable Heritage Adventurer, the group saw almost all the species we could reasonably have expected including eight species of penguins and over a dozen different albatrosses.  In addition, a host of localised endemics including Magenta Petrel, Shore Plover and Antipodes Parakeet were also seen.

With generally favourable weather conditions for much of the expedition, we were able to make landings or zodiac cruises at almost all of the scheduled locations which added a good range of special species and the opportunity to see some of the pelagic species up close.

Notable highlights included two landings at Sandy Bay on Macquarie Island which is undoubtedly one of the most wildlife rich beaches on any subantarctic island.  There were tens of thousands of penguins with the majority being Royal and King Penguins, however, Eastern Rockhoppers were also seen.  An added bonus was a pod of Orcas which cruised just offshore.

Another special privilege was visiting the Sweetwater Reserve in the Chatham Islands where we were able to see a Magenta Petrel in the hand.  

Whilst the voyage is rarely one with a long marine mammal list, nevertheless, we did very well with good numbers of New Zealand and Subantarctic Fur Seals, Hooker’s Sea Lions and a decent range of cetaceans. 

With the WildWings group occupying the monkey deck for much of the voyage when we were transiting between island groups, many of the cetaceans which were found were initially spotted by the group and these included a pod of Hourglass Dolphins which showed well off the bow and a more distant group of Arnoux’s Beaked Whales shortly after we left the Chatham Islands.

With the added bonus of a great Expedition Team, excellent restaurant and comfortable cabins, it was a highly memorable voyage.

To read Chris’s trip report please click here and to learn more about the 2026 voyage click here.  Please be aware, however, that the next departure has only very limited availability so if this is a cruise you are considering for later this year we strongly recommend contacting WildWings as soon as you can as only a handful of cabins remain available.

Chris Collins  January 2026