New Zealand

Day 1: Invercargill

Make your way to the designated meeting point in Invercargill from where there will be a transfer to the ship. After settling in to your cabin, we recommend joining fellow travellers out on deck as we set sail as this is a good opportunity to look for the highly localised and endemic Foveaux Shag which has a highly restricted range.

Day 2: At Sea

We will be at sea all day and this should be an excellent opportunity to see a great range of seabirds with the possibilities including Wandering Albatross, Southern Royal Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Campbell Albatross, Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Salvin’s Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross, Northern and Southern Giant Petrels, Sooty Shearwater and Little Shearwater.

We are likely to also have our first opportunity to try and sort out the extremely similar and highly confusing prions that occur in these waters with Fairy Prion, Fulmar Prion and Antarctic Prion all possible.

Other species we could find include Soft-plumaged Petrel, Mottled Petrel, White-headed Petrel, Grey-faced Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Grey-backed Storm-petrel, Wilson’s Storm-petrel, Black-bellied Storm-petrel and Common Diving-petrel.

Day 3: Antipodes Islands

The Antipodes Islands are the most isolated and arguably least known of New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands. The islands have benefited from one of the world’s most successful eradication programmes, dubbed the ‘Million Dollar Mouse’, which saw the island declared ‘mouse free’ in 2018.

As a result, the unique plants and wildlife now thrive following the removal of some 200,000 mice and although landings are not permitted, we plan to zodiac cruise the coastline if sea conditions are suitable. This should give us a great opportunity to look for the island’s specialities including Antipodes Parakeet which is the largest of New Zealand’s parakeets. Reischek’s Parakeet, which is closely related to the more widespread Red-crowned Parakeet but is now generally considered another endemic, is also present along with a highly distinctive form of New Zealand Pipit. We can also expect good views of Erect-crested and Eastern Rockhopper Penguins (now considered a full species by some), as well as Antarctic Terns and Kelp Gulls.

Day 4: Bounty Islands

These small and inhospitable granite islets (which are the only part of the otherwise submerged Bounty Platform to be above sea level), are home to tens of thousands of breeding Salvin’s Albatrosses, as well as Erect-crested Penguins and Fulmar Prions. The endemic Bounty Island Shag, which is the world’s rarest and most localised cormorant/shag, is also found here along with good numbers of New Zealand Fur Seals.

As we sail towards and away from the islands, there should be opportunities to see an excellent range of seabirds with the possibilities including Wandering Albatross, White-capped Albatross, Northern Royal Albatross, Northern Giant Petrel, Mottled Petrel, Soft-plumaged Petrel, Antarctic Fulmar, Broad-billed Prion, White-chinned Petrel and Black-bellied and Grey-backed Storm-petrels.

Days 5 to 8: Chatham Islands

Pelagic birding opportunities as we approach the Chatham Islands’ archipelago include the Chatham Island Petrel and, in the past, we have observed the very rare Chatham Island Taiko (Magenta Petrel), one of New Zealand’s most endangered species. Consisting of one large island and numerous smaller islands and rocky islets, only two islands of the Chatham Islands’ archipelago are inhabited. Working closely with the Chatham Island people our visit could include: Chatham Island The main settlement of Waitangi features a wharf normally bustling with activity where we may see the endemic Chatham Island Shag. Visiting a private reserve in Awatotara Valley there is a good chance to see the endemic Chatham Island Pigeon (once close to extinction), Chatham Island Warbler and Tui. During our time on the main island our activities may include: · Visiting small fishing village Owenga and searching for fossilised sharks’ teeth at Blind Jim’s Creek. · Discovering the rich history of Maunganui’s old stone cottages and seeing the dendroglyphs (tree carvings) at the JM Barker (Hapupu) National Historic Reserve. · Viewing the island’s two endemic shags (cormorants) at Matarakau and endemic plants, including the famed Chatham Island Forget-me-not, at Kaingaroa · A visit to the uniquely designed Kōpinga Marae, built as a tribute to the Moriori ancestors. Mangere and Little Mangere Islands Mangere Island is one of only two sites in the world where Black Robin are found. We will hear how this endemic species was rescued from the brink of extinction in the 1970s from a population of just six birds. As we Zodiac cruise the islands we will be looking for the rare, endemic Forbes’ Parakeet or Chatham Parakeet at Mangere Island. Pitt Island The jewel in the Chatham Islands’ crown, our visit may include Flowerpot or Glory Bay where we will hear stories of life on the island and be on the look out for impressively horned New Zealand Pitt Island Sheep. Pyramid Rock Viewing the basalt outcrop of Pyramid Rock – the only breeding place of the Chatham Island Albatross – great views of birds can be had. South East Island One of the world’s greatest nature reserves, we plan a Zodiac cruise where we can expect to see the world’s rarest wader the endemic New Zealand Shore Plover, Chatham Island Oystercatcher, and Pitt Island Shag.

Day 9: At Sea

We will cross the Chatham Rise where nutrient-rich waters allow for an overlap between northern pelagic and southern latitude birds including Wandering Albatross, Royal Albatross, Salvin’s Albatross, Cape Petrel, Westland Black Petrel and Cook’s Petrel. We can also expect to see shearwater and prion species off New Zealand.

Day 10: Christchurch

After a final breakfast we will say our farewells and board complimentary transfers to either a central city drop off or Christchurch airport.