Heritage Expeditions
South Indian Ocean
- Overview
- Dates & Rates
- Itinerary
- Photos
- Ship
Deep in the South Indian Ocean lies Heard and McDonald Islands. Only a handful of people have ever visited these islands. These include a few scientists, a handful of tourists and (in a few years immediately after its discovery) sealers and shipwrecked mariners. These islands are 4,100 kilometres south-west of Perth, just 1,000 kilometres from the Antarctic continent and they are a world class Nature Reserve and World Heritage Site.
South Indian Ocean voyage highlights
- Three days at Heard Island, one of the most remote islands in the world
- Australia's only active volcano and highest mountain, Big Ben
- See Gentoo, Macaroni and Rockhopper Penguins
- Seabird and cetacean viewing
This unique voyage gives you a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend at least three days at Heard Island and neighbouring McDonald Island (no landings permitted on McDonald) experiencing Australia’s only active volcano and highest mountain, Big Ben, along with a multitude of resident breeding Antarctic Fur Seal, Southern Elephant Seal and King Penguins, all previously heavily exploited and are now recovering. Gentoo, Macaroni and Rockhopper Penguins also breed here. The islands discovery and history are colourful and there is still a lot of artefacts and evidence from this period. It is a mountainous, wild and strange environment: recent satellite images show glaciers alongside lava flows.
Our last expedition to Heard Island was in 2002 when we enjoyed a number of successful landings.
We will also spend a number of days at sea where we will have the opportunity to watch and photograph seabirds and cetaceans as we sail through these wildlife rich areas. We will sail as close as the French authorities will permit to Amsterdam, St Paul and Kerguelen Islands. It’s in this region we have our best chance of seeing one of the world’s rarest seabirds, the Amsterdam Albatross.
For dates and rates, and the full itinerary please click the tabs under the heading above.
Voyage #: 1262
Availability: Available
Availability: Available
Availability: Available
Availability: Available
Availability: Available
Voyage #: 1262
South Indian Ocean itinerary:
Embark the vessel in Fremantle, Western Australia, complete formalities and set sail.
While at sea there will be many opportunities to watch for seabirds and cetaceans. This is a seldom visited region so it is not certain just what species we may encounter. We will be mapping and recording those that we do see. We will sail as close as allowed to Iles Amsterdam and Iles St Paul where we hope to get sightings of the Amsterdam (Wandering) Albatross along with the Yellow-nosed Albatross, Sooty Albatross, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Little Shearwater, Broad-billed Prion, White-bellied Storm Petrel, Antarctic Tern, Soft-plumaged Petrel and many other pelagic bird species.
We will cross the Antarctic convergence before reaching Heard Island.
Antarctic Fur Seal and Southern Elephant Seal both previously heavily exploited are now found in good numbers on the volcanic sand beaches. King Gentoo, Macaroni and Rockhopper Penguins also breed here. Other breeding seabirds include Black-browed and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross (Southern Royal, Sooty, Indian Yellow-nosed and Grey-headed Albatrosses have been recorded offshore), Cape and Southern Giant Petrels, Antarctic and Fulmar Prions, Wilson's Storm Petrel (Black-bellied, White-bellied plus Grey-backed Storm Petrels have all been recorded offshore), Common and South Georgia Diving Petrels, Black-faced Sheathbill and the endemic Heard Island Shag. Recorded offshore tubenoses include Southern Fulmar, Blue Petrel, Northern Giant Petrel, Slender-billed Prion, Broad-billed Prion, Snow, White-chinned, Grey, Barau’s, Kerguelen, Mottled, White-headed, Great-winged, Soft-plumaged and Antarctic Petrels! Subantarctic (Brown) Skua breeds, along with Kelp Gulls and Antarctic Terns.
When sea and weather conditions are suitable we plan landings at Atlas Cove, abandoned site of the ANARE base at Spit Beach and Long Beach. All these sites have artefacts and evidence from the sealing period; they also have good concentrations of wildlife.
* Please note the planned landings at Heard Island will require all ship’s staff and passengers who go ashore to be wearing completely sterile clothing and boots, the vessel will provide these for all and the cost of this is reflected in the landing fees for the voyage.
Weather dependent we hope to spend some time around McDonald Islands (no landings permitted). The McDonald Islands are 44 kilometres west of Heard Island and are small and rocky. The volcano on McDonald Island, after being dormant for 75,000 years, became active in 1992 and has erupted several times since dramatically changing the shape and size of the island.
With favourable weather you might find yourself out on deck enjoying the sun and you have time to relax and reflect on an amazing journey into a wilderness on the edge of the earth. Recap the highlights with the crew and enjoy a farewell dinner as we sail the last leg of our journey.
For travel arrangements post expedition, we ask that you make bookings after 1 p.m. to allow time for disembarkation procedures and the vagaries of the weather. Please provide us with a copy of your flight details detailing the time and date of your arrival prior to the start of the voyage and also your departure arrangements at the end of the voyage.
During our voyage, circumstances may make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include poor weather and opportunities for making unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed.
Spirit of Enderby
Our ship - The 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 November 2009 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 Capitan 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 1800’s. It also celebrates Enderby Island, arguably the greatest Subantarctic Island in the world.
a) our fleet of RIB’s, (rigid inflatable boats) sometimes referred to as zodiacs. These extremely safe and stable craft will land you at some of the most amazing places.
b) Our specially designed and built Hovercraft (2) give us unprecedented over ice capability in Antarctica allowing us to land in places that are inaccessible to other ships.
Technical description:
- Classification: Russian register KM ice class
- Year built: 1984
- Accommodation: 50 berths expedition
- Shipyard: Finland
- Main engines: power 2x1560 bhp (2x 1147 Kw)
- Register: Russia
- Maximum speed: 12 knots (2 engines),
- Cruising speed: 10 knots(one engine)
- Bunker capacity: 320 tons
Cabin details:
- 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.
- Mini Suites: Have 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.
- Superior Plus cabins: Have two lower berths, wardrobe, drawers, desk, a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. These cabins have windows.
- Superior cabins: Have bunks (an upper and lower berth), wardrobe, drawers, a desk, a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. These cabins have windows.
- Main deck cabins: Have two lower berths, wardrobe, drawers, a desk, washbasin and porthole. The nearby showers and toilets are shared with other Main deck cabins.
- Main deck triple: Has one bunk (one upper and one lower) and one lower berth, wardrobe, drawers, a desk and wash basin. The nearby showers and toilets are shared with other Main deck cabins.
