Beyond Fiordland: New Zealand's Wildest Islands

“Immense Gratitude”

“Tēnā koe Heritage Expeditions I just wanted to take a moment to offer my sincerest gratitude to you all for the phenomenal experience I had on the recent Subantarctic/Fiordland trip. I am aware we were very lucky with the conditions and the weather, and of course the wildlife, plant-life, landforms, and general scenery were amazing. However, it was Heritage Expedition’s commitment to that environment and to ensuring their passengers experienced it in a safe, supported, and comfortable way that made it so wonderful, and that created conservation advocates out of all of us who weren’t already aware of how much work it takes to protect these treasures. Dan and the team (with amazing support from Shirley) managed the excursions and activities without event, which is a huge achievement and acknowledgement of such a strong commitment. I was so impressed by the high quality education. It was such an honour to hear from amazing scientists and field workers about the work they do and about the species in the environments we were visiting. The expedition crew were so knowledgable and skilled, and I never once felt unsafe in environments that are inherently challenging. There was a constant sense of being held and guided, without it feeling cloying or suffocating. There were so many highlights, I can’t pick one, though feel very privileged to have visited the Subantarctic Islands in particular, as so many people don’t even know of their existence. The food was outstanding and the catering to our dietary requirements was managed without fuss, which was greatly appreciated. Sitting in the same area for most meals lead to the waiter knowing these, and organising alternatives without us needing to ask. Our waiter, Vincent, was an absolute delight, with a wonderful sense of humour balanced by a lovely element of humility that was rather inspiring. I could go on, but I am sure you are inundated with these kinds of messages, and are busy working to ensure future experiences are just as good. Please feel free to pass this on to anyone you think would appreciate it. I have attached a photo from Enderby as a wee thank you memento. With sincere appreciation”

Kelly Dorgan