04 Feb 2025

A Sunny Day at The Snares Islands

What a wonderful start to our In The Wake Of Scott and Shackleton expedition, travelling through the Subantarctic Islands on our way to the Ross Sea! Heritage Adventurer arrived at the Snares Islands in the early morning in almost perfect conditions - a gentle swell, balmy temperatures, and bright skies. As soon as the Zodiacs were launched, we were immersed in wildlife spectacle – groups of Snares Crested Penguins porpoising all around, great rafts of Cape Petrels resting on the ocean and New Zealand Fur Seals lazily swimming by. At the same time, the streamlined shapes of Buller’s Albatross soared overhead.

Exploring the coastline of these uniquely pristine islands, we marvelled at the vast forests of Tree Daisies covering their slopes and the beautiful strands of glistening kelp surging along the shore. Groups of penguins gathered on the steep rocks, aptly named the Penguin Slide, just above the water line, waiting for the perfect wave – when a whole gang launched themselves into the sea. In the trees above, we spotted unique Snares Island birds such as the Tomtit and Fernbird.

After a brilliant morning of Zodiac cruising, our captain navigated Heritage Adventurer near the coast under blue skies. We were treated to spectacular views of the towering granite stacks at the southwestern tip of the island, then along the rocky shores of the Western Chain, where Salvin’s Albatross soared around us.

To cap it all, during the Captain’s Welcome Dinner, we enjoyed a fabulous meal and a spectacular sunset. For us, the Snares Islands had certainly proved to be a magical, natural Eden in the vast Southern Ocean.

Images © S. Bradley, Heritage Expeditions