22 Mar 2024

Conservation in action on Great Barrier Island

After setting sail from Auckland last night on the start of our Western Pacific Odyssey and Grand Pacific Odyssey adventure, we awoke in the peaceful waters of Port Fitzroy at Great Barrier Island for our first adventure.

It was bird song that welcomed us once ashore as Kākā, Tūī, New Zealand Pigeon/Kererū, Bellbird, New Zealand Fantail and Sacred Kingfisher all sang and accompanied us on our exploration through the lush native forest. Even the normally shy Buff-banded Rail, happily walked out in plain view, which kept the camera shutters working hard.

One of the day's many highlights was witnessing one of New Zealand’s true conservation success stories, as five very cute little Brown Teal ducklings paddled around on a small pond. The endemic Brown Teal, once only numbered at just a few hundred birds, is now over two thousand strong all due to the continued efforts of predator control.

Once back onboard Heritage Adventurer, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch, before sailing north towards the Bay of Islands.

Images © C. Finch, Heritage Expeditions