15 Dec 2019

Exploring the Wilds of Campbell Island

It was a welcome calm for many as Spirit of Enderby pulled into the sheltered waters of Perseverance Harbour in the early hours of the morning following our crossing from Bluff.

Under clear and sunny skies, but with a blustery wind, we started the day with a hearty breakfast followed by a briefing on the options for the day.

Those who headed for Northwest Bay set off first moving around the head of Tucker Cove, with attendant Hooker's Sea Lions guarding the shoreline, and up through the Dracophyllum to see the first of the flowering Pleurophyllums. Climbing higher we found nesting Southern Royal Albatross and Anisotome latifolia in full flower above the dramatic panorama that is Northwest Bay.

We then enjoyed a gentle amble into Capstan Cove passing gaming albatross below the slopes of Mt Dumas. Our other expeditioners enjoyed the morning exploring Perseverance Harbour by Zodiac and visiting the old homestead site and the Guinness World Records accredited 'loneliest tree in the world' at Camp Cove before lunch back aboard the Spirit of Enderby and an afternoon walk to the Southern Royal Albatross colony at Col Lyall. Tonight we enjoyed a birthday dinner for our youngest traveller who turned 11 today - what a place to celebrate your 11^th birthday!

Image from file © S.Blanc, Heritage Expeditions