06 Jan 2020

History, Hooker's Sea Lions and Hoiho on Enderby Island

Akademik Shokalskiy sailed up to the Auckland Islands, the last landing on our In the Wake of Mawson expedition, yesterday morning with the plan to spend two days exploring the natural and historical sites along the Eastern shores of this Subantarctic archipelago.

However with increasing westerly winds, even on the lee side of Enderby Island, we decided to wait until conditions improved before launching the Zodiacs. Waking to a considerably calmer morning, we made our way to our first destination - the former agriculture and whaling site of Hardwicke Colony in Port Ross where we enjoyed a pleasant walk through a flowering Rata forest to the small village cemetery. On our way back we explored the former colony location where foundation ruins are the only reminders of the buildings which once stood here. Another point of interest was Victoria Tree - a large rata stump featuring a carved inscription of a rescue vessel visit search for shipwrecks in 1865. During our explorations our on-board historian Dr David Harrowfield was able to provide fascinating insights at each location.

In the afternoon we sailed around to Enderby Island where we landed at Sandy Bay, famous for its large New Zealand/Hooker's Sea Lion rookery. Landing in the corner of the bay, we watched the rookery from a grassy elevation behind the beach without disturbing the wildlife where large Beachmaster males defended their harems, fighting occasional contenders, as females nursed newborn pups.

In the other corner of the bay we observed the rare, New Zealand Bird of the Year the Yellow-eyed Penguins/Hoiho going to and from the forest to the sea. Those who wanted to stretch their legs took the longer walk to the western side of the island. Returning back on board Akademik Shokalskiy around 1900 hours we lifted anchor soon after and bid farewell to the Auckland Islands as we set sail for the Port of Bluff.

Image from file © L.Carlson