16 Jan 2021

Noah's Ark - The Bounty Islands

The raucous calls, squawks and pungency carried on the wind all indicate the Bounty Islands are very close, but lost in thick fog. It's 10-year-old guest Shannon who is the first to spot the white of the waves crashing against the cliffs giving away our destination.

Not long after we are at anchor and boarding the Zodiacs. In the first glance it's clear why this group of 22 small islands, 700-kilometre east of New Zealand's mainland, are often referred to as 'Noah's Ark'. Holes in the fog reveal birdlife dominated by Erect-crested Penguins along with 40,000 pairs of Salvin's Albatross, all competing for nesting sites on the bare rock.

The birds cohabitate with tens of thousands of New Zealand Fur Seals; the dramatic rock formations and wildlife combining to create a unique and truly special place where halos of albatross mass in the sky above circling the rocks.

Back on board our trusty expedition vessel Spirit Enderby, we sail over impossibly blue water on our way towards Antipodes Islands as our Expedition Leader Katja briefs us on the geology of the islands and Phil tells us about the impressive conservation effort removing mice from the islands.

Image © K.Riedel, Heritage Expeditions