06 Mar 2023

Saling the Slippery Surrounds of The Snares

Today's adventures fulfilled the dreams of many guests and expedition staff as Heritage Adventurer reached New Zealand's closest Subantarctic Islands The Snares. These isolated rocky outposts are not only hard to reach, but are notoriously plagued by rough seas and wind which called for our trusty Zodiacs to safely navigate these waters.

The isolation however does not bother the resident Snares Crested Penguin which are endemic to the islands, breeding only here, and gathered in multitudes to warm the hearts of everyone who observed them.

New Zealand Fur Seals swam playfully in the shallows while a few New Zealand/Hooker's Sea Lions cruised among the bull kelp. Our Zodiacs were the perfect transport to weave between the rocks and get close to the action, while providing a sense of adventure as we traversed the seas. Buller's and Shy Albatross soared in the breeze and helped everyone fill their memory cards to the brim. Back on board for lunch we were buzzing as we recollected some of the exciting highs of the excursion.

Our Expedition Team provided several lectures to put context and background to the spectacle of The Snares and South New Zealand in general. After another exceptional dinner and final recap, the slideshow created by our resident photographer Fiona left everyone smiling and reminiscing about the last 6 days spent in the wild south. Tomorrow, we bid farewell to our new found friends and start planning for our next adventure.