06 Dec 2020

Spectacular Day on Campbell Island

Spirit of Enderby sailed in Perseverance Harbour, Campbell Island, at 0600 hours with all aboard determined to make the most of our full day here. The cool southerly front died out during the morning, leaving us with a glorious mild day on Campbell Island.

While one group took a long walk over the hill to Northwest Bay, the remainder went for a Zodiac cruise along the harbour shoreline before lunch which turned into a wildlife procession including Campbell Island Teal fossicking in the bull kelp, Campbell Island Shags loafing on the promontories, dolphins in the harbour, and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross nesting on the island's steep faces among the megaherbs. We watched a pair delicately grooming and touching beaks, while others soared overhead with plaintive cries. The Hooker's/New Zealand Sea Lion harems were full, in expectation of pupping in another 2-3 weeks.

After lunch most of us went up the boardwalk to the lookout at Col Lyle, including all but one of those who'd already completed the long walk! With its wide sweeping valleys and craggy tops, emerging flowers and albatross flying and courting, Campbell Island just kept on giving. Back on board the bar was buzzing.

For one of us, our visit to Campbell Island held special significance: New Zealand's first female marine pilot and guest Joanne Laing's father (Rob Stanley) was stationed at the weather station here during the 1950's. Joanne wanted to visit this place he had talked so much about and replicated the photo of him standing in front of the World's Loneliest Tree, the Sitka spruce tree at Camp Cove. Back then the tree was barely higher than he was, in Joanne's photo the tree is now 4 or 5 times her height!

We're now sailing towards the Antipodes Islands.

Image © C.Todd, Heritage Expeditions