Macquarie Island Cruises

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Explore Macquarie Island

Aboard the luxury 140-Guest Heritage Adventurer

Save up to 20% per person on select 2025 & 2026 cruises when you book by 30 April 2025.*

Explore wildlife-rich Subantarctic Islands of Macquarie, Campbell, Auckland Islands and the Snares. These UNESCO World Heritage Sites are home to a vast array of wildlife including Albatross, Penguins, Petrels, Shearwaters and marine mammals like Sea Lions, Fur Seals and Elephant Seals. This is without doubt one of the most inspirational and informative expeditions into the Southern Ocean ecosystem that one can make anywhere in the world. On this expedition, we offer you the unique chance to explore, photograph and understand these wonderful places in the company of some of the most knowledgeable and passionate guides.

The name we have given to this voyage ‘Galapagos of the Southern Ocean' reflects the astounding natural biodiversity and the importance of these islands as a wildlife refuge. The book "Galapagos of the Antarctic" (written by Heritage Expeditions' founder Rodney Russ and Aleks Terauds and published by Heritage Expeditions) describes all of these islands in great detail.

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Cruises to Macquarie Island & Subantarctic Islands

Join us on one of these extraordinary voyages

Galapagos of the Southern Ocean: New Zealand and Australia's Subantarctic Islands

12 DAYS

26 Nov – 7 Dec 2025  SAVE 15-20% on Select Cabins*
31 Dec 2025 – 11 Jan 2026 SAVE 15-20% on Select Cabins*

22 Nov – 3 Dec 2026  SAVE 15-20% on Select Cabins*
17 – 28 Dec 2026 SAVE 15-20% on Select Cabins*

Queenstown-Bluff, New Zealand and return
Aboard 140-guest luxury Heritage Adventurer

  • Visit remote World Heritage Sites: The Snares, Auckland Islands, Macquarie Island and Campbell Islands
  • Explore Macquarie Island with Park Ranger guides
  • Observe the raucous antics of Macquarie Island's Royal Penguin and King Penguin colonies
  • Watch lumbering Elephant Seals challenging each other on Macquarie Island
  • Zodiac cruise Lusitania Bay - one of the largest penguin breeding colonies on the planet (Macquarie Island)
  • Spend the day hiking the unforgettable landscapes of Enderby and Campbell Islands
  • Look for the elusive Campbell and Auckland Island Snipe
  • Wade waist deep through fields of flowering megaherbs
  • Experience the rarely-seen early Albatross courting ritual known as gamming
  • Explore wildlife-rich rugged coastlines
  • Human history - Coastwatcher's Huts, early settlements and shipwreck tales
*Book by 30 April 2025 and save 15% off Worsely Suites and 20% off Heritage Suites. Landing fees not included, per person, new bookings only.

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Birding Down Under: Subantarctic and Chatham Islands

17 DAYS

6 – 22 Dec 2025 SAVE 15-20% on Select Cabins*
2 – 18 Dec 2026 SAVE 15-20% on Select Cabins*

Queenstown-Bluff, New Zealand and return
Aboard 140-guest luxury Heritage Adventurer

Special Guest: Join acclaimed Rachel Bigsby for exclusive 8-person Subantarctic wildlife photography workshops with personalized seabird expertise

  • Island Groups: Snares, Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Campbell Island, Macquarie Island & Chatham Islands
  • Incredibly rare Chatham Island Black Robin and Taiko (Magenta Petrel), and Forbe's/Chatham Parakeet
  • Visit the only breeding sites of the Erect-crested Penguin and home to the world's rarest shag the endemic Bounty Island Shag in Antipodes and Bounty Islands
  • Pyramid Rock, the only breeding place of the Chatham Island Albatross
  • Cross the Chathams Rise, known location of Wandering Royal and Salvin's Albatross, and Cape, Westland Black and Cook's Petrel
  • Observe the raucous antics of Macquarie Island's Royal Penguin and King Penguin colonies
  • Watch lumbering Elephant Seals challenging each other on Macquarie Island
  • Zodiac cruise Lusitania Bay - one of the largest penguin breeding colonies on the planet (Macquarie Island)
  • Look for the elusive Campbell and Auckland Island Snipe
  • Experience the rarely-seen early Albatross courting ritual known as gamming
*Book by 30 April 2025 and save 15% off Worsely Suites and 20% off Heritage Suites in 2026. Landing fees not included, per person, new bookings only.

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In the Wake of Scott & Shackleton: Ross Sea Antarctica

28 DAYS

2026 - SAVE 15-20% on Select Cabins*
10 Jan – 6 Feb 
5 Feb – 4 Mar 

2027 - SAVE 15-20% on Select Cabins*
6 Jan – 2 Feb 
1 – 28 Feb

Bluff, New Zealand and Return
Aboard 140-guest luxury Heritage Adventurer

  • 12 incredible days to explore remote Antarctica
  • Walk in Sir Ernest Shackleton’s footsteps at his hut at Cape Royds
  • Venture back in time at Borchgrevink’s Hut at Cape Adare 
  • Gaze at the towering figure of Mt Erebus amongst a dramatic landscape of glacial ice
  • Visit Subantarctic Snares, Auckland, Campbell & Macquarie Islands
  • Spend the day hiking amongst megaherbs on the unforgettable landscapes of Enderby and Campbell Islands
  • Visit Enderby Island in sea lion breeding season and watch beach master bulls defend their harem
  • See the festivities of Royal Penguins on Macquarie Island at their peak
  • Marvel at the abundance of wildlife with Emperor Penguins, Royals, Kings, Adelie Penguins, whales, seals and more.
  • Observe the raucous Adelie Penguins with chicks about to start fledging  
  • Catch the peak flowering of the megaherbs in the Subantarctic Campbell Island
  • Experience the beauty of 24-hour sunlight in the Ross Sea
  • Spot Orca feeding amongst the ice, especially in McMurdo Sound
  • Navigate through pack ice that guards the entrance to the Ross Sea
*Book by 30 April 2025 and save 15% off Worsely Suites and 20% off Heritage Suites in 2027. Landing fees not included, per person, new bookings only.

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What our travellers are saying

Galapagos of the Southern Ocean: Subantarctic Islands

Let me be the first to say, the Subantarctic is the stuff of legends. A refuge for some of the most abundant wildlife colonies on earth, New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands are perhaps the most overlooked and pristine islands I've ever set foot on. Situated in the latitudes in between the Roaring Forties, Furious Fifties and Screaming Sixties, this is a place so savagely beautiful it'll take your breath away – literally.

Liz Carlson

Galapagos of the Southern Ocean: Subantarctic Islands

Heritage Expeditions knows its stuff. If you love pelagic birds, penguins, sea lions and unique flora, you cannot be disappointed by the islands of the Subantarctic. The roaring forties and furious fifties awaken the spirit of adventure – this is a sea voyage as much as a biodiversity overload. More than just a sensory experience, you feel connected on a deeper level with the thousands of penguins on the islands and the constant companionship of albatross at sea. Thank you so much to the expedition team and crew of the Professor Khromov for memories to last a lifetime.

Neale Frazer

Galapagos of the Southern Ocean: Subantarctic Islands

I spent Christmas and New Year on the Galapagos of the Southern Ocean trip and it is the coolest thing I have ever done. The birding is incredible, the wildlife is stunning. We had pretty calm weather compared to other trips, and the crew on Professor Khromov made the whole trip an absolute dream expedition. I have recommended Heritage Expeditions and this trip to everybody I know!

Tamzin Goldsworthy

Birding Down Under: Subantarctic and Chatham Islands

Besides the privilege of the wildlife we had on view, especially all those birds! The people - staff and fellow passengers ‘made' this trip. Thanks again to Heritage Expedition staff for their energy, competence and knowledge they shared with us. Judd is a brilliant leader and was very well supported by our competent guides. On this trip we also gained from some hard core birders who were always helpful in pointing us in the right direction with a name! Thanks also to the many others that make such a voyage possible and spoiled us with superb food, an active bar, clean cabins to name but a few of the on-board luxuries. I am definitely looking forward to my next HE voyage, but it has set the bar a bit high!”

Annette Hatten

Birding Down Under: Subantarctic and Chatham Islands

Birding Down Under was a tremendous experience! The staff and crew were fabulous: we learned so much and always felt that everyone had our safety and enjoyment foremost in their minds. Being able to go where so few have gone is a great privilege, and we are so grateful to have this opportunity. We were VERY impressed with the efforts New Zealand is making to conserve these natural treasures for the future – a model for what other countries can do. Thanks to everyone at Heritage Expeditions for making this trip possible.

Tom and Patsy Inglet

Birding Down Under: Subantarctic and Chatham Islands

Just home after a fabulous trip to the sub-antarctic islands of New Zealand. Hard to tell what is most memorable, but seeing a baby Southern Royal Albatross being fed a half-dozen whole squid just a few feet away from us was amazing. The birds were fantastic, headlined by the mythical Taiko, which buzzed the ship early one morning. Rodney and his super team did a great job keeping us safe and teaching us about the wonders of these magical destinations.

Peter Kaestner

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