28 Dec 2014

Sandy Bay Extraordinary

In this part of the world Macquarie Island has no equal and Sandy Bay is the place where it all happens. It was challenging to launch and load the Zodiacs but with great skill the team got everyone ashore safely. The beach was literally teaming with life and as we approached through the surf we were all surrounded and captivated by this powerful place. The King Penguins were interested in us, while the Elephant Seals slept, burped and looked at us with limpid eyes. Royals were busy feeding chicks, or heading back and forth to the sea. It was literally standing room only for all of us on the beach. Our kayakers had an interesting perspective of all this activity from the sea. After four hours on the beach the weather closed in and we hurried back to the ship, tired but very happy having so far ticked all the boxes. The afternoon brought strong winds with 45kt gusts as we took a ship cruise along Lusitania Bay and Herd Point to view the massive King and Royal Penguin rookeries.