Western Pacific Odyssey itinerary:
Day 1: Port of Lyttelton
Arrive into the city of Christchurch and transfer to the Port of Lyttelton where you will join the Spirit of Enderby. After settling into your cabin you will be introduced to your Expedition Team and there will be some on board safety briefings. The ship will depart this evening.
Day 2: Kaikoura and the Cook Strait
We will arrive in the early morning off the shore of the small fishing village of Kaikoura, made famous with its whale watching and pelagic birding tours. There will be no landings here, however, the ship will cruise along the Kaikoura Trench, known by many birders for the albatross species seen here. We will be looking for certain species in particular including Gibsons, Southern, Northern Royal and Salvins Albatross, Westland and White-chinned Petrel.
Days 3 to 5: At Sea
En route to Norfolk Island, we have a good chance of spotting Gould’s Petrel, Black-winged Petrel, White-naped Petrel, Grey-faced Petrel, Tahiti Petrel and Black Petrels.
Day 6: Norfolk Island
After clearing Australian Customs, we aim to spend most of the day at Norfolk Island’s Botanical Gardens, home to the two endemics – the Norfolk Island Parakeet and the Norfolk Gerygone.
Day 7: At Sea
We will spend the next day at sea on a northward course. We cross a large underwater seamount, a productive area for seabirds including Tahiti, Kermadec and Grey-faced Petrels, plus the first of the Polynesian Storm Petrels.
Days 8 to 9: New Caledonia
We arrive at New Caledonia in the afternoon and pick up our pilot for the journey to the Port of Noumea. We will be able to relax and enjoy the town of Noumea or alternatively go birding on the outskirts of town.
The next day we journey to the Parc de la Rivière Bleue to look for Kagu and Crow Honey-eater. Other birds to be on the lookout for include the Crested Parakeet, Cloven-feathered Dove, Yellow-bellied Robin, New Caledonian (Goliath) Imperial Pigeon and many more.
Days 10 to 12: At Sea
We will be able to enjoy these leisurely days at sea offering us a chance to relax and catch up on notes, reading and sleep.
Day 13: Rennell Island
This morning we will go ashore at Rennell Island where we hope to see the Rennell Starling, Rennell Shrikebill, Bare-eyed White-eye, Rennell Fantail and Rennell White-eye. Other species we may come across include the Imperial Pigeon, Silver-capped Fruit Dove, Singing Parrot, Melanesian Flycatcher, Cardinal Myzomela, Finsch’s Pygmy Parrot and Island Thrush.
Day 14: Makira Island
This island holds its own treasures, including the endemic Sooty Myzomela, San Cristobal Melidectes, White-collared Monarch, Mottled Flowerpeckers, White-headed Fruit Dove and Rufous Fantail. Other species could include Rainbow Lorikeets, Red-knobbed Imperial- Pigeon, San Cristobal Singing and Metallic Starling, Pied Goshawk, Pacific Baza, and Cardinal Myzomela. We will also enjoy the hospitality of the people in nearby Anuta Village.
Day 15: Honiara
We will anchor off Honiara and depart in the early morning for nearby Mount Austin. Birds that we might see include Yellow-eyed, White-bellied and Solomon’s Cuckoo-shrikes, Cicadabird, Brown-winged and Singing Starlings, Yellow-faced Myna, Chestnut-bellied and Black-and-white Monarchs, Steely Blue Fly-catcher.
Day 16: Kolombangara Island
We will hopefully make a landing at Kolombangara Island in the early afternoon. Here we hope to see White-capped Monarch, Solomon White-eye, Yellow-vented Myzomela and hopefully, the Roviana Rail. Other species could include Blyth’s Hornbill, Superb Fruit Dove, Red-knobbed Imperial-Pigeon, Steely Blue Fly-catcher, Melanesian and Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-shrikes, Metallic and Singing Starlings and the Solomon Sea-Eagle.
Day 17: At Sea
Having departed the Solomon Islands we will spend time over a deep water canyon near Bougainville-New Britain Trench. Experience tells us that it is a very productive area and we hope to see Heinroth’s Shearwater.
Day 18: New Ireland
We spend the day off the coast of New Ireland, where our target for the day is the Beck's Petrel. Other species could include Wedge-tailed and Streaked Shearwaters.
Days 19 to 20: At Sea
During these days at sea we cross the equator, a cause for celebration!
There are a number of species that we should be on the lookout for, including Bulwer’s Petrel, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, White-tailed Tropicbird, White and Sooty Terns and the Frigate Bird.
Days 21 to 22: Caroline Islands
We enter the protected waters of the Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon. We will clear Customs into the Caroline Islands and enjoy a night at anchor.
On Weno Island, the main island in the group, we hope to see species such as Myzomelas, Reed Warbler, Swiftlet and the Ground Dove.
Days 23 to 29: At Sea
It is over 1,200 nautical miles to the Bonin Islands. So we will have plenty of time to relax and enjoy!
Birds that we may see include Matsudaira’s Storm-Petrel, Bonin and Bulwer’s Petrels, Wedge-tailed and Bannerman’s Shearwaters.
As we pass by the Bonin Islands which are an amazing chain of islands, keep look for Humpback Whales and other seabirds as we head towards Torishima Island.
Day 30: Torishima Island
Landings are not allowed at Torishima Island, but as we cruise close to shore we hope to spot the Short-tailed or Steller's Albatross. Other species in the vicinity include the Black-footed Albatross, Streaked Shearwater, Tristam’s and Matsudaira’s Storm-Petrels.
Day 31: Miyakejima Island
We cruise off shore of the island where there is known to be Japanese Murrelet breeding. We will then continue our journey to Yokohama, there is generally some good birding on this last leg of the cruise. In the evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner.
Day 32: Yokohama, Japan
After breakfast and once Japanese arrival formalities have been completed, we will disembark the Spirit of Enderby. There will be a complimentary transfer from the ship to Yokohama railway station.
Spirit of Enderby

Our ship - The Spirit of Enderby:
The Spirit of Enderby is a fully ice-strengthened expedition vessel, built in 1984 for polar and oceanographic research and is perfect for Expedition Travel.
She carries just 50 passengers and was refurbished in November 2009 to provide comfortable accommodation in twin share cabins approximately half of which have private facilities. All cabins have outside windows or portholes and ample storage space.
On board there is a combined bar/library lounge area and a dedicated lecture room. The cuisine is excellent and is prepared by top NZ and Australian chefs.
The real focus and emphasis of every expedition is getting you ashore as often as possible for as long as possible with maximum safety and comfort. Our Expeditions are accompanied by some of the most experienced naturalists and guides, who have devoted a lifetime to field research in the areas that we visit. The ship is crewed by a very enthusiastic and most experienced Russian Capitan and crew.
The name Spirit of Enderby honours the work and the vision of the Enderby Brothers of London. The Enderby Captains were at the forefront of Antarctic exploration for almost 40 years in the early 1800’s. It also celebrates Enderby Island, arguably the greatest Subantarctic Island in the world.
a) our fleet of RIB’s, (rigid inflatable boats) sometimes referred to as zodiacs. These extremely safe and stable craft will land you at some of the most amazing places.
b) Our specially designed and built Hovercraft (2) give us unprecedented over ice capability in Antarctica allowing us to land in places that are inaccessible to other ships.
Technical description:
- Classification: Russian register KM ice class
- Year built: 1984
- Accommodation: 50 berths expedition
- Shipyard: Finland
- Main engines: power 2x1560 bhp (2x 1147 Kw)
- Register: Russia
- Maximum speed: 12 knots (2 engines),
- Cruising speed: 10 knots(one engine)
- Bunker capacity: 320 tons
Cabin details:
- Heritage Suite: Has a large lounge area, a separate bedroom with double bed, a single bed in the lounge, writing desk, wardrobe, drawers. There is a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. There are large forward and side facing windows to allow great views.
- Mini Suites: Have a separate bedroom with a double bed and a single bed or a sofa in the lounge, wardrobe, drawers, a desk and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. The Mini Suites have windows.
- Superior Plus cabins: Have two lower berths, wardrobe, drawers, desk, a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. These cabins have windows.
- Superior cabins: Have bunks (an upper and lower berth), wardrobe, drawers, a desk, a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. These cabins have windows.
- Main deck cabins: Have two lower berths, wardrobe, drawers, a desk, washbasin and porthole. The nearby showers and toilets are shared with other Main deck cabins.
- Main deck triple: Has one bunk (one upper and one lower) and one lower berth, wardrobe, drawers, a desk and wash basin. The nearby showers and toilets are shared with other Main deck cabins.