15 Mar 2019

Western Pacific Odyssey Sets Sail

Casting off lines at 1700 hours, most expeditioners joined us on deck and up in the bridge as Spirit of Enderby cruised out of Tauranga Harbour and into relatively calm seas and clear skies as our 'Western Pacific Odyssey' voyage began this afternoon.

An expedition many have been waiting several years for, WPO (as it's known in birding circles) will journey around 5,500 nautical miles from Tauranga, New Zealand (37 degrees south) to Yokohama, Japan (35 degrees north), the expansive distance offering exceptional birding opportunities through numerous latitudes attracts both keen birders and travellers alike from around the globe.

Enjoying the warm humidity of the late New Zealand summer weather and our birdlife and cetacean escorts, we sailed by the nature reserve of Mayor Island as we made our way up the Coromandel coastline towards the Hauraki Gulf bound for our first stop - Norfolk Island.