02 Mar 2020

Discovering Penguin Paradise on Macquarie Island

During the last two days we have enjoyed a fairly calm sea and good weather as we explored Australia's Subantarctic wonderland - Macquarie Island. Zodiac cruising Lusitania Bay yesterday we enjoy excellent views of the large King Penguin colony and, within its midst, rusting 'digesters' the relics of the infamous Hatch oil industry once based here. Out in the water a pair of Orca/Killer Whales patrolling the beach were observed along with a very large number of Giant Petrels, including White-morphs.

Today we landed at Sandy Bay and enjoyed further viewings of King Penguins, along with Royal Penguins and numerous bull Elephant Seals. The Chief Ranger from Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife based at the Australian Antarctic Division station kindly assisted with our visit and, after a wonderful morning, we were back on the Spirit of Enderby. Soon after lunch we lifted anchor and set our course for the Auckland Islands.

Image from file © I.Wilson, Heritage Expeditions