04 Dec 2023

Soaring with Albatross on Campbell Island

We arrived at Campbell Island after a 36-hour sea passage from Macquarie Island. Travelling through sun, snow and winds, we anchored in the peaceful Perseverance Harbour to start our day of adventure.

It was a day of possibilities as we chose how to explore Campbell Island. Some guests headed to Northwest Bay for a 6-hour hike, while others opted for a Zodiac cruise visiting the historic sites of Campbell Island.

It was a fantastic experience as we observed a range of endemic wildlife, including the Campbell Island Teal. We encountered a New Zealand Sea Lion colony in full swing, with bulls assertively defending their territory and visited the loneliest tree in the world, the remote lone Sitka Spruce 250 kilometres away from its closest companion on the Auckland Islands. It's the only tree on the entire island!

Following a delicious lunch was a visit to view the Southern Royal Albatross on Col Lyall Saddle. It was a journey through lush Megaherb gardens and strong winds, with Snipe spotted by keen observers. At the top of the boardwalk, the winds were at their strongest, with the True Young Explorers immersing themselves in the dramatic gust.

Southern Royal Albatross soared across us on the way down, with over 20 of these majestic birds on show. What an incredible sight!

Back on board the comforts of Heritage Adventurer, we took up anchor and headed to the final stop of our Galapagos of the Southern Ocean adventure, Bluff. On the way, Captain Thomas took us closely around the Campbell Cliffs, waterfalls and the Bull Rock colony of over 27,000 Campbell Albatross.

Images © Heritage Expeditions