04 Mar 2020

Three Landings at the Auckland Islands

Occasional rain failed to dampen an outstanding time at the Auckland Islands. Beginning with a landing at Erebus Cove, Port Ross, we enjoyed exploring the historic cemetery then walking through beautiful Rata forest to view the Victoria Tree. This very old Southern Rata trunk has remnants of an inscription made during the search for castaways.

The Spirit of Enderby then relocated to Ranui Cove. Here many of us visited the WWII lookout with its views and inspected the main building of the Ranui 1 Coastwatchers for the Cape Expedition 1942-45. As we left, Bellbirds treated us to a superb morning chorus.

In the afternoon, we had a landing and walk across Enderby Island and were rewarded with excellent viewings of Yellow-eyed Penguins/Hoiho, Southern Royal and Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses and some early historic sites.

Image from file © D.Brown, Heritage Expeditions