Cruise |
Heritage Adventurer, 16 Night Birding Down Under ex Queenstown, New Zealand Return |
Cruise Line |
Heritage Expeditions |
Ship |
Heritage Adventurer |
Destination |
South Pacific & New Zealand |
Brief Description |
16 Night Cruise sailing from Queenstown, New Zealand onboard Heritage Adventurer |
Type of Cruise |
Expedition |
Departure Date |
02 Dec 2026 |
Cruise Description |
This departure is from Queenstown to Queenstown.
Listen to the names: Snares, Bounty, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell, Macquarie and Chatham Islands. They are music to the ears of ‘Birders'. Apart from the Chathams, these islands are probably more isolated now than they were when they were discovered in the late 1700s and early 1800s and were regularly visited by sealers, whalers and government steamers searching for castaway sailors. It is relatively simple to get to the Chatham Islands, but opportunities to visit the others are rare. This expedition, as featured in Conde Nast Traveler's influential 'The 25 Best Places to Go in 2025' list, and one of a number operated each year by Heritage Expeditions, is the only one to include all of these islands.
The islands occupy the tempestuous latitudes of the Roaring Forties and the Furious Fifties, but they are also known as the Albatross Latitudes and with good reason. Ten of the world's albatross species breed in the region; five of them nowhere else but here! In fact, this zone where the air is never still hosts the most diverse collection of seabirds in the world. More than 40 species breed here - that is at least 11 per cent of the entire world's seabird population.
With the exception of the Chathams, the islands are all designated UNESCO World Heritage sites and are afforded the highest conservation status and protection by the Australian and New Zealand governments, so passage to their shores is not granted lightly. There are also islands that we visit within the Chatham Islands' Archipelago with similar status and protection.
This expedition has huge appeal to pelagic enthusiasts, penguin fanatics and those interested in island endemics. Though you don't have to be a keen birder to enjoy this voyage. People interested in islands and island ecology, botany, geology and an increasing number of photographers have enjoyed this trip immensely, as have those interested in the history of southern ocean discovery and exploration.
Heritage Expeditions is the most experienced Southern Ocean operator and the only Australasian family-owned and operated cruise company and have been exploring the Subantarctic Islands for more than 35 years. This is one of our ‘signature expeditions' ensuring you will benefit from our unrivalled knowledge and expertise of the region. Our 2025 voyage offers guests the opportunity to join Nikon Ambassador and multi-award-winning seabird photographer, Rachel Bigsby, on an exclusive wildlife photography workshop. With accolades including Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Bird Photographer of the Year, Rachel’s hands-on approach and specialisation in seabirds offer the perfect blend of creativity, technical skill and adventure whether you’re a seasoned photographer or beginner. Join interactive sessions on board as well as guided excursions and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to capture rare wildlife and stunning landscapes in some of the world’s most remote locations.
***Note: Some voyages will operate the itinerary in reverse.*** |
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Sailing Dates |
02 Dec 2026 |
Category |
Single |
Twin |
Triple |
Quad |
ST |
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AU $25,145
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Cruise Itinerary
Date |
Port |
Arrive |
Depart |
2 Dec 2026 |
Queenstown, New Zealand |
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3 Dec 2026 |
Bluff, New Zealand |
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4 Dec 2026 |
Snares Island, New Zealand |
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5 Dec 2026 |
Enderby Island |
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6 Dec 2026 |
At Sea |
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7 Dec 2026 |
Macquarie Island, Sub Antarctic Island |
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8 Dec 2026 |
Macquarie Island, Sub Antarctic Island |
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9 Dec 2026 |
At Sea |
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10 Dec 2026 |
Campbell Island, New Zealand |
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11 Dec 2026 |
At Sea |
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12 Dec 2026 |
Antipodes Island, New Zealand |
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13 Dec 2026 |
Bounty Islands |
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14 Dec 2026 |
The Pyramid, New Zealand |
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15 Dec 2026 |
Chatham Islands |
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16 Dec 2026 |
At Sea |
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17 Dec 2026 |
At Sea |
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18 Dec 2026 |
Invercargill, New Zealand |
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18 Dec 2026 |
Queenstown, New Zealand |
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All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
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