Whilst Antarctica is annuallyswamped by over 25,000 tourists,the remote Sub-Antarctic Islandsof New Zealand and Australia are enjoyedby just a handful of visitors each year. Thisis surprising, as the islands, and theirunusually nutrient-rich waters, providenesting and feeding grounds for theworld's largest concentration of birds. Thesheer abundance and diversity of wildlifein the Southern Ocean never ceases toamaze those few fortunate enough to visit.There are greater numbers and morespecies of seabird here than in any othercomparable area on Earth. Literallymillions of albatrosses, penguins,cormorants and petrels return to thesewindswept, isolated outposts eachsouthern summer to breed, converging tocreate one of the world's most magnificentwildlife spectacles. The numbers are mind-boggling! Amongst Macquarie Island'sfour million penguins, an estimated850,000 breeding pairs of Royal Penguinand 218,000 pairs of King Penguin may beseen, together with a further 19 species ofbreeding seabird and 150,000 SouthernElephant Seals. Scattered acrossCampbell Island's hillsides are some 7,500pairs of Southern Royal Albatross, whilston Snares Island, a rocky outpost coveringno more than 243 hectares, it has beenestimated that 60 million 'tubenoses'(petrels, shearwaters and albatrosses)breed, which alone - and not countingthe penguins, cormorants and othernesting birds - exceeds the total numberof seabirds nesting around the entireBritish coastline!There are few places remaining on ourplanet that have so successfully escapedthe destructive forces of the humanspecies. Such an opportunity for wildlife-viewing and photography is simplyunparalleled in expedition cruising. Indeed,the islands' appeal was summed up byConon Fraser in his book 'Beyond theRoaring Forties' thus: 'protected by theSouthern Ocean, diverse, wonderful andlonely, they can be numbered among thelast few unspoilt environments on Earth'.A visit to the Sub-Antarctic Islands is anadventure never to be forgotten. This 16-day holiday, incorporating an 11-nightcruise, promises to be one of our mostexciting wildlife expeditions of2012. Ourhome will be the 'Spirit of Enderby', acomfortable, 48-berth ship which has beencruising the Sub-Antarctic Islands for over20 years. Our expedition leader hasunrivalled experience in these waters andwith a full complement of Zodiacs, we willbe able to make landings and enjoy wildlife-viewing in the most inaccessible of areas.Our holiday begins with a flight toInvercargill, New Zealand's southernmostcity, where we board the 'Spirit of Enderby'and head south to Snares Island, the firstSub-Antarctic island on our cruise and anature reserve of international importance.The total number of birds that breed heredefies belief. In addition to theaforementioned 60 million 'tubenoses'(including six million pairs of SootyShearwater), Snares is home to 30,000pairs of the endemic Snares IslandPenguin, plus Salvin's Albatross, SouthernGiant Petrel, Broad-billed Prion andAntarctic Tern. Snares Fernbird and Tomtitalso occur around the edge of the islandand are usually seen on Zodiac cruisesaround the rocky headlands and shelteredbays (landings not being permitted here).We next stop in the Auckland Islands, thebreeding grounds of Yellow-eyed Penguin,Auckland Island Shag and the rare andendemic Flightless Teal. Gibson'sWandering Albatrosses breed on theislands' windswept grassy slopes and wehope to visit a colony of Shy Albatrosseson the main island's south-western cape.Further south, we explore MacquarieIsland, home to one of the greatestconcentrations of wildlife in the southernhemisphere and an undoubted highlight ofa highlight-packed cruise. This is the onlynesting site of the Royal Penguin, 850,00pairs of which nest alongside three otherpenguin species (King, Gentoo andRockhopper) and numerous other birds. As we cruise from one archipelago to thenext we will be followed by numerousseabirds. Magnificent WanderingAlbatrosses sail by on the longest wings inthe avian world alongside their smallcousins such as Shy, Buller's and Black-browed Albatrosses. Smaller still, anunrivalled variety of petrels, prions andshearwaters will test our identification skillsto the limit whilst, beneath the waves,cetaceans such as Orca, Sperm Whaleand Hourglass and Dusky Dolphins maybe seen.Macquarie is the most southerly of theislands we visit, and from here we turnnorth-east to Campbell Island, the finalisland on our voyage. Here we will begreeted by 7,500 pairs of Southern RoyalAlbatross, plus the beautiful Light-mantledSooty Albatross, Campbell Island Shagand, for the botanists amongst us, aselection of early flowering megaherbs.Campbell Island will make a fitting finale toour voyage, from where we complete ourcruise back to South Island's Port of Bluffand start our long journey home. Sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand & AustraliaA 16-day holiday incorporating an 11-night cruise around the remote Sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia, home to the greatest concentrations of seabirds in the world!Please contact the Naturetrek office on 01962 733051 for 2012 dates and prices.Book direct on 01962 733051or see page 280 for Booking InformationCHRISTCHURCHMACQUARIEISLANDAUCKLANDISLANDSCAMPBELLISLANDSNARESISLANDSTEWARTISLANDINVERCARGILLBLUFFFIORDLANDNATIONALPARKSOUTH ISLANDOutline itineraryDay 1/2Depart London/in flight.Day 3Invercargill.Day 4Begin cruise.Day 5Snares Island.Day 6/7Auckland Islands. Day 8At sea.Day 9/10Macquarie Island. Day 11At sea.Day 12/13Campbell Island.Day 14At sea.Day 15Disembark Bluff and flyLondon.Day 16Arrive London. AccommodationThis expedition voyage will beaboard the 'Spirit of Enderby', acomfortable 48-berth expeditionvessel (see page 275). A variety ofcabin grades are available, fromcabins with shared toilet andshower, to cabins with privatefacilities, plus a very comfortablesuite. Please refer to the TripItinerary for a full price list. InInvercargill we use a comfortabletourist hotel with private facilities.Food All included in the price except formain meals in Invercargill and Bluff. Grading Grade B. Day walks only. FocusBirds, mammals, flowers andscenery.Leader(s)Rodney Russ and Naturetreknaturalist guide (for groups of10+).Single room supplementOn request only.Web quick search: NZL03273King Penguins, Macquarie IslandBlack-browed Albatross

Our Cruise Vessels274Call now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your free Trip ItinerarySuiteLower berths with privatefacilities.SuperiorLower berths with privatefacilities.DoubleLower berth with privatefacilities.Twin or DoubleLower berths with privatefacilities.TwinUpper and lower berths withprivate facilities.TwinLower berths with sharedfacilities.Twin or DoubleLower (and upper berths intwins) with shared facilities.TripleUpper and lower berths withshared facilities.Cabin InformationIn recent years ocean cruising has become the fastest growing sector ofthe holiday market and new luxury liners are being launched every yearto meet the ever-increasing demand for this style of holiday. Once theonly way to travel between continents, the popularity of journeying bysea waned with the advent of air travel. However, with airports nowcrowded to capacity and flying becoming tedious, there is once again adesire to take to the water. For those not attracted by the usual hedonistic format of the large cruiseliners, there are fortunately a number of alternatives which retain thebest elements of travel by sea and which focus purely on the naturalhistory attractions of each area visited. Naturetrek's wildlife cruises allowour clients to savour these ultimate natural history experiences in fivecontinents in the company of expert naturalists. These are not cruisesaboard floating palaces, our charter vessels usually being 80-berth orsmaller and specially adapted for safely navigating the particular areasthat we visit. On the following pages a description of each vessel will be found,together with a deck plan and supporting photographs.EXCLUSIVENATURETREK CHARTERPlease refer to the detailed TourItinerary for additional informationon cabin layout and design.SpitsbergenMinke Whale, BajaAntarctic Dream, Spitsbergen