Le Soleal has repositioned overnight to the Antipodes Islands, 860km to the southeast of Stewart Island, New Zealand. Uninhabited and protected, landings are not permitted. Zodiac cruises are the order of the day, and we are again fortunate with the weather to not only see the Antipodes Islands but to have two zodiac rides, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon.
We are only able to explore a small section of the coastline, complete with caves, by zodiac, but wildlife is also abundant and evident, with erect crested penguins, rockhopper penguins, New Zealand fur seals, and three juvenile elephant fur seals hauled out to dry off in the sunshine.
We also see the small Reischek’s parakeet, endemic to these islands.
Unexpectedly, a Subantarctic fur seal bull is also hauled out on the rocks, and easily distinguished by his cream face and small Mohawk on the top of his head.
The fine, uncharacteristic weather holds for the afternoon zodiac cruise, where more rockhoppers are seen, along with light mantled sooty albatrosses, and some stunning rock formations that resemble secret doors into the rock face. Later in the afternoon, the cloud closes in creating views of how most people experience these rocky outposts in the Southern Ocean.
Less than 300 people travelled to the Bounty and Antipodes Islands last year, and fewer still saw them in anything more than cloudy and rainy conditions. We have been unbelievable lucky to see both with sunny conditions for part of each day.
A spectacular sunset this evening as we head towards Campbell Island, which will be the first landing of the expedition.
