Day 7 Auckland Islands

 A busy day was planned for today. Firstly a landing at Sandy Bay on Enderby Island with a walk across the island to the sea cliffs, then a zodiac tour along the southern part of the island, then a move to Auckland island itself for a zodiac tour around Musgrave inlet. The planned Enderby landing and walk as shown in our briefing.

The landing at Sandy Bay was amongst the sea lion colony, with a small group of yellow eyed penguins at the back of the beach. Many of the female seals had pups and the alpha males were still defending their territory.

First, the landing, fending off the sea lions using the recommended umbrella….

….compulsory beach briefing.

…then off to see the wildlife.

But the whole scene best appreciated through a video

The start of the walk took us past the research huts

The walk to the northern cliffs was excellent. Starting through knarled rata forest, which broke out to shrub land, then into grassland. The flora diversity and colour was amazing with the island having 233 different plant species of which 194 are endemic.

Through the rata forest

Lots of mosses and fungi

Acesna minor -buzzers

Orchids also - odd leaved orchid

Azorella - Macquarie Island cabbage

Immature rata trees

Enderby Island gentian

Pink anosotome flowers (Campbell Island carrot) and yellow bulbinella (Ross lilies)

Plantago - only found on Enderby

Dracophyllum

There were also a number of birds sighted.

A NZ bell bird

A banded dotterel

A tui (just for the record)

A pipit

And this loved up pair of southern royal albatross

Again best appreciated through a video

The northern cliffs were quite spectacular with gannets, gulls, albatross and the endemic Auckland Island shag

Immediately after lunch it was back onto the zodiacs for a cruise along the southern side of the island. East to the bull kelp below rocky cliffs…

…and west to the higher columned granite cliffs with waterfalls and caves.

It was back to the boat for lunch, and what else to have for lunch on a luxury cruise but hamburger and chips.

The vessel the moved down to Musgrave Inlet and it was back in the zodiacs for a sea based excursion to see the rock hopper penguins and sea caves. It was worth it just for the amazing foreshore…

 

…but there were plenty of rock hoppers to be seen..

..plus light mantled sooty albatrosses

…sea caves, rock cliffs and a sink hole harbouring a NZ fur seal pup and windswept rata forests

Into the depths of a cave with a striking roof colouration

Entrance to the sink hole

Tree root “stalactites”

And the feeding frenzy continued once we were back on board with afternoon tea, followed by a gravalax tasting with champagne, both before dinner and a show