31 Jan Enderby Island Walk and Zodiac Cruise New Zealand Sub-Antarctic
Enderby Island Walk and Zodiac Cruise – New Zealand Sub-Antarctic

Zodiac Cruise along Enderby Island shoreline
Alex Burridge – December 27 2024
MD Antarctica Travel Centre
Enderby is the northern most Island of the Auckland Islands and was cleared of rabbits, cattle and mice in the early 1990’s. This has allowed the Island’s ecosystem to recover and native wildlife flourish.
As with Campbell and Auckland Island we have a number of choices; a circumnavigation of most of the Island, a zodiac cruise and or a shorter hike to the North of the Island mostly along a board-walk.
For me the combination a zodiac cruise along part of the coast and the shorter walk offered a great variety.
Enderby Island zodiac Cruise and Walk
We awoke to our first sky without a single cloud and very little wind (and those two apparently don’t occur that often down here). The Heritage Adventurer had anchored off Sandy Bay; those taking the extended hike disembarked first. It wasn’t long before we were called and made our way to the gangway and into the zodiacs.
We were soon joined by an inquisitive sealion and also glimpsed our first (of many) yellow-eyed penguins. The waters were crystal clear and the kelps seemed to sparkle and wave as we made our way along the coastline. With sunny skies and little wind it was as close to perfect as you can get.
Here are a few images of the cruise:
Yellow eyed-penguins, Enderby shags, red-crowned parakeet (I have to admit I saw the bird fly and thought it landed so I simply took a few images – hoping to capture – it wasn’t until back at my desk that I loaded the images and zoomed in that I could see the Parakeet).

Yellow-eyed penguins

Okay – it’s not easy to spot (right of centre above rock) red-crowned parakeet

Enderby Island Shags
The columnar basaltic cliffs make the origins of Enderby clear (a volcano). The mosses and lichens coloured the rocks….
After a delicious lunch out on deck it was time to head into Sandy Bay. As the Bay is home to a New Zealand Sealion population and is used as an access point by yellow-eyed penguins no zodiacs are allowed to cruise directly in front of the bay. So we are shuttled to the edge and make our way passed every present young male sea-lions.

Basalt cliff

Sealion escorts us the Sandy Bay beach

Enderby Island Teal
The board-walk hike is easy, mostly flat. The vegetation changes as you climb to towards the centre of the island. We see, and hear, bellbirds, double banded dotterels, and many nesting Southern Royal Albatross. On the cliffs on the far side of the island we find a nesting light-mantled sooty albatross.
As the winds pick up the Albatross take to the air, the updraft along the coast is enjoyed by both species.

Boardwalk to the north of the Island

Southern Royal Alabtross

Southern Royals enjoying uplift
We slowly make our way back to Sandy Bay to take a closer look at the New Zealand sealions (formerly known as Hooker’s sealion and the most endangered of any species as they were almost hunted to extinction). The end of December is a busy time in the colony, females pup and the males come ashore to breed. Several very large (almost half a ton) males have taken control of the beach and vigorously defend their harems of females. It’s an amazing spectacle which we enjoyed at our leisure. As is often the case with young male sealions, one decided it was time to go an inspect the onlookers, making its way up onto the grassy bank over-looking the beach, I am as sure as is possible that they view it as a ‘bit of sport’ watching homo sapiens scatter (and it’s best to strand your ground, definitely don’t run – hold a walking pole or back-pack out in front and they keep their distance).

New Zealand sealion colony Sandy Bay, Enderby Island
It’s time to say good-bye to Enderby; as we are waiting to get into a zodiac a lone yellow-eyed penguin surfs in and onto the beach.. a perfect ending to another wonderful day.
Next stop we’re heading back to the Snares.
The Heritage Adventurer offers a range of voyages exploring New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic Islands and Macquarie.
Please call 1300 784 794 to find the voyage that best suits your interests.

Male New Zealand sealion

Enderby Island Gentian

Lone yellow-eyed penguin, Sandy Bay
Each polar cruise has its own highlights and as the weather varies the schedule may change. Call 1300 784 794 or email contact@antarcticatravelcentre.com.au to talk to one of our Antarctic Experts to find the cruise that is right for you.
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