Blog - Article

On the agenda is now Antipodes Island. When we get there, we have past the half-way mark on the trip. Once again, the weather could be better with some fog and light rain. During the briefing we receive before arriving at a new destination, the expedition leader informed us that this is a place where we cannot get on land.

Arriving at the island, it is still foggy, but weather is improving. However, the forecast is for nicer weather as was the case on our first stop. The plan for today is for a zodiac cruise. The island is about 60 meter (200 ft) above sea level. Vertical cliffs rise from the ocean, and with the island being in the middle of nowhere it is really difficult to get a sense of how big and high the wall of rock is.

When getting into the Zodiaks, we can get up close and personal with the island. Surprisingly the cliffs appear to be teeming with wildlife; Penguins and seals are all around. Having multiple boats in the water at the same time, give me some perspective and make me realize how high they are. Driving the Zodiak into some crevasses in the cliffs show that every piece of land is in use by wildlife. Young seals are playing in the smaller gaps between the rocks, where the older seals try to rest of any flat space they can find. Where penguins are around here and there but won’t get on land here. Small birds do sit higher up the cliffs wherever they can find room.

This stop has not been that exciting, when compared to Macquarie Island where we stopped a few days before. It has also been the shortest stop thus-far but when you have seen what you can see, it is time to move on. It will be a relatively short sail to the next stop; Bounty Islands group.