East Antarctica Emperor Penguins

Heritage Expeditions are making a 26 day journey to East Antarctica in search of Albatross, Royal Penguins, King Penguins and with a little luck the Emperor Penguins too. I'll be joining the cruise in December 2010 and will be offering my regular photographic assistance to travellers.

Days 1-3
Journey begins in Invercargill NZ and we sail south to the Snares
Days 4-6
Sail to the Auckland Islands for Albatross and Sealions
Days 7-8
Macquarie Island is home to spectacular colonies of King and Royal Penguins
Days 9-12
A long journey from Macquarie to reach the Antarctic continent
Days 13-18
Exploring Mawson's Hut, Dumont d’Urville, Emperor Penguins and Ice Bergs
Days 19-22
We head north again and sail for Campbell Island
Days 23-24
We get up close and personal to the Albatross on Campbell Island
Days 25-26
The journey returns to Invercargill, New Zealand.

Photo Essay - Antarctic Ice
Photo Essay - Adelie Penguins
Photo Essay - Macquarie Island
Photo Essay - Sub-Antarctic Albatross

I love Antarctica for the ice and for the penguins, but there is one species of Antarctic penguin that so far has eluded me. The Emperor Penguin. The biggest and most impressive of all the penguins, they prefer to nest far from the other penguins, deep in the Antarctic continent where ice surrounds them for miles in any direction. Well, except for some.

Christmas 2010 I'll be heading down to East Antarctica in the hopes of photographing these majestic creatures. I wont need to hike for miles, I wont need to smash through miles of pack ice and wont need a helicopter. There's no guarantee we'll make it, such is the fickle nature of expedition cruising in the Antarctic. Weather conditions and the perils of the Southern Ocean are not to be under estimated, but I wont succeed if I don't try. To date Heritage Expeditions have never failed to see the Emperors on this journey, but there is never a gaurantee with wildlife.

This journey is operated by Heritage Expeditions, a New Zealand based company owned by the Russ family. I've travelled with them before and know exactly what I'm getting into. It's a small ship with room for the crew plus 50 passengers, which makes it very small by comparison to other cruise ships that head 65 degrees south and beyond. But that's the charm.

If you want to join me for the tour, see one of the world's truly great frontiers and enjoy some special photographic workshops aboard the ship then drop me an email or call.

Look and book on the Heritage Expeditions website

Sub-Antarctic
In 2009 we headed south as far as Macquarie Island, and this book marks the photographic log from the journey. Lots of lovely penguins, lots of big waves in the Southern Ocean and 50 fabulous travellers embracing the expedition spirit. You can also read about the adventure in the Winter edition of Australian Geographic Outdoors.

Dates