by Adventure and Expedition Cruising


A rare opportunity to visit one of our planet's most important biodiversity regions

Orion's expeditions to remote and rarely visited Sub-Antarctic islands

The Australian and New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands, regarded by UNESCO as one of the worlds' precious regions of unique biodiversity, will be visited by the luxury expedition cruise ship Orion in December 2009 and again in 2010.

Recognised for their volcanic and glacial geological formations and extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna this area has the highest diversity and abundance of seabirds found anywhere in the world. Over half of the world's seabirds, some of which exist nowhere else, call this region home.

Joining Orion's specialist Expedition Team to assist guests maximise their understanding of the important biodiversity of this region will be a number of guest lecturers including British zoologist and naturalist Dr John Sparks; threatened species ecologist with Birds Australia, Glenn Emke, and Neville Peat, who wrote the 1998 World Heritage Area nomination for the New Zealand Sub Antarctic islands.

With convenient embarkation in Bluff (Invercargill, New Zealand) or Hobart, Orion will visit Australia's wildlife sanctuary at Macquarie Island, plus Campbell, Stewart, Snares and Auckland islands as well as spending time exploring New Zealand's beautiful Fjordlands, including Milford Sound with the world's tallest sea cliffs.

These expeditions, with departures in December 2009 and 2010, particularly suit nature lovers and keen wildlife photographers as well as those with a spirit of adventure interested to visit places of outstanding importance yet rarely seen.

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I'm just wondering.....

With more cruise/expiditions sailing to these far regions I have to wonder what the ecological impact will be long term. People want to see these unspoiled areas, but don't we spoil them by our presence there?

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I belive as of this year only ships with less then 500 passengers are allowed into Antarctica.
Before HAL, Princess etc had cruises to the region also, but were not allowed to land passengers.

I do really hope we get to see a strict policy as to how may ships are allowed to cruise in these remote areas very soon as to protect the enviroment.

These remote areas are very sensitive to outsiders and expedition cruisers have to follow strict guidelines when they are ashore.

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