Today we got to visit two of the Auckland Islands, Enderby and Auckland. There is a stark contrast between the two. On Enderby, there are no predators to interfere with the native vegetation and wildlife. There we observed one of the rarest penguins on the planet, the yellow-eyed penguin, and one of the rarest sea lions as well, the New Zealand sea lion. On Auckland Island, it is quite a different story. The island was the site of a short-lived agricultural and whaling settlement known as Hardwicke in the 1800s. The island had numerous introduced species. As staff approached the shore to prepare for the arrival of guests today, a sow and her three young piglets were rooting around on the beach. Both islands have much to offer in terms of the cultural aspects at Hardwicke and the wildlife viewing potential on Enderby Island.
12/21/2024
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National Geographic Orion
Great Barrier Island, New Zealand
Due North of Auckland, New Zealand lies a secluded archipelago known as the Bay of Islands. National Geographic Orion motored within this paradisical labyrinth to reach Great Barrier Island. A dedicated group of conservationists have been fighting a winning battle against invasive mammals for the last several decades. Today, our National Geographic-Lindblad explorers were the beneficiaries of this inspirational project. Awaiting our arrival on the docks was the highly endangered New Zealand brown teal. As if to thank the conservationists for his survival, the precious feathered wonder posed for photographs in the morning sun. As we meandered through floral gardens, we were serenaded by the New Zealand tui as they hopped from branch to branch in search of juicy nectar. After reaching the island’s summit, we were greeted by a Maori conservationist who explained the importance of the forest to his people. We eased our way through a canopy of ancient tree ferns to the prize of the forest, a giant kauri tree. It stood defiantly among the ferns as a testament to the island’s ecological recovery. A swaying canopy bridge allowed each participant to walk within touching distance of this marvel of the New Zealand forest.
