Experience is everything

New Zealand Geographic and pioneering expedition cruise company Heritage Expeditions share a desire to explore our beautiful and diverse country and learn more about its people, geography and wildlife. We've partnered up to offer our readers the chance to visit some of the more remote corners of New Zealand with special expeditions featuring expert guests. 

Check out all of our current reader expeditions or read about each of the special voyages below. 

Galapagos of the Southern Ocean

Family-owned Heritage Expeditions organised New Zealand’s first commercial expedition to the Subantarctic Islands in 1989. Over 100 expeditions later, ‘Galapagos of the Southern Ocean’ has become one of its signature voyages and readers can join a special ten-day voyage with zoologist, conservation biologist and wildlife photographer Prof. Murray Potter as the onboard expert.

Long recognised for their rich biodiversity, the Subantarctic Islands are UNESCO World Heritage sites. This places them in a select group of only 180 natural sites that have been designated as ‘the most important and significant natural habitats’ on the planet. They are also afforded the highest conservation status and protection by the Australian and New Zealand governments. Access to these islands is by permit only but as the original concessionaire, some of the access permits Heritage Expeditions holds are unique to these voyages.

The name given to this voyage reflects the vast array of wildlife on the islands and their importance as a wildlife refuge. The islands all lie in the cool temperate zone with a unique climate and are home to albatross, penguins, petrels, prions, shearwaters and marine mammals like sea lions, fur seals and elephant seals. The flora is equally fascinating; the majority of it being like the birds and endemic to these islands.

DATES: 30 December 2023 – 10th January 2024

SHIP: Heritage Adventurer

RATES: More information here.

Southern comfort

Experience the rawness, beauty and abundant wildlife of Stewart Island/Rakiura – ‘the land of glowing skies’ – and Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara on an eight-day expedition with New Zealand Geographic co-founder and ex-editor Kennedy Warne sharing his knowledge of the area.

Described by botanist Leonard Cockayne in 1909 as being “an actual piece of the primeval world”, his comment still rings true today. Just 30 kilometres from the Mainland and with more than 85% of the island dedicated National Park, Rakiura offers unspoiled wilderness (more than half the island is covered by podocarp and rimu, miro, kamahi and southern rata dominant forests) and 700-kilometres of coastline, beaches, hidden bays and coves. Readers will learn about numerous conservation success stories and the area's rich history, and get to sample some of the rightly famous hospitality of the friendly locals.

Bird-laden Ulva Island is your best chance of seeing the kiwi during the day. And there’s also the opportunity to experience the spectacular Aurora Australis, which often puts on a mesmerising show as it paints the southern skies.

DATES: 26th October – 2nd November, 2023

SHIP: Heritage Explorer

RATES: More information here

To distant shores

This voyage combines three amazing destinations – Stewart Island, Fiordland and The Snares – into one eight-day itinerary, with ex-director general of DoC and renowned conservationist Lou Sanson as the onboard expert.

The Snares, the closest Subantarctic Island to New Zealand, got their name as they were once considered a hazard for sailing ships. Comprising two main islands and a group of five islands called the Western Chain, they are uninhabited and it is claimed by some that these islands are home to more nesting seabirds than all of the British Isles together.

In the sheltered bays, guests can see the endemic Snares crested penguin, Snares Island tomtit and fernbirds. There are hundreds of thousands of sooty shearwaters nesting there (the actual number is much debated) and Buller’s albatross breed here from early January onwards. There will be opportunities to view the forests of large tree daisy Olearia lyallii which forms a canopy over much of the island group.

Expect to encounter playful New Zealand fur seals, curious Dusky dolphins, and elusive birds in Fiordland. On predator-free Anchor Island, home to half the world’s population of kākāpō as well as little spotted kiwi, readers will walk around Lake Kirirua, before arriving at historic Luncheon Cove – a location of New Zealand firsts including the first sealing gang, the first European settlement and the first ship built. Zodiac cruises will also take guests to Resolution Islands and the tiny islands of Dusky Sound, where orchids, flametipped Rata and clusters of alpine tree daisies put on an impressive floral display.

DATES: 1st March 2024 – 8th March, 2023

SHIP: Heritage Adventurer

RATES: More information here

A rich Heritage

Heritage Expeditions was formed in 1985 as a way of increasing awareness and conservation of the natural world through responsible expedition travel. Founded by Rodney and Shirley Russ, Rodney was a biologist working for the New Zealand Wildlife Service. Through his work with kākāpō, Chatham Island black robin and other endangered species, he appreciated that rather than locking wilderness areas away, it was important to share them with people so that they might become 'ambassadors' advocating for and supporting conservation efforts. He has long held the view that conservation and responsible travel are partners, that together they can achieve what might otherwise be unachievable.

Heritage Expeditions is still family-owned and run, now by Rodney and Shirley's sons Aaron and Nathan Russ, and operates its own ships – 140-guest expedition ship Heritage Adventurer and 18-guest expedition yacht Heritage Explorer – on expedition cruises to Antarctica, the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia, around the islands of Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Philippines, Australia's Kimberley Coast and coastal New Zealand. Each authentic, small-ship expedition cruise is meticulously planned and led, ensuring expeditioners maximise every opportunity they have to learn and experience as much as possible about the region, while at the same time minimising the impact of their visit.