Aboard new Ponant Ship, Le Bellot

Includes wilderness excursions, onboard beverages, WiFi and polar gear

Media Release – September 17, 2019

More than 1.5 million penguins, 3.5 million seabirds, 80,000 elephant seals and the world’s remotest tree can be found on the isolated and rarely visited, subantarctic islands of Australia and New Zealand. 

To help adventure-hungry Australians discover the wild and untouched beauty of these lost islands, luxury expedition specialists, Cruise Express, is offering a special, two-week expedition in southern waters in 2021 aboard Ponant’s latest luxury expedition yacht, Le Bellot.

Described as the ‘Galapagos of the Southern Ocean’, the remote outposts of Macquarie Island, Campbell Island, The Snares, Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands and the Auckland Islands – all outlying territories of New Zealand and Australia – are among the world’s best-preserved and protected environments, with natural features and wildlife seen nowhere else on Earth. 

The most southern of the islands is Australia’s Macquarie Island, only accessible by sea and lying 1500km south-east of Tasmania, halfway to Antarctica. The World Heritage-listed island is home to 3.5 million seabirds, 80,000 huge elephant seals and 1.5 million penguins of several varieties as well as an Australian base staffed by 30 scientists.

Another of the subantarctic isles – New Zealand’s uninhabited and almost treeless Campbell Island – sits 600km south of New Zealand and is home to the world’s most remote tree. The lonely Sitka spruce, introduced by early explorers, is the island’s only tree and 222km from the next nearest tree on the Auckland Islands to the north.

Available through Cruise Express, the 14-night voyage departs Auckland on February 8, 2021, and ends in Christchurch after a passage to all of the six groups of subantarctic islands, with guests taken ashore on Zodiac outings led by expert naturalists and guides.

Set for launch in 2020 as Ponant’s 11th luxury expedition ship, the 180-passenger Le Bellot will offer balconies on all staterooms as well as an underwater lounge, pool, theatre, restaurant, panoramic lounge, gym and a fleet of kayaks and Zodiacs.

Fares for the 14-night voyage are available from $13,490 per person, twin-share, including selected onboard beverages, unlimited WiFi, Zodiac excursions, a free Ponant parka and free polar boot rental. Flights from Australia are extra. 

Call Cruise Express on 1300 766 537 or visit www.cruiseexpress.com.au  

Direct link – www.cruiseexpress.com.au/cruise-list/new-zealand-and-sub-antarctic-islands