Our Travel Stories

After such a busy start to our cruise we finally had our first sea day. It was time to relax a bit and catch up on our sleep.

We attended a few lectures, and the one I liked the most was about how they made the Macquarie island pest free (which we are hoping to visit tomorrow, weather permitting).

The island was devastated with rabbits that ate all the island’s vegetation to the very roots and mice that ate bird eggs and chicks. We saw a video of mice literally burrowing under a nesting albatross to get to the eggs/chicks.

It was a multi-year project with helicopter dropped baits, actual hunters with dogs and rifles to make sure they got all the pests. The dedication of these teams as they worked in such a difficult place was truly touching.

Once the island was pest free in 2014, tussock grass and megaherbs were back and once again the island became a haven for the sea birds.

It is a very difficult island to visit as there are usually large swells and high winds. Keeping our fingers crossed that we will be able to visit this special place tomorrow.