Western Pacific Odyssey - A Voyage from New Zealand to Japan

The 'Western Pacific Odyssey' is an expedition cruise like no other. Spanning over 5,000 nautical miles from Auckland in New Zealand to Osaka in Japan, this journey will take us in search of some of the region's most sought-after seabirds and iconic landbirds, all whilst we live and dine in comfort aboard the 140-passenger Heritage Adventurer. Furthermore, we expect to encounter a long and exciting list of cetaceans too, including some seldom-seen beaked whales endemic to the region.

We begin our holiday with a flight to Auckland in New Zealand, where we will spend a night to recover from our long journey. Auckland is a beautiful city, so any free time can be spent enjoying its sights, whether this is admiring Auckland Harbour or taking a trip up the Sky Tower to observe the city from above. It will not be long, however, before we board Heritage Adventurer, our home for the next 24 nights. Although Heritage Adventurer is a floating 4-star hotel, she is a true expedition vessel — not a traditional cruise ship — and holds a full complement of zodiac landing craft, offers excellent views from the large outside deck and is able to navigate into the region's remoter and shallower waterways. After departing Auckland, we will first journey northwards and the following morning will find ourselves in the Hauraki Gulf among the predator-free Mokohinau Islands. Here seabirds abound, with Grey-faced, Black and Cook's Petrels and Buller's and Flesh-footed Shearwaters all likely. By using chum (an aromatic mix of fish oil and other fish scraps), we will try to attract the recently discovered New Zealand Storm-petrel to the ship. Cetaceans likely to be encountered in these cooler waters include Blue Whale and Sperm Whale.

Weather permitting, Norfolk Island will be our first landing, where a half-day will give us a good chance of locating the island's endemic birds such as Norfolk Parakeet, Norfolk Gerygone, Slender-billed White-eye and Norfolk Robin. Next, we will set sail for New Caledonia, through waters where Tahiti Petrel and Little Shearwater are at their most abundant. After a day and a half at sea, New Caledonia will come into view. In addition to the 13 species of endemic Araucaria trees here, the island supports a host of endemic landbirds too, the most magnificent of which are the incredible Kagu and the exquisite Cloven-feathered Dove! With visits to both Mount Koghi and Rivière Bleue, we hope to find all the island's endemics over the next two days. 

Moving on once again, we will spend a further two days at sea as we head into the tropical waters surrounding the Solomon Islands, where beaked whales and Short-finned Pilot Whales are likely, as well as Gould's Petrel and the near-mythical Polynesian Storm-petrel. There is also a chance of finding a seabird yet to be described to science, the tentatively named Lava Petrel! The possibilities are almost endless here, with Christmas Shearwater and Vanuatu Petrel having been found in previous years too. A landing on Guadalcanal will also provide us with a wonderful array of Solomon Island endemics and the opportunity to walk in its lush forests, offering a welcome leg stretch after recent days at sea.

As we depart the Solomon Islands, we will search for the little-known Heinroth's Shearwater, before exploring the island of Bougainville and then crossing the Kilinailau Trench, which is a hotspot for deep-diving cetaceans. As we approach New Ireland, we will be on the lookout for the recently discovered Beck's Petrel. A short landing here will see us find an exciting range of Papuan species before we depart northwards for the 5-day crossing to Japan's Bonin Islands. En route we will cross the Equator and our time at sea will be enlivened by numerous seabirds and plenty of flying fish. As we near the remote and rarely visited Bonin Islands we should be on the lookout for Bryan's Shearwater, especially as we pass Chichi-Jima, its only breeding site. Humpback Whales and their calves are regular here too. We also hope to set foot on the remote outpost of Haha-Jima which is home to the bizarre Bonin White-eye and other endemic birds.

Continuing north-west, we next reach the small island of Tori-shima, the breeding ground for the majority of the world's remaining Short-tailed Albatrosses. This rare and impressive seabird only nests on four small islands and our time in their company is sure to be one of the standout highlights of the cruise. We can then enjoy a final day at sea as our unforgettable expedition draws to a close. Finally, we complete our voyage to Osaka in Japan from where we begin our respective journeys home.

This expedition is accompanied by a Naturetrek leader and some of the best pelagic birding guides in the world who have extensive experience of the seabirds of the West Pacific and have visited the islands we will be landing on multiple times. Optional excursions start at dawn and finish at sundown and our guide is there throughout the day to assist you and each evening to discuss the species list. This is one birding expedition you can't afford to miss!