Download the Birding Down Under 2026 Itinerary

On the comfortable Heritage Adventurer operated by Heritage Expeditions. To say that this ship is top class is an understatement. We have found it to be fantastic for birding, with great staff, comfortable cabins and absolutely THE best food we have experienced on a ship.

We are working in collaboration with Alvaro's Adventures, so George Armistead will be co-guiding with the one and only, Alvaro Jaramillo!

Why go with us??? The pricing to book with us is exactly the same as booking directly with the ship. But with us, you have dedicated birding guides that will help you on land, and on the ship to see and identify the birds and wildlife we encounter. We also make sure that we build camaraderie and have fun on the ship, eating dinner together and going ashore together. The smaller subgroup within the ship allows you to have more attention from us, your guides, and makes for a unique and richer experience.

The archipelagos visited are legendary - Snares, Bounty, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell, Macquarie and Chatham Islands. Ten !! species of albatross breed here, many of them breed nowhere else. A total of 40 species of seabirds breed here, including many penguin species. This is the world's most diverse area for seabirds, including tubenoses, unique shags, endemic penguins, and even some unexpected land birds - endemic snipe and parakeets for example! Truly an outstanding part of the world, rivaled only by South Georgia Island in the Atlantic for sheer spectacle of marine wildlife.

The ship Heritage Adventurer is an expedition cruise ship, built in Finland and designed for polar expeditions. It will host 140 expedition clients, and an experienced ship's crew including experienced guides and lecturers with much nature and birding experience. A total of 14 zodiacs can be deployed to get folks on and off islands quickly and efficiently. More time on land and less time waiting around to be transferred. And should you require a little R&R, unwind in the library, pool, gym, hot tub, sauna and steam room, or indulge in some retail therapy. There is also a cafe and bar, in case you want to celebrate with a hot drink or a cocktail!

Led by Alvaro Jaramillo and George Armistead, along with Heritage Expedition staff leaders. Alvaro and George are fun, personable and easy going in their style and have a particular interest in seabirds and polar regions. They are highly experienced, great teachers, accomplished birders who you can "meet" by listening to the Life List Podcast they host with Mollee Brown.