There is a typically Tamzin back story to this adventure that I must share with you. While out whale watching with E-Ko Tours (see previous blog), I noticed a bright blue fishing trawler coming through Tory Entrance surrounded by seabirds. After just a glimpse of an albatross earlier in the day and the road to Kaikoura (my regular albatross fix) currently closed, I was desperate to get out among the big birds again.

As my first blog posts were all a long way from home I thought I’d now introduce you to my backyard. I live in Picton, it is the top of the South Island in New Zealand and the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds.

Campbell Island, in New Zealand’s subantarctic, rains (on average) 325 days per year so it was no surprise that it was grey and grim when we arrived in Perseverance Harbour. It was, however, surprising to have the wind funnelling straight up the normally calm harbour. I was really excited for Campbell Island due the nesting Southern Royal Albatross, the Col Lyal boardwalk, and the chance of spotting the Campbell Island Snipe. Unlike the other islands, I knew a bit about Campbell and therefore had high hopes.

I must be honest and say I didn’t know anything about Macquarie Island when I booked my trip to the Subantarctic. As Macquarie Island is an Australian territory, not NZ, I wasn’t familiar with the wildlife, birds or even the Australian Antarctic Division base. I must be even more honest and say I had already formed a strong dislike for the place after two solid days of seasickness.