•  
  Day Hikes
•  
  Bird Watching
•  
  Marine Mammal Viewing
•  
  Cruise
•  
  Multi-day Hiking
•  
  Kayaking
•  
  Rafting
•  
  Caving

Start:	Tauranga, New Zealand
Finish:	Yokohama, Japan
Length:	31 days
Grade:	A (you need to be in reasonably good health) Grade A General good health necessary. No specific fitness requirements. View all Grades
Accom:	Cabins
Price:	US$8,999
Extra Costs:	Government Landing Fee US$500pp
Departs:	19 April 2011- 19 May 2011 - see see departures

Highlights: This expedition is a unique opportunity for 'birders', 'cetacean watchers' and the romantics who simply love the thrill of a cruise in the South Pacific that includes remote Islands and Atolls.

After departing Auckland we spend a day 'birding' in the rich waters of the Hauraki Gulf where there are numerous endemic species including the recently re-discovered NZ storm petrel. From there it is northward to Norfolk Island and New Caledonia where we make shore excursions for the island endemics. Landfall in the Solomon Islands is at remote Rennell Island.

We plan a total of four days with a number of landings in the Solomon Islands before sailing north across the Britain Trench, an area known to be rich in cetaceans to Micronesia. We have landings scheduled at Rota, Saipan and Guguan Islands in the Caroline and Mariana groups, before sailing (as close as we are allowed) to Tori Sima Island to hopefully see shortailed albatross. The journey will end at Kagoshima in Japan.

Day 1: Tauranga.
Day 2: Hauraki Gulf.
Days 3 & 4. At sea.
Day 5: Norfolk Island.
Day 6: At sea.
Days 7 & 8: New Caledonia.
Days 9 - 11: At sea.
Day 12: Rennell Island, in the Solomon Islands.
Day 13: Makira Island.
Day 14: Honiara, Mount Austin.
Day 15: Kolombangara Island.
Day 16: Travelling over deepwater canyon near Bouganville.
Day 17: New Ireland.
Days 18 & 19: At sea.
Days 20 & 21: Caroline Islands.
Days 22 - 26: At sea for over 1200 nautical miles, heading for Bonin Islands.
Day 27: Bonin Islands, complete customs formalities for Japan.
Day 28: At sea.
Day 29: Torishima Island.
Day 30: Miyake-Jima Island.
Day 31: Arrival and disembarkation at Yokohama, Japan.

Overview	Details	Photos	Booking Form