Tini Heke / The Snares (208km from Bluff)
Tini Heke is the closest Sub-Antarctic island to Aotearoa, positioned 100 km to the southwest of Rakiura. Tini Heke is the second smallest Sub-Antarctic island, with a combined area of 3.5km². These islands were discovered on the 23rd November 1791 by Lieutenant William Broughton and Captain George Vancouver.
Captain Vancouver named the islands The Snares, due to the shipping hazard they imposed on passing vessels.
At first sight of land, I anticipate for what will entail our final Sub-Antarctic island discovery of this trip.
The geology of Tini Heke is truly amazing. It felt as if we were exploring a bubble of the Earth that had been preserved from the Mesozoic Era. Steep-sided cliffs and granitic sea stacks make an exploration around this Sub-Antarctic island fascinating.
While the island’s rock composition is interesting, it is the abundance of rock hoppers that make this Sub- Antarctic Island a joyful and amusing place. Approximately 26,000 breeding pairs of Snares crested penguins can be found on the North-East Island.
These endemic species are well suited to the island – being predator free and restricted from human access comes with many benefits for these vulnerable penguins.
From the distant ridgeline to the trampled bull kelp doorway, exists a runway, where penguins traverse the sloping granite cliff. This is Penguin Slope, a path that leads foraging penguins from their nests to the ocean.
Getting down the slope is the easy part, however, gaining the confidence to dive into the ocean can be rather challenging.
Generally, the penguin closest to the water’s edge will be bumped into the water. This is a test to determine the safety of entering the ocean. If a predator appears, the others will remain on shore … if not, they follow.
As the sun fades behind the clouds and the afternoon sea-breeze begins to strengthen, we decide to call it a day. Cruising back to the Spirit of Enderby, a crested penguin sends us a final wave goodbye as we acknowledge our Sub-Antarctic discovery has come to an end.
This trip was supported by Heritage Expedition’s True Young Explorer Scholarship. These scholarships provide keen explorers (aged between 18-30 years old) who have a passion in the Southern Ocean to explore Aotearoa’s Sub-Antarctic Islands, with the aim of creating a league of ambassadors who are inspired to protect the Sub-Antarctic’s for future generations.
You can apply here …
