Heritage Expeditions

Join the ultimate exploration of Japan’s wilderness, beyond its national parks and last frontier – Hokkaido. Translating in English to ‘Northern Sea Circuit’, Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost and least developed island, and a world away from the country’s more traditional and contemporary cities. Bordered by the Sea of Japan, Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, Hokkaido’s rugged landscape features a mountainous centre, complete with volcanic plateau, and is rightly famous for its volcanoes and hot springs. Among its multiple plains is Kushiro, the largest wetland in Japan and home of the Red-crowned Crane, one of the world’s largest and rarest cranes and iconic symbol of Japan where it is also ...Read more >

These remote specks of land, peeking out of the waves far below New Zealand, have been coined the ‘Galapagos of the Southern Ocean’ – and with good reason. Our 13-day expedition cruise aboard the Spirit of Enderby takes you to the Snares, Auckland, Campbell and Macquarie Island groups to discover the incredible and unique biodiversity that few people will ever witness. The islands are all UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and are protected by the governments of Australia and New Zealand in recognition of their value as wildlife refuges. This conservation status is hugely important – as the only dry land for many miles, they provide important nesting, feeding and breeding grounds for seabirds, ...Read more >

Join a thrilling in-depth expedition cruise of Australia's world-famous Kimberley Coast, one of the world's most pristine and untouched wildernesses. Forged by nature and spanning more than 400,000 square kilometres, Western Australia's wild and remote coastline marries a treasure trove of towering, fractured iron-tinged red cliffs, torrential waterfalls, azure waters, hidden coves and caves, secluded white sand beaches, magnificent reefs and rare and endangered wildlife with indigenous customs and connections to an ancient land, and rich history. Best explored by expedition vessel, our Kimberley cruises allow an up close and intimate exploration and immersion of this rugged wilderness ...Read more >

Join an unforgettable exploration of Japan, ‘the Land of the Rising Sun’, as we set sail on this voyage to experience medieval castles and temples, magical gardens, beautiful landscapes, and discover a strong cultural history. Our explorations take us beyond the well-known highlights to remote stretches of coastline and islands tourists rarely have the opportunity to experience, all made possible on our purpose-built expedition ship. A country rich in history and tradition, Japan seamlessly blends ancient customs with ultramodern living which we will experience as we cruise from iconic cities to remote coastlines and islands. Our intended destinations are designed to showcase contemporary ...Read more >

Join acclaimed author, scientist and explorer Professor Tim Flannery as we sail into a world few ever experience. The 2017 Australian of the Year will join as a special guide as we explore the rich history, cultures and wildlife of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu on this 17-day authentic expedition cruise. Visit idyllic islands and isolated villages where unique time-honoured traditions and elaborately costumed dancers welcome us into their world. From the culturally rich arterial of the Sepik River we sail across the Bismarck Sea exploring remote shores and villages still living traditional lifestyles, and delve into the history, culture and wildlife of New Ireland and ...Read more >

Explore remote parts of New Zealand's Southern region, an area known for its diverse range of wildlife and jaw-dropping scenery, and discover the real Fiordland and Stewart Island. Discover the time-forgot rawness of wildlife rich Stewart and Ulva Islands before exploring the primordial majesty of Fiordland only accessible by expedition ship, and the rare opportunity to combine these iconic destinations on one voyage. Rich in history and wildlife, Stewart and Ulva Islands are home to a unique range of birdlife including Bellbird, Tui, Kaka, Tomtit, Rifleman, Stewart Island Robin, Saddleback, Mohua and of course, the Stewart Island Brown Kiwi. There will be opportunities to listen to the ...Read more >

Explore New Zealand's remote southern backyard on this special 8-day voyage. Discover the time-forgot rawness of wildlife-rich Stewart Island/Rakiura, Zodiac cruise the rocky, inhospitable coast of The Snares - one of the world's most important nature reserves, and experience the primordial majesty of Fiordland firsthand on this unforgettable adventure. We pioneered expedition cruising in Fiordland more than 30 years ago. It was from these first, wild Kiwi wilderness adventures the Christchurch-based Russ family's dream of genuine responsible tourism, which now spans some of the world's most remote and rarely visited regions and wildlife hotspots from Antarctica through to, and including, ...Read more >

New Zealand’s Subantarctic islands are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, in recognition of the remarkable vegetation and wildlife that inhabits them. Uninhabited and remote, just a few hundred visitors are permitted to set foot on the islands each year in order to conserve their unique biodiversity. On this eight-day wildlife cruise of the Subantarctic Islands, the expedition ship the Spirit of Enderby transports you to some of the most remote scraps of land on earth. Departing from New Zealand’s southern tip, our first port of call is the Snares Islands. Enormous colonies of Snares crested penguins gather along the islands’ rugged coastlines, the only place in the world where they can be ...Read more >

Discover the best of Aotearoa/New Zealand exploring its three main islands (the North Island, South Island, and Stewart Island) on this unforgettable 15-day New Zealand cruise. From the ‘World's Coolest Little Capital' (Wellington) to Dunedin's avant garde fashion, the unrestrained beauty of Fiordland and Stewart Island, Art Deco glamour of Napier and the golden beaches and island conservation sanctuaries of the upper North Island this voyage showcases the best of New Zealand. Known as the 'Land of the Long White Cloud', New Zealand features the 9th longest coastline in the world measuring 15,000 kilometres. Bordering the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and once part of Gondwanaland, New ...Read more >

Heritage Expeditions pioneered expedition cruising in 1985 by cruising the rugged and unique southern coastline of New Zealand's South Island, including Fiordland and Stewart Island. From those first days exploring the wilderness from their tiny yacht base with just five travellers aboard, the Russ family realised their dream that responsible tourism, enacted in a genuine and responsible way in conjunction with local government, had the ability to assist in the protection of vulnerable areas. From there, Heritage Expeditions grew to escorting 50 conservation minded passengers per expedition to the world's most special regions but our passion for New Zealand's wilderness never ...Read more >

Made up of 6,852 islands, Japan is a fascinating combination of unique heritage and culture contrasting with the sprawling metropolises of the world's most advanced technological civilisation. The perfect way to explore the 'Land of the Rising Sun' is by sea, and the Heritage Adventurer is the ideal vessel for such a voyage. Our carefully crafted itinerary offers unique opportunities to explore ancient castles, serenely beautiful gardens, and opulent temples and shrines combined with witnessing some of Japan's awe-inspiring natural landscapes. We will visit the historic and serene castle town of Matsue and the ancient, anachronistic town of Hagi. Experience the tranquillity of sacred ...Read more >

Explore the undiscovered pristine island paradises of the Philippines and Indonesia as we sail well off the traditional tourist route aboard our luxurious 140-guest expedition ship. Lying like pearls scattered across the equator the archipelagos of the Philippines and Indonesia’s undiscovered islands are the postcard definition of paradise where impossibly blue waves gently lap white sand beaches and friendly locals welcome us into their world, where primordial jungles and untouched coral reefs abound with astounding wildlife and myriad adventures await both above and below the water. In addition to being among some of the most biodiverse regions on the planet and home to rare and ...Read more >

An unforgettable 15-day cruise exploring Asia’s incredibly diverse and exotic subtropical islands from Osaka, Japan to Manila, Philippines aboard luxurious expedition ship. Rarely visited and hard to reach, Asia’s subtropical islands comprise a wonderland where impossibly blue waters gently lap white sand beaches and pristine coral gardens and walls abound with neon-lit fish, fascinating rare birds and wildlife dwell in primeval jungles, intriguing time-forget cultures and traditions await discovery and World War II relics, wrecks and history can be found both above and below the water. Our adventure begins exploring the Buddhist temples, gardens, castles, history, culture and cuisine of ...Read more >

Set sail on the ultimate tropical island-hopping cruise from Osaka, Japan, through the Philippines and Indonesia to Darwin, Australia, aboard luxurious 140-guest expedition ship. Our adventure begins exploring the Buddhist temples, gardens, castles, history, culture and cuisine of Japan including one of its most famous sites Itsukushima Shrine with its renowned overwater torii gate, Hiroshima Peace Park, the eco-paradise and UNESCO World Heritage status of Yakushima Island, the primeval subtropical Kinsakubaru Virgin Forest and centuries old traditional process of making Oshima Tsumugi silk on Amami Oshima and the beauty and history of the ‘Hawaii of Japan’ Okinawa Island. We then weave ...Read more >

Discover paradise on an authentic expedition through Indonesia’s remote and little known tropical islands. Swim with the Whale Sharks in Kwatisore Bay, visit Komodo National Park, home to the famed Komodo Dragon, discover Jacques Cousteau's "underwater nirvana" Wakatobi National Park and explore the turquoise waters and rainbow corals of Raja Ampat as we traverse powdery white sand beaches, untamed jungles. During our voyage from Bali to Madang we have the opportunity to see up to 13 species of Bird-of-paradise and many more endemic species, World War II relics and visit remote tribes. A true expedition voyage in every sense, our journey will explore Indonesia’s rarely visited and little ...Read more >

Set sail on a true adventure aboard the luxurious 140-guest expedition vessel as we explore reef-fringed tropical islands, visit historic sites and experience forgotten cultures and incredible wildlife encounters cruising from New Zealand to Japan on this incomparable 29-day voyage. Crossing both the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, and the Equator, this Pacific island sojourn has been specially designed with cruise enthusiasts and adventurers in mind. Carefully balancing the excitement of visiting remote islands, snorkelling pristine coral reefs, enjoying thrilling cultural exchanges at isolated villages, observing wildlife and Zodiac cruising tropical isles with languorous sea days spent ...Read more >

These names are music to the ears of birders – Snares, Bounty, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell, Macquarie and Chatham Islands. With the exception of the Chathams, these islands are probably more isolated now than they were when they were discovered in the late 1700’s. In that era they were regularly visited by sealers, whalers and government steamers searching for castaway sailors but opportunities to visit them nowadays are rare. It is relatively simple to get to the Chatham Islands, but reaching the others is far more challenging. This expedition is the only one to include all of these islands. Occupying the tempestuous latitudes of the Roaring Forties and the Furious Fifties, there is a ...Read more >

The Ross Sea was names after the explorer Sir James Clark Ross, who discovered this wild stretch of ocean, deep in the Antarctic, in 1842. Although the Ross Sea has some of the most fascinating human stories on the continent, today it is one of the most rarely visited regions, with most Antarctic cruises focusing on the more accessible Antarctic Peninsula. This beautiful and otherworldly seascape is choked with pack ice for most of the year – briefly becoming accessible by for two months each austral summer. Just a handful of tourist expedition ships venture here each season, and one of these is the ice-strengthened Spirit of Enderby, a fully equipped expedition vessel. Staffed by ...Read more >

This journey across the southwestern Pacific Ocean involves many incredible encounters – from rare birds to colourful cultures, exotic marine life to recent and ancient history, and deserted islands ringed with white sand beaches. This Melanesia bird watching holiday started out as the classic WPO (West Pacific Odyssey) itinerary which takes in some of the world’s rarest pelagic bird species. Since then, it has grown into a far more varied voyage, taking a number of new locations with broader appeal. Journeying from the temperate waters of New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf, we’ll witness the shift in flora and fauna as the climate gradually changes as we approach the tropical region of Papua New ...Read more >