Subantarctic Islands Expedition

You will be met on arrival in Auckland and transferred to your ship. Meet your captain and crew at tonight's welcome reception and dinner. Stay 15 Nights: MS Caledonian Sky (D)

Spend a full day at sea as your ship cruises along the coast of New Zealand's North Island. Explore the facilities on board your ship and take in the passing scenery. (B/L/D)

Dock at the central berth in Wellington, located next to the city centre. From here, explore Wellington on an afternoon guided walk. You'll see St Paul's Cathedral, the parliament buildings, stroll through the Botanical Gardens and spend time in the excellent Te Papa National Museum of New Zealand with its impressive interactive displays and marvellous Maori collection. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the city at your own pace. (B/L/D)

Take in the city on a guided tour and visit the International Antarctic Museum. With free time to explore the city, perhaps visit the Quake City exhibition at the Canterbury Museum to understand the impact the devastating 2010-11 earthquakes had on the people of Christchurch. (B/L/D)

Be guided around the city of Dunedin and walk through the beautiful Botanic Gardens. Perhaps join a drive to the Otago Peninsula including a visit to the Penguin Place, where you'll learn about the conservation efforts to protect rare yellow-eyed penguins. (B/L/D)

Land at Oban on Stewart Island, wander among the local shops and see the Rakiura Museum. The island is rich with European, Maori and nautical history and the museum offers displays showing how early Stewart Islanders lived, the industries they were involved in and how they travelled. Alternatively, join a drive to some of the beauty spots, including Observation Rock with views over Iona and Ulva Island, and the beaches lining the east coast. After lunch, head to the renowned wildlife sanctuary of Ulva Island, where you have the choice of guided walks with our local guides. This evening, clear New Zealand customs at Bluff before setting off towards the Subantarctic Islands. (B/L/D)

As your ship heads closer to the Subantarctic, visit the bridge to watch for whales, browse the library, or listen to a variety of engaging talks from your crew. (B/L/D)

The most southerly of the Subantarctic Islands, Campbell Island is a magnificent place offering great birding and unique photographic opportunities. It is home to six species of albatross including black-browed and grey-headed, and has the world's largest population of nesting southern royal albatross. The regeneration of mega herbs since the removal of sheep is another spectacle. You should also sight Hooker's sea lions, while birders can search for the endemic Campbell teal and Campbell snipe, which were previously believed to be extinct. (B/L/D)

Relax on board as your ship charges through the Southern Ocean on the way to Macquarie Island. (B/L/D)

Spend a full day exploring the majesty of Macquarie Island. (B/L/D)

Signature Experiences:

• Arrive at Macquarie Island, which unlike the other Subantarctic Islands is owned and run by the Australian Government. The island is 34 km long and 5 km wide, and lies approximately 1500 km south of Tasmania. It is home to the king, royal, gentoo and rockhopper penguins, sea lions, leopard seals, fur seals and the southern elephant seal, as well an abundance of bird and marine life. Small but magnificent, Macquarie Island is one of Australia's greatest wildernesses, and just getting here is an experience itself. You have two days to explore the island and have the chance to meet the people who live here. Since 1948, the Australian Antarctic Division has maintained a permanent base on the island.

Your second day on Macquarie Island allows you further chances to explore this remote Australian outpost. (B/L/D)

Signature Experiences:

• Enjoy another full day on the island, using Zodiacs to land and taking a series of walks on the island led by experienced onboard naturalists.

Enjoy some much-deserved down time as your ship makes its way to the next port of call. (B/L/D)

Relish a full day among the amazing sights and wildlife of Enderby Island. (B/L/D)

Signature Experiences:

• Spend the day on Enderby Island, regarded as one of the most diverse wildlife havens fringing the Antarctic continent. A series of nature walks through lush vegetation and rata forest will take you to the nesting sites of the southern royal albatross, with the chance to spot giant petrels, shags, parakeets and tomtits as you walk. You'll also visit beaches covered with Hooker's sea lions and keep an eye out for shy yellow-eyed penguins, one of the rarest species in the world.

A special Christmas morning on the rarely visited and uninhabited Snares Islands group is another celebration of wildlife at its most prolific. A plentiful Christmas dinner awaits this evening. (B/L/D)

Signature Experiences:

• After breakfast, board a Zodiac for a morning cruise around the Snares Islands. More seabirds nest on this island group than around the entire British Isles and you should see the endemic Snares crested penguins as well as endemic Buller's albatrosses soaring overhead. There are also an estimated six million sooty shearwaters nesting here. Return to the ship for lunch and spend the afternoon at sea, arriving back in Bluff this evening, where you will clear immigration back into New Zealand.

Today, explore the incredible wilderness of the fjords of the South Island's south-west corner. This is an area rich in history, offering majestic scenery and abundant wildlife, and it is only accessible by sea, making it the most remote region of New Zealand. Sightseeing may include Astronomers Point, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound, but final itinerary decisions will be made by the Captain and expedition team based on weather conditions. Convenient Zodiacs will be used either to shuttle from the ship to a landing site or as your transport to explore the stunning fjords. (B/L/D)

Witness the staggering beauty of Milford Sound as our ship glides serenely through this magnificent fiord. Also known by its Maori name, Piopiotahi, this is one of New Zealand's most treasured natural landmarks. Our journey ends at the head of the fjord, where we'll disembark to waiting coaches and transfer to our hotel in Queenstown. Tonight, you have free time to explore Queenstown and try one of the many great restaurants within walking distance of your accommodation. Stay: Novotel Queenstown Lakeside (B)

Signature Experiences:

• Cruise the full length of Milford Sound aboard the MS Caledonian Sky. With majestic Mitre Peak towering above, sail close to steep cliffs from which waterfalls tumble amid dense rainforest. Keep an eye out for seals, penguins and seabirds as you head towards the open ocean.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)