2012 Expeditions Schedule:

We are planning
the following voyages

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PITCAIRN ISLAND EXPEDITIONS

(Home of the HMS Bounty Mutineers)

From January to April each year we run one-week, two-week & three-week voyages to the Pitcairn Islands. At this time of year (summer in the Southern Hemisphere) we get the best weather conditions for visiting the outer islands of the group. We welcome history enthusiasts, birders, scientists, scuba divers, amateur radio operators and adventure tourists

Accommodation on Pitcairn: When we are at Pitcairn Island you will be hosted ashore with the local families - don't miss this opportunity to live with one of the most remote communities in the world

Henderson Island (a World Heritage Site) and Oeno Atoll are also visited on the two-week voyages, they are both pristine uninhabited tropical islands - paradise indeed. For the really adventurous we combine both Pitcairn and Rapa into our three-week expedition.

Watching the descendants of Fletcher Christian burn a model of the HMS Bounty on "Bounty Day" (23rd January) in celebration of their national holiday is something you will never forget.

Flights: We meet Air Tahiti flight VT951 when it arrives in Mangareva (Gambier Islands). This weekly roundtrip flight departs from Papeete (Tahiti) at about 7am on Tuesday mornings - and arrives in the Gambier Islands about 11am. This flight returns to Papeete the same day, departing the Gambier Islands 1pm and arriving back in Papeete at about 5pm.

2012 Pitcairn Voyage Dates:

Pitcairn Summary Page (click here)
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Pitcairn Explorer: 17th - 31st Jan two berths left
Pitcairn Voyage: 31st Jan - 7th Feb (click here)
Pitcairn-Rapa Expedition: 14th Feb - 9th March (click here)
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Price range: $1,900 to $5,500USD

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SUWARROW NATIONAL PARK EXPEDITIONS

(Cook Islands)

Join us on a Suwarrow National Park Expedition - sharks, sharks, sharks, not to mention manta rays, whales, uninhabited islands, fresh tuna for lunch and a million seabirds (we don't eat these). These are two week voyages to extremely remote islands.

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PHOENIX ISLANDS EXPEDITIONS
(A World Heritage Site)

(Kiribati)

Swains Atoll (American Samoa)
Nukunonu (Tokelau Islands)
Kanton ( Kiribati)
Orona (aka Hull) & Nikumaroro (aka Gardner)

May/June 2012 Phoenix Expedition (17 days) fully booked
30th May (Wednesday) - depart Apia at noon
31st May - at Swains Island (American Samoa)
1st/2nd June - at sea
3rd June - Enderbury, Phoenix Group (Kiribati)
4th/5th/6th June - Kanton, Phoenix Group (Kiribati)
7th/8th June - camping on Orona (Hull), Phoenix Group (Kiribati)
9th/10th June - camping on Gardner, Phoenix Group (Kiribati)
11th June - at sea
12th/13th June - Tokelau Islands
14th June - at sea
15th June (Friday) - arrive Apia at midday

Note: On the 1st January 2012 Samoa changes to the Fijian side of the date line

Price: $3,900US

June/July 2012 Phoenix Expedition (17 days)
27th June (Wednesday) - depart Apia at noon
28th June - at Swains Island (American Samoa)
29th/30th June at sea
1st July - Enderbury, Phoenix Group (Kiribati)
2nd/3rd/4th July - Kanton, Phoenix Group (Kiribati)
5th/6th July - camping on Orona (Hull), Phoenix Group (Kiribati)
7th/8th July - camping on Gardner, Phoenix Group (Kiribati)
9th July - at sea
10th/11th July - Tokelau Islands
12th July - at sea
13th July (Friday) - arrive Apia at midday

Note: On the 1st January 2012 Samoa changes to the Fijian side of the date line

Price: $3,900US

More details:
Click on the "Phoenix Islands voyage summary" page in the 'Voyage Options' drop-down menu above for more detailed information

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TOKELAU EXPEDITIONS

Nukunonu Atoll (Tokelau Islands)

June 2012 Tokelau Expedition
18th June (Monday) - depart Apia at noon
19th June - at sea
20th - 23rd June (Samoa time) - Nukunonu (Tokelau)
24th June - at sea
25th June (Monday) - arrive Apia in morning

Note: On the 1st January 2012 Samoa changes to the Fijian side of the date line

Price: $1,900US

More details:
Click on the "Tokelau Islands voyage summary" page in the 'Voyage Options' drop-down menu above for more detailed information

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KERMADEC ISLANDS ECLIPSE EXPEDITION
(A Conservation Reserve and Marine Protected Area)

(New Zealand and Tonga)

Bay of Islands (NZ)
Total Solar Eclipse 300nm NNE of Opua
Cheesman & Curtis Islands (Kermadec Group, NZ)
Macauley Island (Kermadec Group, NZ)
Raoul Island (Kermadec Group, NZ)
Ata Island (Tonga)
Nuku'alofa (Tonga)

November 2012 Kermadec Is Solar Eclipse Expedition (15 days)
10th Nov (Saturday) - meet at Opua
11th Nov - visit Bay of Islands
12th Nov - depart for Kermadec Islands
13th Nov - at sea
14th Nov - Solar eclipse at sea (half way to Kermadec Islands)
15th Nov - at sea
16th Nov - Cheesman, Curtis and Macauley Islands
17th/18th/19th/20th Nov - Raoul Island
21st Nov - at sea
Dateline change
21st Nov - at sea
22nd Nov - Ata Island (Tonga)
23rd November (Friday) - arrive Nuku'alofa at midday

Price: $3,900 USD

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Pricing of tourist voyages - a general comment

Most voyages are priced at about US$250 per person per day - this includes equipment for diving and camping ashore. Discounts are available for group bookings. You can also charter the whole boat for $1900 USD per day. Then you get to go where you want - and do what you desire - real freedom and real adventure !

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Science Expeditions
(2011 & 2012)

1. Phoenix Islands Restoration Project
Invasive species eradications and bird surveys were conducted on McKean and Rawaki in May/June 2008 with a follow up in November/December 2009. Further rat eradications where conducted on Birnie and Enderbury in July 2011 with follow up expeditions planned for 2012. We plan to continue our island restoration projects focusing on Kanton, Manra, Orona (Hull) and Nikumaroro (Gardner) Islands.

2. Tokelau Biodiversity Survey
Planned for October 2011 - this is three weeks of biodiversity surveying by Eco Oceania. With the results of this survey we will be able to plan focused island restoration projects in the years to come

3. Vanuatu Conservation Survey
Planned for 2014. A month of invasive species surveys and bird counts on the outlying islands of Vanuatu. Establishing rat and feral cat free wildlife sanctuaries is our long term goal.

Science Volunteers
Volunteers will be considered on these scientific expeditions.
Note: a reasonable state of fitness is essential. Flexibility and good humour in difficult circumstances are essential. Exploration is both fun and hard work – join us to find out.