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2013 Expeditions Schedule:
We are planning
the following voyages
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PITCAIRN ISLAND EXPEDITIONS
(Home of the HMS Bounty Mutineers)
From January to March 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.
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.
2013 Pitcairn Voyage Dates:
Pitcairn Summary Page (click here)
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Pitcairn Explorer: 15th - 29th Jan (click here)
Pitcairn Voyage: 29th Jan - 5th Feb (click here)
Birding Expedition: 12th - 26th Feb (click here)
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Price range: $1,900 to $3,900 USD
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SUWARROW NATIONAL PARK EXPEDITIONS
(Cook Islands)
Join us on a Suwarrow National Park Expedition - sharks and manta rays, uninhabited islands, fresh tuna for lunch and a million seabirds (we don't eat these). This is a two-week voyage to extremely remote islands.
May 2013 Suwarrow Expedition
13th May (Monday) - depart Rarotonga (Cook Islands) at noon
14th May - at sea
15th/16th May on Palmerston Island visiting Marsters family
17th May - at sea
18th/19th/20th/21st May exploring Suwarrow - bird watching, diving etc
22nd May - at sea
23rd May ashore on Nassau
24th/25th May ashore on Pukapuka
26th/27th May - at sea
29th May (Wednesday) arrive in Apia (Samoa) in morning
Price: $3,400US
Flights:
Air New Zealand (flight NZ19) from Los Angeles to Rarotonga arrives Monday mornings every week at 6am
More details:
Click on the "Cook Islands voyage" page in the 'Voyage Options' drop-down menu above for more detailed information
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TOKELAU EXPEDITIONS
Nukunonu Atoll (Tokelau Islands)
June 2013 Tokelau Expedition
30th May (Thursday) - depart Apia in afternoon
31st - at sea
1st - 4th June - Nukunonu (Tokelau)
5th - at sea
6th June (Thursday) - arrive Apia in morning
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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PHOENIX ISLANDS EXPEDITIONS
(A World Heritage Site)
(Kiribati)
Kanton ( Kiribati)
Orona (aka Hull) & Nikumaroro (aka Gardner)
Nukunonu (Tokelau Islands)
June 2013 Phoenix Expedition (17 days) Non-diving
11th June (Tuesday) - depart Apia at noon
12th - 14th - at sea
15th - 17th - Kanton, Phoenix Group (Kiribati)
18th - 19th - camping on Orona (Hull)
20th - 21st - camping on Gardner
22nd - at sea
23rd/24th/25th - Tokelau Islands
26th - at sea
27th - (Thursday) - arrive Apia (Samoa) at midday
Price: $3,900US
July 2013 Phoenix Expedition (17 days) Diving
2nd July (Tuesday) - depart Apia at noon
3rd - 5th - at sea
6th - Rawaki
7th - Enderbury
8th - 10th - Kanton
11th - Birnie
12th - Orona (Hull)
13th - at sea
14th/15th/16th - Tokelau Islands
17th June - at sea
18th June (Thursday) - arrive Apia (Samoa) at midday
Price: $4,900US - maximum of seven divers
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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
(2012 - 2014)
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.
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.
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