Exploring Rare Islands at the Edge of the World: Enderby Island

Beyond mainland cities separated by seas and accessible only by ships are another isolated metropolis of flora and fauna building residence at one of the island located at the remote edges of the world.

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LOCATION

Completely isolated, Enderby Island is not only at the tip of Auckland Island, but at the edge of the world as well. This upland plateau is among the Auckland Islands Archipelago in New Zealand. It lies at the tip of the main island in the archipelago, Auckland, and is located 450 kilometers south of Invercargill of the Sub-Antarctic Region.

Being of volcanic origin, along the coast and inland of Enderby Island is consist of rocky terrains, sloping to steep cliffs, and huge hexagonal cuts and columns daubed with lichen and droppings of bird coated with mosses creating nature’s type of art. Nestled among the cliffs are huddling caves for penguins and other fauna found in the island.

CLIMATE

Lying in the belt of Southern Ocean, the general climate of the whole archipelago is wet, cold, and windy with cyclic westerly gales and cold fronts lashing. To get to specifics, Enderby Islands recorded annual average temperature at the latest (2014) is 8.3 degrees Celsius with an annual average maximum of 9.9 and an average annual minimum of 6.9.

Precipitation varies but an average of less than 1500 mm per year is recorded generally. There is only few days’ difference on Enderby’s total annual precipitation with 323. 59. Annual average speed is 29.4 kilometers per hour.

TRANSPORTATION

One can get to Enderby Island through the Auckland Airport. Auckland airport offers international and local flights with different facilities and airport maps to help you navigate. Buses and taxis are available outside the airport.

Going to Enderby Island is usually by cruise ships. Enderby is just one of the itineraries cruise ships go in exploring the Auckland Archipelago. Cruise ships are not available every day, so booking and preparing before traversing the island is a must.

ATTRACTIONS

Enderby Island Fauna

Southern Royal Albatros

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The Southern Royal Albatross is scattered amongst the Auckland Archpelago and its largest population is currently located at Campbell Island of the archipelago. However, a small colony can be found in the Enderby Island. There are about 69 pairs of albatross that has taken residence in this remote city of flora and fauna.

This seabird from the albatross family is the second largest after the wandering albatross with an average wingspan that extends to 3 meters. Watching them take flight is another sight to behold.

Hoiho, The Yellow-Eyed Penguin

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Another sight to behold is the yellow-eyed penguin taking residence in the island. This mid-size penguin ranges only 62 to 79 inches and has a weight of 5.5 to 8 kilograms as the greatest before mouthing.

You will see them nestled along the islands steep cliffs or along the shore in groups of four to six. This hobbling metropolis of the yellow-eyed penguins are actually already in endangered with a population of only 4,000 thousand.

Hooker’s Sea lion

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Aww, you can’t help but gush at this adorable sea lions. They are considered rarest sea lions, and the bad news is they are in decline. It has been a protected species since 1980, yet they are still the most threatened in the world.

You will see rookeries in Sandy Bay of the Enderby Island where there are a hubhub of activities by these sea lions.

Enderby Island Flora

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Rata Forest in Enderby Island is a nature reserve and was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. This gnarly forest looks like it was straight out of a fantasy movie.

Despite the strange yet beautiful still forest floor, people on-cruise with this up in their itinerary hikes through this forest or simply look at wonder in this another gorgeous flora nature has to offer.

Ross Lilies

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One of the most notable wild flower at the Rata Forest and Across Enderby Island are the Ross Lilies or yellow bulbinella, which looks like a hybrid of a daisy.

It is an herbaceous plant, which made a resurgence due to New Zealand’s ecological management.

Images:

(1) http://www.teara.govt.nz/files/38566-pc.jpg
(2) http://www.heritage-expeditions.com/media/uploads/trip_folders/subantarctic_voyages_/galapagos_of_the_southern_ocean_/(c)_mkelly_galapagos_of_the_southern_ocean_13_(custom).jpg
(3) http://www.davidsinclairimages.com/pictures/image264.jpg
(4) http://a53eff901ad426c7141f-a2e1f2ca0d075f111a9346197959e230.r40.cf1.rackcdn.com/155/8/default.jpg
(5) http://image3.redbull.com/rbcom/010/2015-05-12/1331722586834_2/0012/0/0/0/1951/2927/800/2/rata-forest-new-zealand.jpg
(6) https://www.flickr.com/photos/eriagn/12552633985

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