Typical Days at Macca....

 The days are becoming shorter as the sun makes it way northward.

 Everyone is settling in to Macca life, with most of us kept very busy at our jobs and various projects.

Beautiful sunset over Hasselborough Bay

One of the major projects on the island is the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project (MIPEP).This seven year project began in 2007. The aim of the project is to restore the islands biodiversity to a natural balance - to free itself of the impacts of introduced species. It is the worlds largest eradication project for three species at the one time.

A Rugged, Extreme & Beautiful Place...

Every day at Macquarie Island brings more wonderful things to see and do. This place is an amazing jewel in the Southern Ocean.

Over the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to explore further afield (beyond Station Limits) and some of the sights have been stunning and breathtaking. I feel privileged to have already seen some incredible flora, fauna and scenery.

Sunset from West Beach near station

Beyond Station Limits and more

We are now well and truly into the routine of station life and we are now also have our work programs in order. In future blogs I will go into more detail of what each of the expeditioners have programmed for the year.

An advantage of being at Macca is that we are in the zone of maximum aurora activity. The frequent cloud is somewhat of a spoiler. Despite this there have been 6 nights in March that we were able to witness this fabulous event.

My first attempt at taking a long exposure photo of an Aurora Australis - from the deck of the Ham shack

Settling in to Life on Macca

...The Aurora Australis left Macquarie Island just over two weeks ago. So that left only 24 of us left on the island. The first few days after the AA's departure most had some R & R, after the busy and hectic time of re-supply.

Then it was time to familiarise ourselves with our various jobs and how to organise the running of the station and living in a small community, through briefings and inductions.

In the first week I explored the station and area around the station that is considered station limits.
Station limits is a region on the isthmus that we are free to wander around and its limit is essentially where we should be able to hear the station fire alarm. It extends roughly southward to the base of the rise to the plateau.

A couple of young elephant seals practicing their fighting

Re-supply continues, then farewell to BOB

....After missing a few days due to weather, the re-supply continued, and the time-line to complete round trip programs was coming to an end. The weather delayed the helicopters going down island to pick up all the persons out in the field.

Meanwhile back at station helicopter flying was done at opportunistic times.

Ship to shore cargo sling loads continued when the weather was right

The local wildlife seemed almost oblivious to the commotion -  Gentoo penguins not far from station

Arrival at Macquarie Island & first few days of re-supply

...After many months of training and preparation we have finally arrived at Macquarie Island.
We arrived at Macca on the evening of the 3rd of March. We arrived to late to disembark, so had to wait until the following morning.

Very early the next day I went up on the helideck where I spent a while taking in the beautiful panorama of Macquarie Island. The sun was out and it was looking like a great day to go ashore.

4th March - A beautiful morning - north end of Macca with part of the station on the Isthmus

Voyage to Macquarie island on the Aurora Australis

..... We have been through months of training and pre-departure preparation. We are as ready as we can be. Now its time to depart on the Aurora Australis on the voyage (V4) to Macquarie Island.

The day started early. We had to arrive at the gate at Macquarie 4 wharf at 11:25 with our personal baggage - a strict 30kg weight limit. Also many of us had our (red) survival bag and our (green) bag of of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). After saying goodbye to family and friends at the gate, at 11:30 a bus arrived to transport Us and our gear 300m from the gate to the AAD Mac4 warehouse. At the wharf was our transport south.

The Aurora Australis just before departing on V4