Out and About with Diane

Jan 7, 2026: New Zealand Cruise (day 8 Galapagos of the Southern Ocean) Macquarie Island

Written by

Diane

in

We anchored overnight at Macquarie Island and in the morning we did another zodiac landing at Sandy Beach to enjoy the penguins and seals.

After returning and having lunch, the ship cruised down the lee side of Macquarie Island and we enjoyed the views and the swimming/porpoising penguins. It was especially interesting to see the penguins swimming under the water- the water was so clear you could see them from the ship.

Photos from the zodiac landing at Sandy Beach:

King penguin removing molting featherrs
The penguin feathers are all around and provide significant nutrients to the land
King Penguin
King Penguin
King and Royal Penguins(smaller with big bills and crazy hair)
Royal Penguins
The Royal Penguins love to stand on the rocks
King penguin warming up his feet
Giant petrel
It’s itchy work to molt
These are young adult males that are play-fighting to practice for when they are adults
Elephant Seals like to lay next to or on top of each other. They always look a little crabby when another seal comes to join the group but they soon settle down.

Views and swimming/porpoising penguins on the ship cruise:

Lots and lots of penguins
Close up of the penguin colony
another penguin colony on same island
porpoising penguins
porpoising penguins
penguins cleaning their feathers
lots of penguins in the water
When penguins dive they compress the air out of their feathers making a bubble trail
Penguins playing and preening. You can see them below the surface the water is so clear