Macquarie Island Isthmus and up to Sandy Bay

 We went ashore at the Isthmus and walked among the penguins and elephant seals this morning. Black sand with lots of big pebbles on the beach.

Photo of the station.

Female elephant seal sunning herself

King penguins 

Just chatting with the locals

Petrel

It is really hard to describe the density of the penguin colonies. They are huge!

Taken from the boat as we rounded the bottom of Macquarie Island and started going north up the east side. Access to the isthmus was from the west and we will effectively circumnavigate the island. Tonight we are anchored in Sandy Bay and expect to go on shore tomorrow morning. 

First shot at a panorama from the boat. Between the line of surf and the green vegetation are masses of penguins!

And for those of you who are technically/ mechanically/ instrumentally minded, this is the bridge of the ship!