Cruises visiting Recherche Archipelago (Australia)

The Archipelago of the Recherche, known locally as the Bay of Isles, is a group of 105 islands, and over 1500 rocky outcrops off the southern coast of Esperance, Western Australia. The islands stretch 230 kilometres from East to West and to 50 kilometres offshore. The area is a biodiversity hotspot partly due to the influence of the Leeuwin current which supports a rich diversity of marine life. Breeding colonies of Australian fur seal, New Zealand fur seal and the Australian Sea Lion have been recorded on various islands including Cooper and Salisbury Islands. The archipelago has also been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) supporting over 1% of the world populations of flesh-footed shearwaters, along with breeding colonies of the endemic Recherche Cape Barren goose, sooty oystercatchers and fairy terns. If time and weather permit, you will have the opportunity to explore the coastal environments and view the wildlife from our fleet of zodiacs.