Our very first trip to Antarctica was during December 1995. Since then Renate, an animal ecologist, geographer and writer and myself, Achim Kostrzewa, animal ecologist, geologist and dedicated nature photographer have completed 27 journeys to Antarctica.

My very last trip (2012/13) to eastern Sub-Antarctica south of New Zealand and Tasmania was the worst of all. We had the most difficult winds and weather ever, and a ship that liked to roll even in the lowest side winds. My main goal was Macquarie Island, which is situated right in the middle of the “Antarctic Polar Front” where the cold Antarctic water body mixes with warmer surface water of the South Pacific Ocean. Because of this, the ocean is very rich in food and therefore home to120,000 King Penguins and famous colonies of 800,000 Royal Penguin pairs. On our way southwards we came along the Snares, Auckland and Campell Islands and on the way back to Dunedin we crossed the Antipodes, Bounty and Chatham Islands. All of these are...