2025 West Pacific Odyssey - worth it? (1 Viewer)

[Calonectris]

I'm looking to join the 2025 West Pacific Odyssey. Heritage Expeditions just published their itinerary and it has some significant changes compared to previous years that make me doubt whether it's maybe better to wait it out for 2026.

The first and last parts are still the same as any other WPO: start in Auckland and travel via Norfolk Island to New Caledonia, the last leg is the trek to Japan via Chichi-jima and Torishima to Yokohama. It's the middle part among the Solomons where the big difference lies.

Where there are usually four or five islands visited (Rennell, Guadalcanal, Kolombangara, Makira, Tetepare, Chuuk, ...) now there are only three island visits: Guadalcanal (Honiara with a visit to Mt. Austin), Bougainville and New Ireland (Kavieng). The trip is also markedly shorter: 25 days compared to 29 days this year.

So, as I see it, the sea birding will be more or less the same as before but the land birding will be a lot reduced. Does anyone have some intel on species diversity and endemism on Bougainville and New Ireland (the Mt Austin trip is standard on the WPO) and whether a day visit is worth the while seeing as these are big islands where possibly most species are found in more remote areas?

TIA.

 

[Mike Crawley]

If you are 100% certain that the itinerary will revert back to one that you prefer, I guess it is a simple choice.
You just have to assess whether the 2025 itinerary is the new norm.

I have friends who went this year and looking forward to catching up with them to hear about their experiences

 

[warmtape]

I’m also curious about this trip and the original posters questions in case anyone has any new info..l

 

[Mike Crawley]

I read something about next year's trip but I can’t find it anywhere.
In summary, there was a significant change in the itinerary but I don’t want to say too much in case I misremember anything about what I read.

 

[temmie]

I don't know if there are other boats out there or if Heritage is the one and only boat covering this area, but FWIW:

https://www.birdquest-tours.com/news_articles/western-pacific-odyssey-end/

 

[Gonçalo Elias]

The end of the road for the famous Western Pacific Odyssey?​

August 14, 2024

Heritage Expeditions has told us that they are not planning to operate the Western Pacific Odyssey again, so the spring 2025 expedition looks like being the last of its kind!

This epic journey from New Zealand to Japan has become famous over the years for being one of the world’s ‘Ultimate Pelagics’. It is also a great way to see Norfolk Island endemics and most New Caledonia endemics including the wonderful Kagu as well as many other birds, so we are very sorry to see it go. The reasons have not been revealed, but it seems highly likely that the main cause is the impossibility of operating summer cruises in the Russian Far East and Northeastern Siberia since the invasion of Ukraine. Heritage used to have a very adventurous and successful expedition cruise programme in the region.

There are still cabins available for the 2025 Western Pacific Odyssey. The Birdquest guide is veteran Mark Van Beirs. Please contact the Birdquest office if you are interested in going

https://www.birdquest-tours.com/news_articles/western-pacific-odyssey-end/