Pioneering Expeditions /
Set sail with family business Heritage Expeditions
Aaron and Nathan Russ grew up working in family business Heritage Expeditions; they are now at the helm continuing the legacy their parents began. While the impacts of COVID-19 have been undoubtedly felt, they presented an opportunity to bring the company full circle.
WITH A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF awareness around the impact we have on our natural landscape, brothers Aaron and Nathan Russ are proud to be continuing the legacy of their parents: to be pioneers in environmentally responsible expedition travel.
‘Through his work as a biologist with the New Zealand Wildlife
Service, Dad [Rodney] identified a need to share wilderness areas with people, rather than hide them away,’ explains Aaron Russ, Heritage Expeditions Director and Expedition Leader. ‘Along with Mum [Shirley] he was passionate about helping people to understand and experience the natural landscapes in which some of our most endangered animals live, enabling them to become ambassadors and advocates for conservation efforts.’
Heritage Expeditions was the result – a tangible realisation of the couple’s long-held view that conservation and responsible travel are partners.
That together, with their sons, they could achieve what might otherwise be unachievable. And for nearly 40 years the company has been enabling environmentally friendly expeditions to some of the world’s most remote shores and coastlines.
‘While we are very much an international company, often spending half the year sailing the waters around Russia, Christchurch and Canterbury are home,’ continues Aaron.
With COVID-19 placing restrictions on their ability to undertake expeditions, Aaron and Nathan were keen to showcase the beauty of New Zealand to New Zealanders. ‘Operating a Kiwis-only summer season has shown us that New Zealanders are as passionate as ever about exploring our amazing backyard, and the introduction of our 18-guest, 30-metre expedition yacht Heritage Explorer offers a more accessible and intimate variation of our traditional voyages,’ he says. ‘We were really excited to bring a new style
‘The focus of every expedition is to get guests ashore as often as possible.'
of voyage to destinations we know intimately, and offer more in-depth exploration experiences of New Zealand.’ Voyages that bring the company full circle, connecting it to the Kiwi adventures and wilderness it was founded on.
‘We have some beautiful coastlines in New Zealand. The Heritage
Explorer is a great way to experience and see aspects of our country that you normally wouldn’t be able to explore.’ Able to cater for groups of 18, Aaron describes Heritage Explorer as ‘similar to a private yacht experience’, where travellers are able to customise their expedition experience. ‘We have had everyone on board from 92-year-old guests to families. The nice thing about it is you can sit on the bridge with the captain and watch the world go by, or you can go ashore with our guides. Everybody is the master of their own voyage.’
Travelling across five destinations (Antarctica, New Zealand, Russian
Far East, South Pacific and the Subantarctic Islands), each destination boasts a number of expeditions, getting travellers up close and personal with volcanoes, seabirds, whales, polar bears, penguins, fiords, spectacular coastlines and everything in between.
‘The real focus and emphasis of every expedition is to get guests ashore as often as possible, for as long as possible,’ explains Aaron, ‘allowing them to really connect to the rawness of the landscapes and the abundant wildlife we encounter. We have some of the most experienced guides, botanists, ornithologists, naturalists and experts in their field on board, ensuring guests maximise every opportunity to learn, discover and experience as much as possible, while minimising the impact of their visit and returning as ambassadors for these very special places.’
And while their expedition ships Spirit of Enderby and Akademik Shokalskiy may look formidable from the outside, inside they boast comfortable accommodation across a range of options; dedicated spaces for educational talks, libraries, lounge areas and bars. And to top it off, the cuisine is always excellent with top New Zealand and Australian chefs part of the experienced crew.