Though we’ve been here for three months, I often reflect on the day we first arrived. After a three-day voyage, waking up aboard the RSV Nuyina to find the ship finally anchored off the east beach of Macquarie Island was a moment of relief – the vessel, at last, motionless.
As the sun rose, we anxiously sipped our coffees, keeping an eye out for the LARCs (amphibious vehicles) being lowered into the water, and regularly checking the flight schedules. Then, the day we’d been waiting for arrived! We donned our immersion suits and made our way to the helicopter deck, where we were ushered in by the AAD Air Ops crew, boarding the helicopter one by one. In no time, we were off – just 90 seconds in the air – and we touched down on this wild, stunning, and remote sub-Antarctic island.
As I stepped out of the helicopter, barely regaining my bearings, I was immediately struck by the sight of massive elephant seals lounging on the nearby beach. Before I could comment on their size, someone shouted over the roar of the helicopter turbines, “These are just babies, not even three years old!”
The beauty of this place is overwhelming. It’s hard to imagine ever growing accustomed to, let alone bored with, the untamed landscape and incredible wildlife that surround us. Back home, I’m usually hidden behind computer monitors, working with various AI software – a stark contrast to the grounded, hands-on life here at Macca. I cherish every moment spent on this island.
Time flows differently here; there’s always work to be done, along with plenty of fun excursions and activities in between. Balancing daily tasks with various training sessions makes the weeks feel short, but in the best way possible.
Between 'slushy' kitchen duties, my role as Deputy Fire Chief, search and rescue responsibilities, and lay surgical assistant training, the days seem to fly by. Fortunately, without traffic jams, we still find ample time to explore the island. I’ve been using mine to take photos – a lot of them! I brought what I thought would be years worth of memory cards, but they’re already filling up fast. It looks like I’ll have to start deleting soon (noooo!).
Whether it’s sunny, snowy, or raining, I’ve really enjoyed the walks around the station. It’s nearly impossible to resist the urge to be out in the field constantly. Surrounded by gentoo penguins, elephant seals, and giant petrels, even a two-hour walk feels as exciting as a multi-day hike in the forests back home in Victoria.
On the weekend I was lucky to be able to go on a hike to Brothers Point Hut with team leader Hamish, Dr Pat and Ed. Trekking through some deep snow spots (up to our knees in some places), we tried to take it all in as this could likely be the last of the snow we will see this year.
We arrived at the hut and spent the night listening to Pat's lovely guitar riffs while sharing ghost stories and enjoying a candle-lit cheese board. All fun and games, when the evening was suddenly interrupted by a dazzling greeny-pink aurora covering the sky. What an amazing weekend.
Using a little help from ChatGPT to try and explain my experience so far, via poetry:
Vivid tussocks of green, plants so rare,
In every corner, the island’s beauty we share.
Orcas spotted off the coast, what a thrill,
Rushing for cameras, capturing them still.
Incredible shifts in weather we face,
Challenging us daily, in this remote place.
Amidst penguins and seals, nature sets its pace.
Ok it's time for me to get back to work; the plan for the next couple of days is building a sealion-proof temporary secondary fence made of cage pallets. We are trying to keep the extremely cheeky and inquisitive sealion (named Bruce), outside the station.
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share some of my adventures.
Cristian Ambrozie - Station Supply Officer, Macquarie Island
