Whale expert to join HMB Endeavour on Eden Voyage

by Jude Timms on 9 Oct 2014 The Australian National Maritime Museum is delighted to announce that whale expert Geoffrey Ross from New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service will be joining the HMB Endeavour crew as a special guest when it embarks on a special whale-themed voyage from Sydney to Eden 27 - 31 October.

Endeavour’s five-day voyage from Sydney to the Eden Whale Festival, which members of the public can join as voyage crew, will play an important role in National Parks and Wildlife Service’s whale conservation program. Mr Ross and the voyage crew will be conducting a whale count and will collate the data and send through details of whale sightings to the Australian Antarctic Division for inclusion in its national database. Mr Ross will also share his expertise with the voyage crew.

'On the voyage we will be keeping watch for the blows of whales and recording what species we see, where they are seen, their abundance and their behavior. We’ll also be keeping a special lookout for Sperm Whales and other large whale species,' says Mr Ross.

'We still know very little about what species occur off our shores and in what numbers. This voyage will help us get some understanding of the occurrence of whale species in both state and Commonwealth waters off NSW and provide us with the opportunity to describe their presence and behaviour to the public in real time using the Australian National Maritime Museum and Wild about Whales websites.'

Mr Ross explains his excitement and how much he is looking forward to following the footsteps of the original Endeavour’s team of scientist including Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander.

'Like Banks and Solander before their epic trip, I too am looking forward to a voyage of discovery sailing on one of the most distinguished and best known sailing ships in the world,' says Mr Ross.

Adventure seekers and whale enthusiasts are being called upon to sail on the Sydney to Eden voyage as well as the return Eden to Sydney Voyage (3 – 7 November). No previous sailing experience is needed as you’ll receive hands-on training on how to sail the 44-metre ship. Voyage crew will be assigned duties and learn how to set and take in sail, steer the ship, keep watch and climb aloft - all under the guidance of the Master and his professional crew of 16.

Bookings are now open with voyage prices starting from $1,260 for a five day voyage.

When HMB Endeavor arrives in Eden, she will be one of the major attractions at the annual Eden Whale Festival which runs from 1 - 2 November.

Festival goers are invited to climb on board the famous replica when in port and explore the ship’s mess deck – where sailors lived and ate their meals – including the large firehearth (stove). They can also glance around the Great Cabin where botanist Joseph Banks and his scientists worked and documented the botanical specimens they collected.

The ship will be open to the public on Saturday first and Sunday second November, from 10am – 5pm (last ticket sold at 4pm). Tickets are adults $10, child $8 and family $25.

For more information about the voyages and ports click here or call 1800 720 577.