Tristan da Cunha Post & Tourism

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Tristan da Cunha Post & Tourism The official tourism and heritage page of the world's most remote
permanently inhabited island. 221 people. No airport. No resort. No manufactured experience.

Just real life at the edge of the world.

A Cruise Ship Day on Tristan da Cunha: The Work Behind the ScenesToday, we should have been welcoming our first cruise s...
28/10/2026

A Cruise Ship Day on Tristan da Cunha: The Work Behind the Scenes

Today, we should have been welcoming our first cruise ship of the season, SH Diana, to Tristan da Cunha. Preparations have been underway, everyone has been getting ready, and we were looking forward to welcoming passengers and crew to our island.

Unfortunately, due to the weather conditions and forecast swell, SH Diana has had to make the difficult decision to divert past Tristan without landing.

It is incredibly disappointing, not only for the passengers on board who were looking forward to visiting our island, but also for our community, who have been preparing for their arrival.

But this is also part of what makes Tristan da Cunha so special, and so difficult to reach.

So, what goes on behind the scenes when a cruise ship visits Tristan?

There is a lot more to it than you might think!

The preparations

Communication with the ship begins well in advance. We work directly with the expedition team to confirm arrival times, the planned programme, tours, activities and any special requirements.

Guides and taxi drivers are organised, venues are prepared, and our community gets ready for what can be a very busy and exciting day.

There is also plenty of preparation happening in our shops and Café da Cunha. Stock is checked, souvenirs are prepared, and the café gets ready to welcome visitors looking for refreshments and something to eat. Our other visitor facilities and venues also prepare for what can be a busy day.

All of these preparations had been made for today’s planned visit, with everyone ready and waiting to welcome SH Diana.

Clearance and landing passengers

When a ship arrives, several important steps must take place before passengers can come ashore.

Our radio operator, Andy Repetto, is usually the ship’s first point of contact. Medical clearance is arranged through our hospital, either in advance by email or by radio between the island’s doctor and the ship’s doctor.

Our Harbour Master, Grant Green, assesses whether conditions are suitable for harbour operations, while Leon and his immigration team board the vessel to complete immigration formalities and give clearance for passengers to come ashore.

Once the necessary clearances have been given and conditions are safe, passengers can begin coming ashore using the ship’s own Zodiacs and crew.

A busy day around the village

Our Tourism team coordinates the planned tours, with guides and taxi drivers ready to welcome visitors and show them what makes Tristan so special.

We also aim to have our visitor facilities open while the ship is here, including the shops, pub, Café da Cunha, craft fair at the hall, Rockhopper Gift Shop and other venues around the village.

For our community, a cruise ship visit is an opportunity to welcome people from around the world, share our island’s history and culture, and showcase the wonderful products and services we have to offer.

What about trips to the outer islands?

Some expedition ships stay for several days and may wish to visit Nightingale or Inaccessible Island. These trips are organised by Trevor, our Head of Conservation, with support from Tourism.

Depending on the ship’s plans and the conditions, Trevor and his team may travel out in the Conservation RIB or accompany visitors aboard the vessel.

Biosecurity measures are also essential to protect our precious wildlife and environment.

And what happens when the weather doesn’t cooperate?

Living on Tristan means working around the weather. We can spend weeks planning a visit, but the final decision always depends on the conditions on the day.

Our location in the South Atlantic means that weather and swell can change plans at the last minute. Even when everything is organised and everyone is ready, it simply may not be safe for a ship to land its passengers.

If passengers cannot safely come ashore but conditions allow us to approach the vessel, we may arrange for staff to take prepared bags of souvenirs and postcards aboard. We can also offer presentations about Tristan if requested.

Sometimes, however, the weather prevents all operations.

It is disappointing for everyone involved, especially the passengers who have travelled so far to reach us and our community, who have put so much work into preparing for their arrival. But safety must always come first.

What makes Tristan so special?

Although it is disappointing that we won’t be welcoming SH Diana today, this is part of life on one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands.

Tristan da Cunha is not an easy place to get to. Our isolation, unpredictable weather and the challenges of landing are all part of what makes visiting us such a unique experience.

Every successful landing is something to celebrate, and every ship that visits brings a special opportunity for our community to share our way of life with the outside world.

Although this is looking like a quieter cruise season for Tristan, every visit is important to our island and brings activity and opportunities to the community.

We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in preparing for today’s planned visit. We share in the disappointment of the passengers and crew who won’t get to experience Tristan this time, and we hope to welcome SH Diana and her passengers on a future visit.

A glimpse of SH Diana’s departure

The photograph accompanying this post was kindly sent to us by friends travelling back to Cape Town aboard the SA Agulhas II. They docked alongside SH Diana just as she was preparing to depart and continue her journey past Tristan.

We have also included a screenshot from VesselFinder showing SH Diana’s position as she diverts past the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago.

It is a reminder of just how close we came to welcoming our first cruise ship of the season, and how quickly the weather can change plans here.

On Tristan da Cunha, we are always ready to welcome the world, but ultimately, the ocean and the weather have the final say.

22/10/2026

A Stormy Night on Tristan da Cunha!

It’s been one of those nights where the thunder has been waking the whole household! The deep, crashing rumbles seem to roll on forever, and I can’t help wondering whether the surrounding mountains make them sound even more dramatic as the noise echoes across the island.

The heavy rain adds to the performance, hammering against our aluminium and zinc roofs so loudly that it’s enough to wake the whole household!

Every so often, I see a flash of lightning glowing through the curtains, followed seconds later by a tremendous clap of thunder. It certainly makes you jump, but there’s something lovely about being tucked up warm and cosy in bed while the storm rages outside.

In fact, I’m writing this post right now, in the middle of the night, because I simply can’t sleep! Every time I start to drift off and close my eyes, another flash lights up through the curtains, followed by a deafening crash and rumble. Some of the claps are so loud that you can actually feel our hardboard walls vibrating! Just as I think I’m finally going to get some sleep, nature decides to put on another show.

So, even though you might be reading this tomorrow, I’m writing it right now, wide awake, listening to the storm and wondering when it’s going to give us a break!

I managed to capture the sound of the thunder last night without even getting out of bed! That’s why it’s audio only. You can hear the thunder rumbling around us in the middle of the night, along with the heavy rain hammering against our zinc roof. The footage accompanying the audio shows our cloudy mountains here on Tristan da Cunha this morning, giving you a little glimpse of the island after last night’s storm.

We’re certainly used to wild weather here on Tristan da Cunha. Strong winds, rough seas and heavy rain are all part of island life, but proper thunderstorms are something we don’t experience all that often.

So why is that? Tristan sits in the middle of the South Atlantic, surrounded by cool ocean waters. Much of our rain arrives with passing weather fronts, bringing plenty of wind and downpours without necessarily producing thunder and lightning. Thunderstorms need particular atmospheric conditions, including warm, moist air rising rapidly to build powerful storm clouds, and these conditions are less common here than in many warmer regions.

A few interesting facts I discovered about thunder and lightning:

Lightning can heat the surrounding air to around 30,000°C, making it hotter than the surface of the Sun!

Thunder is created when lightning heats the air incredibly quickly, causing it to expand suddenly and produce powerful sound waves.

Light travels much faster than sound, which is why we see the flash before hearing the rumble. Count the seconds between the two and divide by three to estimate the distance in kilometres. For example, a nine-second gap means the lightning is roughly 3 km away.

Mountains and the surrounding landscape can reflect and scatter sound, sometimes making thunder seem louder or causing it to rumble for longer. Perhaps that helps explain why it sounds so dramatic here!

And finally, add torrential rain drumming against our metal roofs, and you have quite the natural alarm clock!

Although we’re accustomed to the island’s wild weather, a night like this certainly reminds us that nature can still surprise us. There’s something comforting about being warm and cosy in bed while watching the flashes through the curtains and listening to the rumbling sky, even if sleep is proving rather difficult tonight!

A stunning view of Tristan da Cunha, captured by Robin Repetto. 🌊📸The SA Agulhas II sits just offshore, with Tristan’s d...
20/10/2026

A stunning view of Tristan da Cunha, captured by Robin Repetto. 🌊📸

The SA Agulhas II sits just offshore, with Tristan’s dramatic volcanic cliffs rising behind Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. It’s a beautiful reminder of the incredible scenery and unique setting of our remote island in the South Atlantic.

Thank you to Robin for sharing this wonderful photograph of the SA Agulhas II during her recent visit to Tristan! 🇹🇦

That ship has sailed! 🌊🚢Well, it was a quick visit from the SA Agulhas II this year, and it felt even quicker than usual...
20/10/2026

That ship has sailed! 🌊🚢

Well, it was a quick visit from the SA Agulhas II this year, and it felt even quicker than usual!

Unfortunately, Tristan’s weather wasn’t playing nicely, and it was much colder than expected for this time of year. But that didn’t stop people from making the most of their time on the island.

On the very last day, the weat
her finally cleared, and Tristan showed off what she does best! We managed to get a few people up the mountain, while others headed out on a RIB for a trip around the island. It was a lovely way to finish the visit, even if the weather had kept us on our toes right up until the end.

Please enjoy this photo dump from Dr Matt Dryden, who captured some beautiful wildlife photographs during the visit by. He was even lucky enough to spot a Tristan thrush by the Mission Gardens, just below the 1961 Volcano! 🐦📸

A big thank you to Dr Matt for sharing these wonderful glimpses of Tristan’s unique wildlife.

Until next time, SA Agulhas

Today marked the second and final Wednesday lunch during the SA Agulhas II’s visit to Tristan da Cunha, and what a lovel...
14/10/2026

Today marked the second and final Wednesday lunch during the SA Agulhas II’s visit to Tristan da Cunha, and what a lovely lunch it was! ❤️

Our Wednesday lunches at Café da Cunha have been going on for years and are a much-loved island tradition. As one of the only places to eat out on Tristan, it’s always a wonderful opportunity for everyone to come together, catch up and enjoy a good home-cooked meal.

Today, we served 28 covers, with a proper Tristan meal of roast beef, roast potatoes and pumpkin for just £3.00,

followed by Auntie Catherine’s delicious apple turnovers for dessert! 😋

There were happy smiles all around, and it was lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves.

A big thank you to everyone who helped make today’s lunch possible, and to Ian Cummings for these great photos

It’s been an action-packed time here on Tristan da Cunha with the SA Agulhas II, but unfortunately, the weather hasn’t b...
12/10/2026

It’s been an action-packed time here on Tristan da Cunha with the SA Agulhas II, but unfortunately, the weather hasn’t been on our side!

We’ve had parties, karaoke nights, packed Wednesday lunches, lots of eye and dental appointments, and plenty of other activity at the hospital too! There’s certainly been a lot going on around the island, as always when the SA Agulhas II is here.

Unfortunately, the weather has made it impossible to head over to Nightingale Island or venture into the mountains. Even more frustratingly, the SA Agulhas II still hasn’t been able to offload the main cargo destined for Tristan da Cunha. This is a really important time for the island, as the ship carries a large amount of our supplies, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the weather improves soon and we can get everything moving again, especially the offloading.

We did manage to get some offloading done on Saturday, but unfortunately, it was only grit. With the SA Agulhas II arriving at 10 am, it was a late start to the day, so there wasn’t much time to get anything else offloaded. On the bright side, some of the crew also got the chance to come ashore and spend the day on Tristan!

I’ll put together a full report once the SA Agulhas II has departed, but for now, here’s a little photo dump of what we’ve been up to so far.

Enjoy! 🌊📸

A picture that tells a thousand words!What an incredible photograph taken by Odlie Cesari, capturing a Northern Rockhopp...
12/10/2026

A picture that tells a thousand words!

What an incredible photograph taken by Odlie Cesari, capturing a Northern Rockhopper Penguin perched on Tristan’s rugged volcanic rocks, with the SA Agulhas II in the background.

Two iconic sights of Tristan da Cunha in one beautiful frame. Our remarkable wildlife in the foreground and the ship that plays such an important role in island life out at sea.

It’s a wonderful reminder of what makes Tristan so special, where extraordinary wildlife, dramatic landscapes and life on one of the world’s most remote islands all come together.

📸 Photo credit: Odile Cesari

06/10/2026

🌊 Your journey to Tristan da Cunha starts long before you reach the island…

After days at sea, the ship finally arrives off Tristan. But unlike most destinations, you can’t simply walk off the ship and onto a pier. Here, getting ashore is an adventure in itself.

Passengers make their way from the ship and into a large lifting box, which is carefully lowered by crane onto the raft waiting below. From there, the raft makes its way towards the harbour.

And as it approaches, you’ll see people gathering at the Point of the Harbour, standing and waving as they wait for you to arrive. 👋

Then comes another lift. The box is carefully raised from the raft and lowered ashore, where a crowd of islanders is waiting to welcome you.

And this is where the magic really happens…

You step onto Tristan and are met with smiles, handshakes, hugs and a very warm “welcome home”. 🥰

It might be one of the most unusual arrivals in the world, but it’s also one you’ll never forget.

🎥 A look back at passengers arriving from the MFV Lance in July.

Could you imagine making this journey to Tristan?

The Svensson lithographs have come home!Eight lithographs by Roland Svensson are back on Tristan after a trip to Cape To...
06/10/2026

The Svensson lithographs have come home!

Eight lithographs by Roland Svensson are back on Tristan after a trip to Cape Town for new frames and some much-needed care.

Roland Svensson was a Swedish artist who sailed home with the islanders in 1963 and returned in the 1970s. He was a true friend of Tristan, and he generously gave a set of his original prints to the community.

For decades they hung in different places around the village where they survived leaks, storms and Tristan's damp, salty air. To make sure islanders and visitors alike would be able to enjoy Roland's work for many more years to come, the Island Council gave permission for the Tristan da Cunha Post & Tourism Centre and the Tristan da Cunha Archive to send eight of them away to be looked after.

Orms, the framers in Cape Town, remounted each print on archival materials, gave it a new ash frame with UV-protective glazing, sealed against the damp, and sent them back to the island on the MV Lance.

Today, Roland's prints were hung back up. What a great feeling to see all those empty spaces on the wall fill with colour and history once again.

Our thanks to the Friends of Roland Svensson Society, who paid for the reframing, and to the Tristan da Cunha Association, who covered packing and transport. Thanks also to the team at Orms for their skill and careful hands.

The prints are in great shape and ready for you to enjoy. Come and see them at the Tristan da Cunha Post Office & Tourism Centre and at the Albatross Bar.

This Saturday just past- we enjoyed the annual SA Agulhas II party, kindly hosted by Administrator Philip and his wife, ...
05/10/2026

This Saturday just past- we enjoyed the annual SA Agulhas II party, kindly hosted by Administrator Philip and his wife, Louise.

The evening began at 7pm with plenty of refreshments and a delicious spread of food, including lobster prepared by the Seven Seas Catering team.

Philip gave a heartfelt speech to the community, thanking everyone for making his three years on Tristan so special. He and Louise were then presented with a Longboat by Chief Islander Ian, on behalf of the community, as a token of our appreciation for everything they have done during their time here.

Philip also introduced us to our new Administrator, Andrew Wells, who will be sworn in before taking up the role. Andrew said a few words, expressing how excited he is about his new posting and getting to know the people of Tristan.

There was also a special thank you to Dr Matt Dryden, who did so much important work behind the scenes when Tristan faced the Hantavirus situation earlier this year. Dr Alex presented Matt with a gift from the community, and Matt also said a few words, recognising the incredible hard work of Dr Alex, Dr Silvio and the entire hospital team during such a difficult time.

A number of medals were also presented, including some that had not yet been awarded.

Once the formalities were over and everyone had enjoyed some great food and time to catch up, the lights went down, the music went up and the dancing began! 💃🕺

A wonderful evening was had by all.

Thank you, Philip and Louise, for a lovely party and for everything you have done for the community during your time on Tristan. We wish you all the very best for the future!

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Tristan Da Cunha Post & Tourism Centre
London
TDCU1ZZ

Telephone

+442030145104

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