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New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands - Facts

Feb 26, 2025
  • The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands consist of five remote and rugged groups of islands (the Snares, Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island) in the Southern Ocean southeast of New Zealand.
  • The nature of the islands and conditions experienced there means that most small craft are not suitable to visit.
  • The islands are national Nature Reserves, are protected under the New Zealand Reserves Act 1977 and are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • The Islands are administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC).  No one may land on the Islands without prior permission from DOC.
  • The islands, lying between the Antarctic and Subtropical Convergences, have a high level of biodiversity. They are particularly noted for the large numbers of seabirds and penguins that nest there. There are 126 bird species in total, of which five breed nowhere else in the world.
  • All of the Islands are uninhabited although they are periodically visited by researchers and cruise ship tourists will undertake shore day excursions during summer.  Private yachts also visit from time to time but this is rare due to the extreme conditions experienced.
  • The Reserves Act 1977 requires that all researchers, cruise ship tourists and private yacht visitors landing on the island obtain and comply with an entry permit.  Any permit stipulates which island can be landed on, specific places that may be accessed, when and who the permit applies to.
  • Private yacht visits with a permit are possible at specified locations on Enderby, Auckland and Campbell Islands.  A DOC representative must accompany any tourists landing on the Islands.  For private yacht visits this may be a suitable experienced crew member undertaking responsibilities in an honorary capacity.
  • The best time to visit the Subantarctic Islands is from November to March during the southern hemisphere summer.

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New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands was last updated 11 months ago
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