Antipodes Islands

The Antipodes Islands are an uninhabited subantarctic volcanic island group belonging to New Zealand and form part of the country’s Subantarctic Islands World Heritage area. The total land area is small and the islands are noted for their large seabird colonies, endemic plants and limited terrestrial mammal life.

Most visits are scientific or conservation-focused because the islands are legally protected; landings require permits and are tightly controlled to prevent the introduction of invasive species. Key natural highlights include dense ground vegetation, large colonies of petrels and prions, and seal haul-outs on rocky shores.

The islands were charted by European navigators in the 18th and 19th centuries and have been managed as a nature reserve by New Zealand with strict biosecurity measures. Conservation work has focused on eradicating invasive species and protecting native bird populations.

Geographically the group lies in the Southern Ocean roughly 860 kilometres southeast of New Zealand’s South Island; the nearest major landmass is New Zealand, and the islands are exposed to strong subantarctic weather and swell.

• Protection: Part of New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands World Heritage listing and designated as a nature reserve; landing is restricted and generally allowed only by permit for scientific purposes.
• Remoteness: Uninhabited and remote - the group lies roughly 860 kilometres southeast of New Zealand's South Island, making access logistically difficult and weather dependent.

What to See #

• Antipodes Island: Antipodes Island - the largest island in the group, rugged and largely covered by dense subantarctic vegetation and peat, with important seabird colonies.
• Bollons Island and satellite islets: Bollons Island and smaller islets - rocky stacks and small islands around the main island that provide nesting sites for seabirds and seals.