Raoul IslandAbout Raoul Island
Raoul Island is the largest island of New Zealand’s Kermadec Islands, a remote volcanic group in the South Pacific administered by New Zealand. It is an active volcanic island with a rugged, largely undeveloped landscape.
The island is important for seabird colonies and scientific research rather than tourism; there are no permanent settlements and access is by boat or helicopter on occasional organised visits. Facilities are minimal and any landing or activity is normally managed by New Zealand authorities.
Raoul has a volcanic centre and geothermal features that have produced intermittent eruptions and landform changes in modern times, which is why visitation is controlled. The island forms part of New Zealand’s subantarctic and offshore island conservation estate.
Geographically it lies in the Kermadec Islands chain several hundred to about one thousand kilometres northeast of New Zealand’s North Island and is the most accessible of the Kermadec group only by long sea or air journey.
- Access: Access is restricted and visits are generally undertaken by researchers or as organised trips; there is no permanent civilian population.
Nearby Attractions to Raoul Island
Best Time to Visit Raoul Island
Visits are highly conditional on weather and require official permits; summer months offer the best access windows.
Weather & Climate near Raoul Island
Raoul Island's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in February) and mild winters (coldest in August). Temperatures range from 16°C to 26°C. Abundant rainfall (1878 mm/year), wettest in March.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 21° - 26° | 23° | 151 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 22° - 26° | 24° | 197 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 21° - 26° | 23° | 204 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 20° - 24° | 22° | 176 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 18° - 23° | 20° | 153 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 17° - 21° | 19° | 142 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 16° - 20° | 18° | 151 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 16° - 20° | 18° | 157 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 16° - 21° | 18° | 152 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 18° - 22° | 20° | 124 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 19° - 23° | 21° | 117 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 20° - 25° | 22° | 154 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Raoul Island
Access is by vessel from New Zealand (typically from Auckland) or by chartered shipping; the journey is long and must be coordinated with the Department of Conservation. Landing requires official permits and compliance with biosecurity and conservation rules.
Tips for Visiting Raoul Island
- Raoul Island is remote and landing requires permits from New Zealand's Department of Conservation; recreational visits are rare and usually scientific or conservation‑oriented.
- Expect active volcanism: Raoul has an eruption history (most recently in the 20th century) and monitoring is ongoing.
- Bring full expedition gear and plan for self-sufficiency - there are no visitor facilities and landing beaches can be hazardous.