Subantarctic Islands travel guide

Antipodes Subantarctic Islands
travel guide

Possibly the world’s best kept secret, the Subantarctic Islands may have a very low profile, but are among the most remarkable wildlife reserves worldwide. Lying south and east of New Zealand, in the Southern Ocean – a notoriously tumultuous mistress that encircles Antarctica – every one of these clusters of islands is a UNESCO site, which places them in a very special group of only 180 natural sites deemed ‘the most important and significant natural habitats on the planet.’

A truly otherworldly group of islands; marine mammals and birdlife show little fear of human visitors, and a beguiling range of native vegetation flourishes, unhindered by introduced competitors.

Treasured for their priceless value as wild and truly beautiful places, you can dispel any preconceptions of bleak, frozen landscapes. Besides the fascinating wildlife that thrives in their isolated conditions – chattering penguins in their millions, sea lions, elephant seals and seabird breeding colonies – the islands are surprisingly lush and particularly noted for their abundance of flowering ‘megaherbs’- huge green clumps up to 90cm, tall sprouting rhubarb-esque leaves and massive, lime green flower clusters.

Read more about these incredible habitats in our Subantarctic Islands travel guide.

See all our Subantarctic islands Holidays

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Go to the Subantarctic Islands if…

You have a passion for wildlife. Regardless of the stunning scenery, a trip to the Subantarctic Islands is all about the phenomenal wildlife. It’s quite magical how anything can live in such extreme climatic conditions, so to see penguins and petrels positively thriving alongside sea lions, seals and albatrosses that soar across the bright, clear sky is a magnificent sight to behold. You’re happy to get your geek on. Though ‘lecture’ isn’t the first word you may associate with an exciting, seafaring adventure, take our word for it: lectures about the wonder of the Subantarctic Islands are neither boring nor stuffy. Onboard, and sometimes on land too, you will be treated to talks from all manner of experts from geologists to historians and scientists who are keen to share their knowledge of the land and creatures around you. You’ll learn to identify species, and a little insight means you will be even more amazed by the world passing you by on deck. You’re brave enough to leave your bigger boat. The unusual presence and extraordinary landscape of each individual Subantarctic Island are best explored by venturing out in a zippy zodiac boat. They’re much smaller than your mighty expedition vessel, of course, and how far flung you explore will be dictated by the weather and the ocean, but this only makes the experience more thrilling. Subantarctic itineraries encourage as many zodiac trips as timing and conditions allow, getting you up close to seals and penguins and permitting you to step into their extraordinary world.

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Don’t go on a Subantarctic Islands holiday if…

You prefer your own company. After a day spent capturing real ‘wow factor’ photographs under crisp skies and encountering wildlife that you never dreamt you’d see in the flesh, there’s only one thing left to do: share your excitement and swap stories with your fellow passengers. If you strongly disagree with this statement, then it’s unlikely a trip to the Subantarctic Islands is your bag. It’s a sociable holiday – from grabbing a drink in the lounge and quietly recounting your experiences, to joining a lively group dinner. A holiday like this rarely happens twice in a lifetime, so you already know you’ll be travelling with people as enthusiastic as you are. Socialising isn’t thrust upon you and there are ample opportunities for quiet time and reflection, but overall, you’ll be much better suited if you’re a sharing sort. You’ve booked for the polar bears. Sorry – your compass is out of whack; polar bears make their homes way up north in the Arctic. You want to cuddle a baby seal. Although they are exceptionally sweet, nobody should ever hug a pup. A safe distance should be kept from all wildlife, including seals, penguins and seabirds. However, the animals themselves are not aware of this, and neither are they wary of humans, so if you position yourself quietly, they may well approach you, which is absolutely fine. However, you must never touch, feed or obstruct them, or use flash photography. Noise should be kept to a minimum too, so if a penguin does approach you for a chat try and keep your excited squeals to giggling volume.