Sub-Antarctic Islands

Sub-Antarctic Islands
Photo by Roman Bruehwiler.

The New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands consists of the five southernmost groups of the New Zealand Outlying Islands.

Most of the islands are located near the southernmost edge of the largely submerged continent centred on New Zealand called Zealandia. It sank after rifting away from Australia 60-85 million years ago and from Antarctica between 130 and 85 million years ago. It is 3,500,000 km2 in area, almost half the size of Australia and is unusually long and narrow.

The islands are:

  • Antipodes Islands
  • Auckland Islands
  • Bounty Islands
  • Campbell Island group
  • The Snares
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Site Info

Full Name
New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands
Unesco ID
877
Country
New Zealand
Inscribed
1998
Type
Natural
Criteria
9 10
Categories
Natural landscape - Insular
Link
By ID

Site History

1998 Inscribed

Site Links

Unesco Website
New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands
Official Website

Department of Conservation

Related

SubAntarctic - an educational resource

In the News

New Zealand Eradicates Invasive Mice From Antipodes Islands (2018.03.22)

Locations

The site has 5 locations

Sub-Antarctic Islands: The Snares New Zealand
Sub-Antarctic Islands: Bounty Islands New Zealand
Sub-Antarctic Islands: Antipodes Islands New Zealand
Sub-Antarctic Islands: Auckland Islands New Zealand
Sub-Antarctic Islands: Campbell Island

Connections

The site has

Damaged
'Threatened' by Infestation of Rats: Campbell Island
Ecology
Endemic Bird Species: Definition of species/sub species in flux - c14 including species of Shag, Penguin, Parakeet, Snipe, Teal, Albatross, Rail, Oystercatcher, Fernbird
Penguins: King, Gentoo, Fjordland, Snares, Royal, Yellow eyed, Little, Erect Crested, Rockhopper
Icebergs
Notable examples of island gigantism: megaherbs
Peat: Auckland Islands "This paper contains a description of the peat soils on part of the Auckland Islands which lie in the South Pacific Ocean approximately 200 miles south of New Zealand. Peat forms a blanket over the surface of the Islands and is the parent material of most of the soils
Seals: elephant seal
Antarctic Floristic Kingdom
Tundra
Notable Trees: World's Loneliest Tree (on Campbell Island)
Albatross breeding sites: Antipodes Islands - Antipodean (race antipodensis), Shy (race steadi - alternatively considered the "White Capped" species), Black-browed, Light-mantled Auckland Islands - Gibson's, Southern royal (Enderby only), Northern royal (Enderby only), Shy (race steadi), Light-mantled Bounty Islands - Salvin's Campbell - Antipodean (race antipodensis), Southern royal, Black-browed, Campbell, Grey-headed, Light-mantled, Sooty Snares - Salvin's, Black-browed, Buller's
Geography
Dependent territories: "Although considered as integral parts of New Zealand, ... the .. island groups are not part of any region or district, but are instead designated as Area Outside Territorial Authority." (wiki)
Uninhabited islands
Pacific Ocean
Southernmost: No. 3 (Campbell Island), at 52?33 S
Antipodes points: NEW ZEALAND SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS(Bounty island)=THE LOIRE VALLEY(Angers) S47 45 E179 03 = N47 23 56.004 E0 42 10.008 AND )=LE HAVRE S49 41 E178 48 = N49 29 20.6 E0 06 54.8
Formerly inhabited islands: Auckland Islands (part of NZ Sub Antarcic Islands) "Traces of Polynesian settlement, possibly dating to the 13th century, have been found by archaeologists on Enderby Island. This is the most southerly settlement by Polynesians yet known.". (wiki)
Polynesia: Traces of Polynesian settlement, possibly dating to the 13th century, have been found by archaeologists on Enderby Island. This is the most southerly settlement by Polynesians yet known. (wiki)
Volcanic plugs: Campbell Island
Submerged continent: Zealandia
Human Activity
Slavery: The Auckland islands were briefly settled by Maoris from Chatham Island. They brought with them Moriori slaves. The Moriori had been the indigenous people of the Chathams who were enslaved by Maoris. "Sheep farming became popular and profitable and some Maori diversified into that. In 1842 one chief took nearly 30 slaves with him and his people and went to the Auckland Islands to live. The conditions were too harsh and the settlement was abandoned in 1854."
Seal Hunting: Campbell Island (1810-1840s); island was discovered in 1810 by Captain Frederick Hasselborough of the sealing brig Perseverance
Individual People
William Bligh: The Bounty Islands - discovered by Bligh in 1788 whilst on his way to Tahiti and named after his ship
Timeline
Miocene: The Auckland, Campbell and Antipodes islands are primarily of recent volcanic origin. The first two are eroded volcanic domes created 10-15 million years ago. The western sides of all three groups have been eroded significantly, creating steep cliffs, while on the eastern sides lava flows and glaciers from the Pleistocene era (about 2 million years ago) have formed U-shaped valleys, fiords and harbours. The Antipodes volcano is the youngest and least eroded.
Trivia
Furthest distance apart: 1,010km/627 miles (Bounty Islands - Auckland Islands)
Patrimonito's World Heritage Adventures
On Banknotes: Campbell Island on 5 New Zealand dollar reverse
Visiting conditions
Takes more than 5 days to visit: Combined cruise with Macquarie Island, 14 days
Biosecurity rules for tourists
One thousand visitors or fewer: “annual visitation to this site has fluctuated from approximately 250 to 750 visitors since the mid-2000s.”
WHS on Other Lists
Biodiversity hotspot: New Zealand

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