Expedition To New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands

Dunedin is the principal city of the Otago Region of New Zealand. It was founded in 1848 by Scottish migrants, and today the city still contains many Scottish relics, including a statue of the Scottish Bard Robbie Burns. Fine examples of working heritage include the Speight’s Brewery, the Gasworks Museum and the very popular Taieri Gorge Railway. Read more about Dunedin, New Zealand

Dusky Sound is a fjord on the SW corner of New Zealand, in Fjordland National Park. In 1770 it was given its name by Captain Cook and his crew as that was the time of night when they found it. They encountered groups of shy Maoris, but nowadays the area is almost uninhabited. Read more about Dusky Sound, New Zealand

Doubtful Sound, despite its name, is a very large and naturally imposing fjord in the far SW of New Zealand. It is located in the same region as the smaller but more famous and accessible Milford Sound, but it is three times longer, and has a surface area ten times larger. Often referred to as the 'Sound of Silence', Doubtful Sound is a tranquil, awe-inspiring destination known for its cascading waterfalls, looming mountains and rare marine life. Read more about Doubtful Sound, New Zealand

Milford Sound is a stunningly beautiful fjord in the SW of New Zealand's South Island and lying within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Described by Rudyard Kipling as the 'eighth wonder of the world', it has been judged 'the world's top travel destination' in an international survey, and is acclaimed as New Zealand's most famous tourist destination. Milford Sound runs 15 km inland from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces, such as the Elephant and Lion Peaks that rise to 1200 m or more on either side. Read more about Milford Sound, New Zealand

The Snares (named as shipping hazards) lie 100 km SW of New Zealand’s southernmost point on Stewart Island. The Snares Islands consist of the main North East Island, smaller Broughton Island, and a number of rocky stacks. The group is volcanic in origin, has a total land area of just two sq.km., and their highest point is 130m. Read more about Snares Islands, New Zealand

Enderby Island is part of the Auckland Islands. These have been called one of the bleakest places on Earth, as it is situated in the sub-Antarctic region, 465km south of New Zealand. The islands are tiny, with Auckland Island itself the largest island of the group, being only 43km long by 24 wide. Read more about Enderby Island, New Zealand

The Auckland Islands, or Motu Maha, form an archipelago of the Antipodes Subantarctic Islands tundra ecoregion, and they lie 465 km from the South Island port of Bluff. From the early 19th C whalers and sealers set up temporary bases there, and explorers included Dumont D’Urville (giving name to a future Ponant Yacht Cruises explorer vessel) and James Ross. Intermittent efforts were made to permanently settle the islands. Read more about Auckland Islands, New Zealand

Macquarie Island is a sub-Antarctic island (54.5 deg.S) that is part of the state of Tasmania, Australia, located in the Southern Ocean. It lies 1500 km from Tasmania, and 1000 km from New Zealand. The island is rectangular, 32 km by 5 km, running N-S. Read more about Macquarie Island, Australia

Macquarie Island is a sub-Antarctic island (54.5 deg.S) that is part of the state of Tasmania, Australia, located in the Southern Ocean. It lies 1500 km from Tasmania, and 1000 km from New Zealand. The island is rectangular, 32 km by 5 km, running N-S. Read more about Macquarie Island, Australia

Campbell Island lies 600 km due south of New Zealand, the most southerly of NZ’s subantarctic islands. This uninhabited UNESCO World Heritage site is surrounded by numerous stacks, rocks and islets. The island is mountainous, rising to 569 metres in the south. Read more about Campbell Island, New Zealand

The Antipodes Islands lie 860 km SE of New Zealand, of which it is a part. These inhospitable subantarctic islands are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The island group is a nature reserve and there is no general public access. Read more about Antipodes Islands, New Zealand

Dunedin is the principal city of the Otago Region of New Zealand. It was founded in 1848 by Scottish migrants, and today the city still contains many Scottish relics, including a statue of the Scottish Bard Robbie Burns. Fine examples of working heritage include the Speight’s Brewery, the Gasworks Museum and the very popular Taieri Gorge Railway. Read more about Dunedin, New Zealand