Cruise the Subantarctic Islands
Go where few others have been! Explore remote Subantarctic Islands cruises to the Snares, Macquarie, Campbell and Auckland Islands. Talk to our polar team today.
Few journeys feel as much like travelling to the edge of the world as Subantarctic Islands cruises. Scattered across the Southern Ocean between New Zealand and Antarctica, these remote, storm-lashed islands are among the least-visited places on earth, and some of the richest for wildlife
New Zealand is the natural gateway, with small-ship voyages heading south to the Snares, the Auckland Islands, Campbell Island and Australia’s Macquarie Island. Expect colossal seabird colonies and unique penguins found nowhere else, plus beaches blanketed by seals and sea lions. Landings are few and tightly guarded, so most days are spent Zodiac cruising and going ashore with expert naturalists. It is wild, humbling travel of a kind that has almost vanished elsewhere.
Contact us to start planning your extraordinary Subantarctic Islands cruise.
Often called the Galapagos of the Southern Ocean, New Zealand’s five Subantarctic Island groups (the Snares, Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island) form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, joined on many voyages by Australia’s Macquarie Island, a World Heritage Site in its own right. Isolated for millions of years and never permanently settled, they have evolved an astonishing collection of plants and animals that exist nowhere else.
The wildlife is the main reason to come, coupled with the exceptional remote voyaging experience. One of the world’s great seabird strongholds, the Subantarctic Islands are home to dozens of species and a remarkable share of the planet’s albatrosses and penguins. Southern royal albatross wheel overhead on wingspans of over three metres, while rare New Zealand sea lions and southern elephant seals crowd the beaches below. For birdwatchers and wildlife photographers, few places on earth compare.
Because these islands are so fragile, visiting them feels like an incredible privilege. There are no airports nor permanent settlements on any of the isles, so the only way to reach them is by small expedition ship, with just a handful of licensed operators permitted to land. Days are spent on guided walks where landings are allowed, and Zodiac cruising the coast where they are not, as at the Snares and the Bounty Islands. The season is short, running through the southern summer from around November to February, a time when the wildlife is breeding and the weather is at its kindest. For this kind of immersive voyage, you'll want to explore by small, purpose-built expedition ships carrying around 130 to 150 guests.
For travellers with more time, some voyages continue further south into the Ross Sea region of Antarctica, adding penguin rookeries and the historic huts of Scott and Shackleton, framed by colossal icebergs. You can read our full Subantarctic Islands guide for more on where the voyages go and what to expect, then GET IN TOUCH and our polar specialists will help you find the right ship and itinerary.
Or browse our Subantarctic Islands cruises to see what’s coming up.
