The remote islands at the edge of a submerged continent hold ancient secrets

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Far south of New Zealand lie five island groups that form a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once part of the submerged continent of Zealandia, these rugged outposts were largely uninhabited by Europeans, yet they bear traces of early Polynesian explorers and the remnants of failed 19th-century colonial attempts.

The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are situated near the southeastern boundary of Zealandia, a continent that separated from Australia between 60 and 85 million years ago and from Antarctica between 85 and 130 million years ago. These islands, which include the Antipodes, Auckland, Bounty, and Campbell groups, share geological characteristics with Australia's nearby Macquarie Island. While they are now protected as the nation's largest natural sanctuary—a status strengthened in 2014—their history is marked by isolation and fleeting human presence.

Archaeological evidence suggests these islands were not entirely unknown before European arrival. On Enderby Island, researchers found traces of a Polynesian settlement potentially dating back to the 13th century, marking the most southerly site of its kind ever discovered. Other groups, such as the Snares Islands, were known to Māori, who identified them from afar. In contrast, European engagement in the 19th century was primarily driven by the exploitation of natural resources like seals and whales. This period also saw tragic shipwrecks, where survivors were forced to sustain themselves on the land. One notable, albeit unsuccessful, attempt at permanent European settlement occurred at Hardwicke on Auckland Island.

By the modern era, human habitation had largely ceased. A meteorological station on Campbell Island maintained a permanent staff until 1995, after which the islands became uninhabited, save for periodic visits by tourists and scientific researchers. Beyond these subantarctic groups, New Zealand maintains territorial claims over islands closer to the Antarctic mainland, such as the Ross Archipelago and the Balleny Islands. Unlike the subantarctic groups, Ross Island remains inhabited today by scientific personnel stationed at facilities like McMurdo Sound and Scott Base, reflecting a different, ongoing chapter in the region's human history.

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