Untamed Subantarctic

THEY lie hundreds of kilometres from New Zealand's southern and south-eastern coast and are hidden far from even the most committed tramper. But New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands can be regarded as a jewel in the conservation estate and are well worth visiting.

There are five different island groups: the Snares, Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes and Bounty islands. The unique geology of each is complemented by a striking array of flora and fauna in an enticing cocktail of pure wilderness.

Last summer I was offered a youth scholarship by Heritage Expeditions to explore these island groups on one of Heritage's voyages. It was a chance to witness untamed wilderness and prolific wildlife.

TINI HEKE / THE SNARES

Tini Heke juts out of the Southern Ocean some 200km south of Te Waipounamu / the South Island. It consists of two major islands - Northeast and Boughton -