BLAKE Expeditions
Auckland Islands 2014

In 2014 delegates travelled to the Auckland Islands on board HMNZS Wellington to work with scientists, environmental leaders and experts, to understand the global significance of the Southern Ocean & Sub-Antarctic Islands and the role they play in understanding and monitoring the effects of climate change.

The Auckland Islands are New Zealand’s southernmost islands and are of significant ecological and historical importance to our nation. They include the Snares, Auckland Islands, Campbell Islands, Bounty Islands and Antipodes Islands. These islands support a huge amount of biodiversity for the surrounding ocean. Marine Animals use these Islands as a place to breed and rest.

The Auckland Islands sit on the Campbell plateau, which was part of the submerged continent Zealandia which became submerged around 25 million years ago.

The Auckland Islands are the largest of the five Islands groups and are made up of the remains of two ancient shield volcanoes which have been subsequently carved away by glaciers leaving deep glacial valleys and a series of long inlets on the eastern coast while the Southern ocean has eroded the southern and western coasts exposing towering cliffs. There are two main islands, Auckland Island and Adams Island with a number of surrounding smaller islands including Disappointment Island, Enderby Island, Dundas, Ewing and Figure of Eight Island. There are two harbours, Port Ross in the north-east and Carnley Harbour in the south.

“We’ve all returned home richer for having experienced the magnificance of the Auckland Islands, and for having played our part in continuing Sir Peter Blake’s legacy.”

– Hamish Lilley, 2014 BLAKE Expeditions Voyager