Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between New Zealand and Antarctica. Politically, it has formed part of the Australian state of Tasmania since 1900 and became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978. In 1997 it became a world heritage site. Ecologically, it is part of the Antipodes Subantarctic Islands tundra ecoregion.
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) maintains a permanent base, the Macquarie Island Station, on the isthmus at the northern end of the island at the foot of Wireless Hill. The base's residents, the island's only inhabitants, range in numbers from 20 to 40 people throughout the year.
Fauna found on the island include: Subantarctic Fur Seals, Antarctic Fur Seals, New Zealand Fur Seals and Southern Elephant Seals - over 80,000 individuals of this species. Royal Penguins and Macquarie Shags are endemic breeders, while King Penguins, Southern Rockhopper Penguins and Gentoo Penguins also breed here in large numbers.
Things to see and do
* King, Rockhopper and Gentoo Penguins
* Sea birds
* Fur Seals
* Albatross
General Information
Cruise Season – Nov - April
Currency – Australian Dollar (AUD)
Language – English
Population – 20 – 40 approx
Land Area - 128 km²
Time – GMT plus eight hours
Electricity - 2 angled pins and 1 flat pin centered below Australian style
International Country Telephone Code – 61
Port Location – The ports of Hobart (Australia), Auckland and Lyttelton-Christchurch (New Zealand) would commonly be used for access to Macquarie Island.
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) maintains a permanent base, the Macquarie Island Station, on the isthmus at the northern end of the island at the foot of Wireless Hill. The base's residents, the island's only inhabitants, range in numbers from 20 to 40 people throughout the year.
Fauna found on the island include: Subantarctic Fur Seals, Antarctic Fur Seals, New Zealand Fur Seals and Southern Elephant Seals - over 80,000 individuals of this species. Royal Penguins and Macquarie Shags are endemic breeders, while King Penguins, Southern Rockhopper Penguins and Gentoo Penguins also breed here in large numbers.
Things to see and do
* King, Rockhopper and Gentoo Penguins
* Sea birds
* Fur Seals
* Albatross
General Information
Cruise Season – Nov - April
Currency – Australian Dollar (AUD)
Language – English
Population – 20 – 40 approx
Land Area - 128 km²
Time – GMT plus eight hours
Electricity - 2 angled pins and 1 flat pin centered below Australian style
International Country Telephone Code – 61
Port Location – The ports of Hobart (Australia), Auckland and Lyttelton-Christchurch (New Zealand) would commonly be used for access to Macquarie Island.
- Macquarie Island is a large island in the Southern Ocean. It is about 1,500 km (932 mi) south east of Tasmania, and about half way between Australia and Antarctica. The island became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. Macquarie Island is about 34 km (21 mi) long and 5 km (3 mi) wide.
- Macquarie Island is an exposed portion of the Macquarie Ridge and is located where the Australian Plate meets the Pacific Plate. The island lies close to the edge of the submerged microcontinent of Zealandia, but is not regarded as part of it, because the Macquarie Ridge is oceanic crust rather than continental crust.
The South-east Regional Marine Plan, National Oceans Office, 2002. ISBN 1 8770 4312 5. Resources: Macquarie Island’s picture (PDF – 319.7 KB) About the report. This report about the Macquarie Island Large Marine Domain is one of a set of National Oceans Office reports covering the assessment of uses in the South-east Marine Region. About this publication On 4 June 2007, the Australian and Tasmanian Governments agreed to $24.6 million joint funding to implement the Plan for the Eradication of Rabbits and Rodents on Subantarctic Macquarie Island. Macquarie Island's seabird populations and vegetation are under serious threat from rabbits, rats and mice.
Interesting Facts About Macquarie Island
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